Grammy-Nominated Producer Tay Keith Found Dead in Nashville Apartment at Age 29
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – Grammy-nominated record producer Tay Keith, the Memphis hitmaker behind some of hip hop’s biggest records, was found dead in his Nashville apartment on Thursday afternoon, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. He was 29.
Keith, whose real name is Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, was discovered unresponsive inside his Martin Street apartment when officers arrived to conduct a welfare check. Police said no foul play is suspected, and his cause of death remains unclassified pending the results of an autopsy.
Career Built on Chart-Topping Hits and Memphis Roots
Keith rose to national prominence with his production work on Travis Scott’s 2018 single “Sicko Mode,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him his first Grammy nomination at just 23 years old. He went on to produce four number one records overall, including Drake’s 2023 hit “First Person Shooter,” and picked up a second Grammy nomination in 2024 for his work on “Rich Flex” by Drake and 21 Savage.
His catalog also includes collaborations with Beyonce, Eminem, Cardi B and Future, along with helping launch Sexyy Red’s career through her breakout single “Pound Town.” Keith held the record for the most number one songs on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart this decade, with six to his name. He was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Music list and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University, where he first began building his production career.
Built Drumatized Into a Nashville Creative Hub
Beyond his own production credits, Keith founded Drumatized, a label and studio that became the second Black-owned studio in Nashville. The space hosted music camps bringing together hip hop and country artists, reflecting Keith’s ambition to expand his influence into Nashville’s country scene alongside his hip hop work.
Tributes poured in following news of his death, with Memphis Mayor Paul Young among those publicly honoring the producer’s legacy and his impact on the city’s music scene.
Stay updated for the latest news as this story develops.