Today, the hip hop community is mourning the loss of one of New York’s musical treasures. DJ Kay Slay passed away on Easter Sunday while surrounded by his family members. The former rapper and hip hop influencer was fighting a case of Covid back in December and was hospitalized but unfortunately he lost the battle.
Statement from the family:
“Our hearts are broken by the passing of Keith Grayson, professionally known as DJ Kay Slay. 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.”
Kay Slay, AKA Dez, started out as a graffiti artist in the ’70s and ’80s — and later branched out into music … making his big splash in the early 2000s through the local radio and music scene with his big personality and unique beat selection … not to mention his wicked flow.
He’s most famous for his mixtapes — cranking out more than a dozen dating back to 2003 — plus other solo and compilation artists, which often featured huge names in the game … including Nas, Swizz Beatz, N.O.R.E., Raekwon, Lloyd Banks and Foxy Brown.
His “Streetsweeper” series is one of his major claims to fame, as was his recurring radio spot on Hot 97 — which was dubbed the Drama Hour … another nickname he bore. DJ Kay Slay was also known for his disses in his tracks, and was once called “Hip-Hop’s One-Man Ministry of Insults” by the New York Times.
Some of Kay’s videos included the following:
Rest in Power King!
