King Lil Jay is an American drill rapper from the South Side of Chicago, known for the “Bars of Clout” series and his label, CloutLord Entertainment. He came up in the early 2010s drill wave, but his story has been shaped as much by court cases as by music. He turns 33 on November 12, 2026, while serving a nine-year federal prison sentence handed down in February 2025.
| Date of Birth | November 12, 1993 |
|---|---|
| Age | 33 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Occupation | Rapper |
| Label | Founder of CloutLord Entertainment |
| Daughter | One daughter |
| @liljay063 | |
| Legal Status | Serving a 9-year federal prison sentence (sentenced February 10, 2025) |
Alexa Marie Lugo-BadiniKing Lil Jay Biography
King Lil Jay’s real name is Mario Austin. He was born on November 12, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the Woodlawn neighbourhood on the city’s South Side, around the 063 St. Lawrence area. Poverty and gang violence were part of daily life there, and both run through his music. His own birthday post on Instagram on November 12, 2023, read: “Turn me up .. I just hit 30.”
He attended Hyde Park Academy High School but dropped out before finishing. Street life and music took over, and rap soon looked like his way out.
His influences include Tupac Shakur, whom he rates as the greatest rapper ever, plus Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy. You can hear them in his aggressive delivery and raw storytelling. On the streets, his hard lyrics earned him the nickname “Chiraq Wolverine.”
Career
King Lil Jay launched his YouTube channel in June 2013 and found an audience within months. His breakthrough came in February 2014 with “Bars of Clout,” which has passed 12 million views. The follow-up, “Bars of Clout 2,” did even better with more than 20 million views.
He came up with Fly Boy Gang (FBG), the Woodlawn collective that included FBG Duck, Billionaire Black and Cashout063. He later started his own label, CloutLord Entertainment, which still puts out his music.
His mixtape “Unexpected Fame,” released in August 2013, had 19 tracks and passed 1.1 million views on Spinrilla. “Unexpected Fame 2” followed in March 2015 with features from Lil Mister, P.Rico, Billionaire Black and FBG Duck. Other projects include “Clout Lord” (2015), “Cloutlord” (2020) and “First Day Clout” (2022).
His best-known singles are “Faneto GMix,” “Hang Wit Me Remix” and “Take You Out Your Glory,” a shot at Lil Durk. He also appeared on Lil JoJo’s diss track “BDK (3HunnaK),” aimed at Chief Keef’s crew. His collaborator Lil Mister (Antwon Fields), who worked with him on tracks like “Hoodie Weather,” was killed in March 2019.
New music has kept coming out while he’s been locked up, including “Bars of Clout 3” and “Squad.” His Instagram, which has about 161,000 followers, is still active. It carried a birthday post on November 12, 2025, and its latest post went up on January 27, 2026.
Gang Affiliations and Legal Troubles
King Lil Jay’s music can’t be separated from Chicago’s gang conflicts. He was first linked to the Insane Black Disciples before moving to the Insane Gangster Disciples and the STL/EBT set, also known as Tookaville.
That move put him against Black Disciples sets such as O’Block and Team 600. It led to years of feuds with some of drill’s biggest names, including Chief Keef, Lil Durk, Lil Reese, 600Breezy and King Von. The violence was real, too. He has been shot several times, including in a 2012 drive-by that left bullets in his leg and chest.
The 2015 Case
He was arrested on January 7, 2015, and held on a $400,000 bail. The case grew out of a marijuana deal that turned into a shootout. Filmon Rezene, a 25-year-old associate who had appeared in the “Faneto GMix” video, was shot and killed, and the alleged dealer claimed self-defence.
King Lil Jay turned down an eight-year plea deal. In July 2019 he was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to 12 years in state prison. He was paroled in April 2022 after serving about seven years.
The 2022 Gun Arrest and Federal Sentence
His freedom lasted about three months. In July 2022 he was arrested again on gun charges and held on a parole hold. He was caught with a Glock fitted with a “switch,” a small device that turns a handgun fully automatic. As a convicted felon, he was barred from having any gun.
On February 10, 2025, he was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for the firearm case. That sentence is the reason he is spending his 33rd birthday behind bars.
Prison Video Controversy
In July 2023, a prison surveillance clip went viral that appeared to show King Lil Jay in an intimate moment with another inmate. It spread fast across social media and hip-hop news sites.
He first denied it was him. In an Instagram voice recording, he said: “Ya’ll try to tarnish the face, man. Face don’t match, tattoos don’t match, body don’t, skin tone. Come on, man, make it make sense.” By November 2023 his tone had changed. “I’m still King Lil Jay. Still well respected in the streets,” he said. “People still holding on to the past, I’m worried about the future.”
In another clip, played by the YouTube channel Spray Paint after his 2025 sentencing, he shrugged the matter off: “Some people say it is me, some people said ain’t me.” Chicago rapper Famous Dex said Jay “can’t come back to Chicago,” while others argued over whether the video was real.
Personal Life
King Lil Jay is a father to one daughter, and he has dedicated songs to her, including “Letter To My Daughter” and “My Baby.” He has never named her mother publicly.
His tattoos are a big part of his look. They include a cross on his forehead for his faith, “Clout Lord” across his chest and “Fly Boy Gang” on his stomach. He is on Instagram as @liljay063 and on X as @CloutLord063.
King Lil Jay Net Worth
King Lil Jay’s net worth is estimated at about $100,000, based on streaming royalties, YouTube revenue and his CloutLord Entertainment catalogue. Spotify, YouTube views from the “Bars of Clout” era and older mixtapes still bring in money while he’s away.
Prison has kept that figure low. He has spent most of the years since January 2015 in custody, so he has missed the shows, tours and brand deals that make up most of a rapper’s income.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is King Lil Jay?
King Lil Jay was born on November 12, 1993. He turns 33 on November 12, 2026.
What is King Lil Jay’s real name?
His real name is Mario Austin.
Is King Lil Jay still in jail?
Yes. He was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on February 10, 2025, over a 2022 gun case. A release date has not been made public.
What was King Lil Jay convicted of?
In July 2019 he was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder over the 2015 death of Filmon Rezene and got 12 years. In 2025 he got a separate nine-year federal sentence for having a gun with an automatic switch.
Does King Lil Jay have a child?
Yes. He has one daughter, and songs like “Letter To My Daughter” are dedicated to her.
What is King Lil Jay’s net worth?
His net worth is estimated at about $100,000, mostly from streaming and YouTube income.
