Tay Keith, born Brytavious Chambers, was reportedly found dead at his Nashville apartment at the age of 29. The news, which has sent shockwaves through the music industry, was confirmed following a wellness check conducted by the Metro Nashville Police Department. Authorities have stated that no foul play is suspected at this time.
A prolific producer and artist, Chambers was instrumental in the resurgence of the Memphis rap sound during the late 2010s. He gained widespread acclaim for his production work on Travis Scott’s massive hit “Sicko Mode” and his frequent collaborations with local stalwart BlocBoy JB. His influence extended to the highest levels of hip-hop, including his work on Drake’s 2018 album Scorpion, specifically on the track “Nonstop.”
In a 2018 interview, Chambers reflected on his creative process and his ability to bring the “Memphis slap” to a global audience. “You’ll go to Metro Boomin for this sound, or Pi’erre Bourne for this, or Zaytoven for his sound,” he noted. “It just so happened that the sound I’ve developed has the Memphis origins to it that made Drake want to work with it. I’ve just took the origins—with Three 6 Mafia and DJ Squeeky and them—and brought it back to life in a sense.”
Chambers remained active in the industry until his final days. As recently as June 9, he was celebrating the inclusion of the Sexyy Red track “Get It Sexyy,” which he produced, in the latest season of HBO’s Euphoria. He had also been promoting the Chris Brown track “Call Your Name,” featuring Sexyy Red and GloRilla.
The loss of such a foundational figure in modern hip-hop has prompted an outpouring of grief from peers. BlocBoy JB shared a poignant tribute on his Instagram story, posting a screenshot of a call log showing their daily communication and writing, “We talked everyday yeen tell me you was leaving.”
Chambers’s last full-length project was his 2023 collaborative effort with Lil Darius, Yung n Turnt. As the music community mourns, this story remains developing.
