Music Producer Tay Keith Dies at 29

Tay Keith, the Grammy-nominated producer born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, has died at 29. He was found on Thursday afternoon in his Nashville apartment during a routine welfare check, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. Authorities said no foul play is suspected, pending an autopsy.

Born September 20, 1996, in Memphis, Keith began uploading self-produced tracks to YouTube as a teenager. His mainstream arrival came in 2018 alongside BlocBoy JB on the viral single “Look Alive” (featuring Drake) and the tracks “Rover” and “Shoot.” That same year, his production became inescapable: Drake’s “Nonstop,” Eminem’s “Not Alike,” and Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode” — the latter a multi‑platinum, chart‑topping hit that earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song.

In the years that followed, Keith’s footprint widened across pop and hip‑hop. He produced Beyoncé’s “Before I Let Go” for Homecoming: The Live Album, Lil Nas X’s “Holiday,” and DJ Khaled’s 2021 single “I Did It.” His sparse, bass‑heavy style helped bridge the bounce and bluster of regional rap with mainstream architecture, a sound both deeply Memphis and widely adopted.

The cause of death remains unknown. Keith’s output across a short, concentrated period left a clear mark — one driven less by hype than by a reliable instinct for rhythm that radio couldn’t ignore.