Tay Keith dies young at 29 after shaping a generation of hits

Tay Keith dead at 29 and hip-hop lost a defining voice

The Grammy-nominated producer behind Drake, Travis Scott and Beyoncé was found in his Nashville apartment

Tay Keith was found dead on June 18, 2026, in his Nashville apartment. He was 29. Nashville police discovered him during a welfare check. Authorities said no foul play was suspected. An autopsy is underway. The cause of death has not been released.

A career built from Memphis

Born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers in Memphis, Tennessee, Tay Keith started making beats at 14. He uploaded music to YouTube and DatPiff before breaking into the mainstream. By 2018, major hip-hop artists were seeking him out. He went on to work with Drake, Travis Scott, Eminem, Beyoncé, Cardi B, Future, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus and Megan Thee Stallion. He also contributed to Megan Thee Stallion’s 2024 album Megan.

His credits include 11 top ten entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and four number one singles. Additionally, he holds the record for the most number ones on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart this decade, with six.

Grammy nominations and Keith’s chart milestones

Tay Keith earned his first Grammy nomination in 2019 for Best Rap Song for his work on Travis Scott’s Sicko Mode. He returned to that category at the 2024 Grammys for his work on Drake and 21 Savage’s Rich Flex. His contribution to Eminem’s Not Alike from the 2018 album Kamikaze added another major credit to his resume.

He also helped Sexyy Red break through, producing Pound Town in 2023 and co-producing Get It Sexyy, which later appeared on the Euphoria Season 3 soundtrack. That same year, Pound Town 2 became his first chart entry as a lead artist.

Recognition beyond the studio

Tay Keith graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2018 with a degree in integrated studies and media management. He and his manager, Cambrian Strong, co-founded Drumatized Music Group in Memphis that same year. Forbes named him to its 30 Under 30 Music list in 2023. BMI then recognized him as Producer of the Year at its R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in 2024.

Tributes from those who knew him

BlocBoy JB, the Memphis rapper who worked with Tay Keith since their teenage years, shared a tribute on social media after the news broke. He posted a photo of the two together alongside an expression of grief. He also shared a screen recording of their frequent phone calls to show how close they remained until the end.

Tay Keith built his name through consistency, craft and an ear for what hip-hop needed. The records he helped create will stay on playlists long after the grief of this week fades.