The music industry is mourning the loss of Memphis native and Grammy-nominated producer Tay Keith, who was found dead in his Nashville apartment by police during a June 18 welfare check. He was 29.
No foul play is suspected, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the cause of death remains under investigation.
On Friday, Keith’s record label, Drumatized, released a statement from his family confirming his death, describing him as a “beloved son, brother, uncle, family member and friend.”
Keith, who was born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, helped shape the sound of modern rap, creating some of the most recognizable songs of the past decade and proudly transmitting Memphis culture and music to a global audience.
“While the world knew him as Tay Keith, his family knew him as BryTavious — a source of love, strength, laughter, and guidance,” the statement said.
The family, who requested privacy and continued prayers, also described Keith as a “visionary” and “cultural force,” whose work helped define the sound of a generation.
Details regarding a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
For Memphis, Tay Keith was more than a hitmaker. Growing up in South Memphis before moving to East Memphis during his early teen years, and ascending to the highest levels of the music business, Keith’s hometown success story inspired scores of record producers, artists and entrepreneurs looking to follow in his footsteps.
Keith began making beats as a teenager, building his reputation, alongside fellow Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB, as a creator who found major success while remaining true to his roots. His breakthrough 2018 hit “Look Alive,” featuring Drake, introduced his signature production style – minimalist instrumentation with heavy drums under catchy melodies – to audiences worldwide. A string of chart-topping records, Drake’s “Nonstop,” Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” Eminem’s “Not Alike,” and Lil Baby and Gunna’s “Never Recover,” quickly followed and established Keith as a dominant force in contemporary rap music.
Throughout his career, Keith worked with some of the industry’s biggest names, including Beyoncé, Cardi B, Future, 21 Savage, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Chris Brown and Travis Scott. His work earned Grammy nominations for Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” and Drake and 21 Savage’s “Rich Flex.”
Alongside manager Cambrian Strong, Keith co-founded Drumatized Music Group, a Memphis-based record label and creative collective designed to support emerging talent. In 2024, Keith was named BMI producer of the year by Broadcast Music, Inc., the largest music licensing organization in the U.S., which annually honors producers whose music was most-performed on radio, television and streaming platforms. The following year, Keith and Strong were recognized for shaping “what the future sounds like” on the Forbes “30 Under 30: Music” list.
Still, Keith’s accomplishments went beyond music. In 2018, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, while producing some of the biggest rap recordings in the country. He often spoke about the importance of education, noting that he chose to complete his degree, despite career opportunities that could have prompted him to leave school early.
As news of his death spread, tributes poured in from across the music industry and his hometown. Longtime collaborator BlocBoy JB, who helped launch Keith’s career through their early Memphis recordings, shared a heartfelt tribute and a throwback photo of the pair, expressing grief over the loss of one of his closest friends and creative partners.
Fellow Memphis artists Hitkidd and Jozzy also publicly mourned his passing, while British rapper AJ Tracey, who collaborated with Keith on the hit single “Rain,” described the producer as “a legend of the game.”
Posts on social media reflected on the impact of Keith’s music and the way his signature sound helped define this recent era of rap.
Memphis producer Ramone Taylor, known as RamoneBeats, said some of the genre’s biggest records became synonymous with Keith’s famous tag, “Tay Keith, f— these n—-s up!”
“His tag signaled the start of so many heavy hitters, becoming one of the most recognizable sounds in the music industry,” Taylor said.
In Memphis, many viewed Keith as a cultural ambassador who never forgot his origins. His production on “Look Alive” famously spotlighted the city through the lyric “901, Shelby Drive, look alive,” introducing Memphis references to listeners across the world.
“Tay Keith made Memphis sound global,” Taylor said. “Every time you heard that tag, you knew somebody from our city was influencing the culture. That’s a legacy that won’t be forgotten.”
For many aspiring producers, Keith’s journey from a teenager making beats in Memphis to a Grammy-nominated and celebrated producer serves as proof that success is possible without abandoning one’s roots.
Tay Keith leaves behind a musical legacy built on innovation, creativity and an unwavering commitment to his hometown. For a generation of rap fans and hip-hop heads, Keith’s beats will be remembered as the soundtrack of their lives. But his interpretation and transmission of Memphis music culture and its impact may prove to be his most enduring contribution.
