April 17, 2022
DJ Kay Slay / Date of death

How did DJ Kay Slay die?
New York City’s DJ Kay Slay, born Keith Grayson, a dramatic mixtape pioneer and radio host, is the only person on this list whose cause of death has been reported as complications of Covid-19; he died at 55 in New York in April of 2022. Substance abuse continues to kill creatives. Texas’ DJ Screw (Robert Davis Jr.) died in 2000 at 29.
Who is Kay Slay?
Kay Slay, whose real name was Keith Grayson, was a DJ at HOT 97. But he had been a star of the genre since the early 1990s, when mixtapes he produced featured up-and-comers and superstar rappers like Jay-Z and later, Eminem. A young Kay Slay appeared in the seminal 1983 documentary “Style Wars,” which explored New York’s burgeoning hip-hop scene.
How old was Kay Slay at Hot 97?
He was 55. Kay Slay, whose real name was Keith Grayson, was a DJ at HOT 97. But he had been a star of the genre since the early 1990s, when mixtapes he produced featured up-and-comers and superstar rappers like Jay-Z and later, Eminem.
When did DJ Kay Slay release his first album?
DJ Kay Slay released his debut album, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, on May 20, 2003. In the summer of 2003, Kay Slay released a single, accompanied by a music video, for a song titled “Too Much For Me”. The single, which features a chorus sung by then-up-and-coming singer Amerie, also features verses from American rappers Birdman, Nas, and Foxy Brown.
How old is DJ Slay?
55 years (1966–2022)
DJ Kay Slay / Age at death
Who was DJ Kay Slay?
Hip-hop star Keith Grayson — the East Harlem graffiti tagger, radio disc jockey, mixtape master, MC battle referee and recording artist better known as DJ Kay Slay — died Sunday, due to complications from a four-month battle with COVID-19. He was 55. Slay’s death was confirmed by Hot 97 and the DJ’s family Monday morning.
How old was Jay slay when he died?
He was 55. Slay had faced “a four-month battle with Covid-19,” his family said in a statement confirming his death. Few figures in hip-hop could trace their continued presence from the genre’s earliest days to the digital present like he could.
What song did DJ Kay Slay release in 2021?
In 2021, Dj Kay Slay released the track “Rolling 110 Deep” which featured 110 hip hop artists with contributing verses from Ice-T, Shaq, Coke La Rock, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah, Roy Jones Jr, Omar Epps, and others.
What was Kay Slay’s most successful single?
In 2013, “About That Life” featuring Fabolous, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly, and French Montana was released as a single from Rhyme or Die. It debuted and peaked at #54 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it one of Kay Slay’s most successful singles to date.
What songs did DJ Kay Slay produce?
DJ Kay Slay
- Respect the Architect (feat. Benny the Butcher, Busta Rhymes, Conway the Machine & PRAYAH) DJ Kay Slay. …
- 50 Shot Ya (feat. 50 Cent) …
- 90’s Flow (Bonus Track) [feat. Fat Joe, Ghostface Killah, Lil Fame, McGruff, N.O.R.E., Prodigy, Raekwon, Rell & Sheek Louch] …
- Tommy Egan (feat. Joseph Sikora, Millyz & Ot the Real)

What are Kay Slay’s other albums?
Kay Slay’s other albums include 2006’s The Champions: The North Meets The South w/ Greg Street (No. 57 on the Billboard 200 album chart), 2010’s More Than Just a DJ (No. 133 on the Billboard 200 album chart) and a string of mixtapes, beginning with 2003’s The Month of the Bad Guy through June 2021’s Accolades.
What happened to DJ Kay Slay?
DJ Kay Slay, prolific hip-hop disc jockey and record executive, died Sunday due to complications from COVID-19. He was 55. New York radio station Hot 97, where the DJ — real name Keith Grayson — was a longtime host, confirmed the news with a statement from his family.
Who signed Kay Slay to Sony Records?
He signed his first deal with Violator records with the late Chris Lighty, and released his first two albums, Street Sweepers Volumes 1 & 2, through Columbia/Sony Records. In 2004, Kay Slay became head of A&R for Shaquille O’Neal’s label DEJA34 where he released his third album, The Champions, featuring DJ Greg Street.