“Multi-platinum rapper Lil Tjay underwent emergency surgery on June 22 following a shooting in northeastern New Jersey. According to TMZ, the 21-year-old musician was out of surgery as of 1 p.m. EST and his condition was improving, though “he’s still not out of the woods yet.”

“The shooting of Lil Tjay is part of a grim uptick in violence that has affected rappers around the country in the last few years, including artists like Drakeo the Ruler, Young Dolph, and Pop Smoke, who was a close friend and collaborator of Tjay’s.

“After Pop’s 2020 murder, Tjay released a somber tribute song, “Forever Pop,” and expressed outrage over social media.”

Read more at GQ