Hip-Hop Pioneer DJ Kay Slay Passes Away at 55 after Lengthy Battle with COVID-19
Hip-Hop Pioneer DJ Kay Slay Passes Away at 55 after Lengthy Battle with COVID-19
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Keith Grayson, better known professionally as the legendary DJ Kay Slay passed away Easter Sunday at 55, following a lengthy battle with COVID-19 spanning almost four months. The pioneering DJ’s family confirmed his death in a statement via HOT 97 FM, the New York City radio station on which Kay Slay served as a perennial host of the acclaimed “Drama Hour” program for over 20 years.
Our hearts are broken…. A dominant figure in Hip Hop culture with millions of fans worldwide, DJ Kay Slay will be remembered for his passion and excellence with a legacy that will transcend generations…. In memory of DJ Kay Slay, our family wishes to thank all of his friends, fans, and supporters for their prayers and well wishes during this difficult time. We ask that you respect our privacy as we grieve this tragic loss.
Source: Excerpt from statement provided by the family of DJ Kay Slay
Kay Slay was born and raised in Harlem and grew to immerse himself in New York City’s early hip hop scene. He initially earned a name in hip-hop circles as a roving teenage graffiti artist and his notoriety garnered him a feature in a 1983 hip hop documentary titled “Style Wars.”
From there he would go on to selling bootleg mixtapes in the early ’90s and this progressed into a blooming professional recording career which saw the forward-thinking creative release his first studio album, “The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1,” in May 2003. This was just the tip of the iceberg as DJ Kay Slay would proceed to release several more albums, mixtapes and collaborative projects featuring such hip-hop royalty as Nas, Jadakiss, 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes to name a few.
Most recently, the mixtape Accolades contained the out-of-this-world track Rolling 110 Deep, an over 40-minute extravaganza which features an astounding 110 rappers.
In a prime example of you never know where life may take you, DJ Kay Slay once told Forbes in 2019, he never had any designs on being a pro DJ. “It was just something to do that was fun and that I enjoyed doing,” he explained.
His music journey was extremely fascinating and can serve as an inspiration for anyone aspiring to be in the music industry as he rose to be such a large and impactful figure in a space that he enjoyed being involved in so much.
Besides a career as a recording artist, DJ Kay Slay also stepped into the music executive role as he was the A&R for Shaquille O’Neal’s label DEJA34 and the CEO of Straight Stuntin’ Magazine. He is also credited for uniting beefing New York City rappers Fat Joe and 50 Cent in his 2014 single “Free Again.
Tributes have poured in for the hip-pioneer, most notably from his friend of many years and veteran hip hop promoter Van Silk. He reflected on Kay Slay’s impact and said, “From the mixtapes to helping him launch Straight Stuntin‘ magazine and the whole What The Science project, the world not only lost a real dedicated person to the culture of Hip Hop but a source of bridging the gap in Hip Hop. I’m gonna miss my little brother.”
“Hip Hop lost a real gem. My dear brother is gone. I’ve known him since he was 16 years old. He was my little brother. I introduced him to many and we did a lot of things together,” he told the outlet. “We last talked December because we were finishing up the 200 rolling deep project. He was gonna do his video part with MC Sha-Rock.“
Artist manager Wack 100, also a longtime friend of DJ Kay Slay posted an endearing tribute to him on Instagram. “2 Decades of friendship. Major contribution to my growth and networking. A big brother, friend, business partner & mentor,” he wrote. “I didn’t lose you bro you told me you’d always be with me so I’ve gained a spiritual advisor.“
50 Cent also added an anecdote on his Instagram in tribute to DJ Kay Slay which is a glaring instance of the influence and esteemed standing in hip-hop that he carried.
Watch Hot 97 Tribute to DJ Kay Slay
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Kevin James has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry in various facets. He has worked as a recording artist, songwriter, producer, on-air radio personality, background actor and film director. Kevin is a Member of the National Writer's Union.
