Music lovers are mourning the loss of hip-hop pioneer DJ Kay Slay. The longtime New York radio personality passed four months after a battle with COVID-19. He was 55.
Born Keith Grayson, his passing was confirmed by family on April 17. In a statement released to radio station Hot 97 — where he hosted “The Drama Hour” for two decades — the family revered him as being a dominant figure in hip-hop.
“DJ Kay Slay will be remembered for his passion and excellence with a legacy that will transcend generations,” the family said. Hot 97 also released a statement saying they were both shocked and heartbroken. “A cultural icon, the streetsweeper Kay Slay was more than just a DJ.”
Raised in Harlem, DJ Kay Slay watched the hip-hop scene explode in the 1980s with the likes of Grand Master Flash and the Sugarhill Gang. As a teen graffiti artist he was featured in the hip-hop documentary “Style Wars.” By the ’90s he would go on to gain notoriety for his mixtapes — releasing more than 500 mixtapes between 1994-2004 — featuring the hottest artists and records of the time. Artists such as Nas, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar and Busta Rhymes were all featured on DJ Kay Slay’s mixtapes.
By 2003 he released his first album, “The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1.” Its success was unprecedented. “It was the first [mixtape] marketed to a national audience. It featured 50 Cent, Nas and Eminem, among many others, performing songs primarily produced by other artists, along with its followup.”
In the wake of Kay Slay’s passing, hip-hop fans and droves of artist have shared condolence and thanks for the icon who helped launch careers.
“Hip-HOP lost a real gem,” hip-hop promoter Van Silk told HipHopX. “My dear brother is gone. I’ve known him since he was 16 years old. He was my little brother. I introduced him to many and we did a lot of things together,” Silk continued. “We last talked December because we were finishing up the 200 Rolling Deep project. He was gonna do his video part with MC Sha-Rock.”
Rapper 50 Cent shared a photo of himself and Kay Slay along with a quote that read, “I will never forget rapping in Kay Slay kitchen when I was trying to get on. He was the to go to guy…Rest in peach K Slay God Bless you.”
Wack 100, manager to acts like The Game, also paid tribute to his late friend. “2 Decades of friendship. Major contribution to my growth and networking. A big brother , friend , business partner & mentor. I didn’t lose you bro you told me you’d always be with me so Ive gained a spiritual advisor,” he wrote in a social post.
Ice-T wrote, “We lost one of the most SOLID MFs in hip hop..I’ve been checking in on him his whole struggle in the hospital.I honestly thought he was gonna pull through. This truly hurts…F Covid. RIP to the Drama King.”
“Kay Slay gave 40 years of his life to hip hop. God bless your soul king,” wrote rapper Wale.
“Rest in peace to the Legend DJ Kay Slay thank you for everything you’ve done for the culture, my condolences to his family,” tweeted Lloyd Banks.
