Beat the Odds (song) explained

Beat the Odds
Cover:	Lil Tjay - Beat the Odds.png
Type:	single
Artist:	Lil Tjay
Released:	August 26, 2022
Length:	2:30
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Desirez beats KBeaZy KXVI Chanté Marie
Prev Title:	24 Hrs
Prev Year:	2022
Next Title:	Give You What You Want
Next Year:	2022

"Beat the Odds" is a song by American rapper Lil Tjay, released on August 26, 2022 with an accompanying music video. It was produced by Desirez beats, KBeaZy and KXVI. The song sees Tjay addressing his shooting in June 2022. On July 14, 2023, a remix titled "Beat the Odds Pt 2" was released as part of Lil Tjay's third studio album 222, and features frequent collaborator Polo G.

Background

On June 22, 2022, Lil Tjay was shot multiple times (7 times) during an attempted robbery in Edgewater, New Jersey. On August 24, he provided an update on his health since his hospitalization in June in a video on Instagram and announced new music. "Beat the Odds" was then released two days later.^{[1] [2]}

Composition

The song has been described as a "florid, melodic track".^[3] Lyrically, Lil Tjay recounts his experience of the shooting incident and his recovery, as well as other hard times in his life,^{[4] [5]} especially reflecting on violence-related memories and also being motivated in life by his family.^[6]

Music video

A music video for the song was directed by Lil Tjay himself. It opens with audio of 911 calls from the day of the shooting, before showing Tjay laying down and wearing an oxygen mask. The clip features footage of him recovering, writing and recording the song,^[7] and being visited by family and friends.^{[8] [9]} He later leaves the hospital in a wheelchair, and is seen in a church expressing gratitude for his survival before returning to the studio.

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[10]	72
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[11]	4
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)^[12]	1

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label
Various	August 26, 2022		Columbia
United States	September 6, 2022	Rhythmic contemporary radio		^[13]
		Urban contemporary radio		^[14]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Price . Joe . Lil Tjay Releases Video for First Post-Shooting Track "Beat the Odds" . . September 9, 2022 . August 26, 2022.
2. Web site: Kelly . Dylan . Lil Tjay Drops New Track "Beat The Odds" Following Near-Fatal Shooting . . September 9, 2022 . August 27, 2022.
3. Web site: Breihan . Tom . Lil Tjay Addresses His Shooting On New Single "Beat The Odds" . . September 9, 2022 . August 26, 2022.
4. Web site: Devin . August 25, 2022 . Lil Tjay Drops New Single 'Beat The Odds' After Surviving Shooting . September 9, 2022 . Rap-Up.
5. Kaufman . Gil . Lil Tjay Chronicles His Grueling Return From Near-Death Shooting on 'Beat the Odds' . . September 9, 2022 . August 26, 2022.
6. Web site: Cho . Regina . Lil Tjay vents about how he "Beat The Odds" in new track . . September 9, 2022 . August 26, 2022.
7. Web site: Pierre . Alphonse . Lil Tjay Shares Video for New Song "Beat the Odds": Watch . . September 9, 2022 . August 26, 2022.
8. Web site: Grant . Shawn . Lil Tjay Releases New Song and Video "Beat The Odds" Detailing Recovering from Shooting . . September 9, 2022 . August 26, 2022.
9. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . Lil Tjay Proves He 'Beat The Odds' Following A Shooting This Past June . . September 9, 2022 . August 26, 2022.
10. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 5 September 2022. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1696. 4. September 5, 2022.
11. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. September 5, 2022. September 9, 2022.
12. Web site: Swedish Heatseeker Chart – 2 september 2022. September 9, 2022.
13. Web site: Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates ... . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220906220534/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases . September 6, 2022 . September 15, 2022 . All Access.
14. Web site: Urban/R&B Future Releases R&B, Hip Hop, Release Schedule and Street Dates ... . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220830230655/https://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases . August 30, 2022 . September 15, 2022 . All Access.