Drake has paid an emotional tribute to his producer Tay Keith, who has died at the age of 29.
"Endless and eternal gratitude for your spirit and your contributions to this thing that we all love so much," wrote Drake on social media in the hours after the news broke
© Getty Images"You will be deeply missed," he added, alongside an in memoriam portrait of the late musician.
Tay – real name Brytavious Chambers – has helped to produce Drake’s 2023 hit "First Person Shooter," as well as Travis Scott’s 2018 single "Sicko Mode," for which Tay was nominated for a Grammys Award while still a student at Middle Tennessee State University.
He received a second Grammy nomination in 2024 for "Rich Flex" by Drake and 21 Savage, and also worked on Beyonce's 2019 song "Before I Let Go," part of her acclaimed Homecoming project.
© DrakeTay also produced Lil Nas X‘s "Holiday" in 2020 and DJ Khaled’s "I Did It" featuring Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby, and DaBaby in 2021.
"Rest easy," shared Tyler, The Creator on social media, while Machine Gun Kelly added: 'Damn… Tay Keith influenced so much and he wasn’t even 30 yet."
© Getty ImagesTay was found unresponsive in his Martin Street apartment in Nashville on Thursday, June 18, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said, after they performed a welfare check. No foul play is suspected, police said. The cause of death is pending autopsy results.
Tay was a "visionary producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and cultural force who helped define a generation’s sound," his family said in a statement. "From Memphis to the global stage, he shaped countless hit records and left a lasting mark on music and culture."
"Above all, BryTavious was a beloved son, brother, uncle, family member, and friend," it continued. "While the world knew him as Tay Keith, his family knew him as BryTavious—a source of love, strength, laughter, and guidance. We take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through the music he created, the opportunities he provided, and the lives he touched."
© WireImageBorn September 20, 1996, the Memphis, Tennessee native began making beats at the age of 14, inspired by his stepfather's brother, who was a DJ.
He began to focus on production when he realized he could make money from Google AdSense by posting on YouTube, and by the age of 18, he was working with local Tennessee artists, including Blac and Moneybagg Yo.
His work with BlocBoy JB caught Drake’s attention, and the Canadian star worked with Tay Keith for the first time in 2018 for "Look Alive".
