Rip DJ Kay Slay! Hip-hop Pioneer dies of COVID at aged 55

Published on April 19, 2022 | Published By: Gracie Hale | In Career , Death

Source: IG

DJ Kay Slay, who is known by his stage name was an American disc jockey (DJ) and record executive from New York City
He was also popular as The Drama King, Dez, Slap Your Favorite DJ
Throughout his lifetime, he released four studio albums, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2, The Champions: North Meets South, and More Than Just a DJ

Keith Grayson, who performed as DJ Kay Slay is no more with us!

The pioneering hip-hop artist died of complications from Covid-19 on Sunday, April 17.

On Sunday, Grayson’s death was confirmed by his family, who released a statement through New York radio station Hot 97, where he had been hosting The Drama Hour for more than two decades.

The statement reads,

“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,”

Slay grew up in East Harlem where he got his start as a teenage graffiti artist known as “Dez”. He made his debut in the 1983 hip-hop documentary, Style Wars. In the early 90s, he then began selling bootleg mixtapes on street corners.

DJ Kay Slay dies at aged 55 — DJ Kay Slay dies at age 55 (Source: IG)

Grayson released his first studio album, The Streetsweeper, Vol 1, in May 2003. The same year, he was named “Hip-Hop’s One-Man Ministry of Insults” by The New York Times. He told to The New York Times after the paper dubbed him,

“Cats know it’s no holds barred with me,”

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After that, he released several more albums and also collaborated with Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Jadakiss, and Busta Rhymes.

In addition to providing a ring and roaring encouragement for battles between Jay-Z and Nas, 50 Cent, and Ja Rule, Slay gave an early platform to local artists and crews including Diplomats, G-Unit, Terror Squad, the rapper Papoose, and more.

Further, he was the Drama King, a.k.a. Slap Your Favorite DJ, hosting the late-night “Drama Hour” on the influential radio station Hot 97 until his illness took him off the air.

DJ Kay Slay was an American disc jockey (DJ) and record executive from New York City (Source: IG)

Table of Contents

Contracting COVID-19

In early January, Slay hospitalised after contracting coronavirus disease. His brother, Kwame Grayson told HipHopDX at the time that he was “in a recovery state”. Also, he denied that he was put on a ventilator, saying that the DJ was instead put “on a machine that was helping him breathe”.

Sadly, following a four-month struggle with a severe case of COVID-19, the hip-hop artist passed away on Sunday.

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Condolence

The news of his death was first broken by hip-hop promoter Van Silk via HipHopDx. He told DX,

“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.”

DJ Kay Slayls birth name was Keith Grayson — DJ Kay Slay’s birth name was Keith Grayson (Source: IG)

As soon as the news surfaced on the internet, his fans and several celebrities including Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, LL Cool, J, Fat Joe, and more artists paid tribute to DJ Kay Slay. Fat Joe posted an old photo of Kay Slay on his respective IG handle with captioning,

“My brothers we lost a General today, a Pilar of our community. We will hold this man in the highest regards for he is an icon when it comes to this culture. We’ll keep your name alive as long as I’m here. Harlem east side stand the f–k up.”

Similarly, Snoop Dogg posted a photo of Kay Slay flashing a backward peace sign with captioning,

“Thank. U. @djkayslay for being u god bless ya soul. Say hi to my mama.”

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