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Nashville Producer Tay Keith Found Dead, No Foul Play

6/19/2026

Summary

Tay Keith Dies

Police discovered producer Tay Keith dead in his Nashville apartment during a welfare check on June 18, 2026.
Authorities said no foul play is suspected in his death.
Keith, 29, co-produced Travis Scott’s Grammy-nominated hit “Sicko Mode,” BlocBoy JB’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 5 “Look Alive,” and Drake’s 2024 Grammy-nominated track “Rich Flex.”
He founded Drumatized, earned a Forbes 30 Under 30 (music) honor and a Billboard top-25 producer of the 21st century listing in 2025, prompting tributes from BlocBoy JB and Drake.

Summary

Mayor Young Mourns

Memphis Mayor Paul Young posted a photo and wrote “Rest in peace, Tay Keith” on Facebook after the producer’s death.
Tay Keith earned a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2018.
He was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year three times, most recently in 2024, and received BMI’s Songwriter of the Year honor in 2018.

Summary

Tay Keith Dominates

Tay Keith produced Sexyy Red’s “Pound Town,” sparking a TikTok craze that placed the track on HBO’s Euphoria.
Billboard recorded that he amassed 11 top-10 Hot 100 hits and holds record for six No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
His 2020 collaboration with UK artists AJ Tracey and Aitch, “Rain,” reached No. 2 on the United Kingdom chart.
He produced Travis Scott’s “4×4” and Jack Harlow’s “Just Us” featuring Doja Cat in 2025, expanding his influence.

History

Historical Context

When J Dilla died on February 10 2006, his experimental drum-programming reshaped Detroit hip-hop and spurred a series of posthumous releases such as The Shining and the 2015 Slum Village album YES!; his catalog included about 150 unreleased beats. The 2026 sudden death of producer Tay Keith prompted similar city-wide tributes, echoing the industry’s long-standing reverence for innovative beat-makers.

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Tay Keith Dies

Police discovered producer Tay Keith dead in his Nashville apartment during a welfare check on June 18, 2026.
Authorities said no foul play is suspected in his death.
Keith, 29, co-produced Travis Scott’s Grammy-nominated hit “Sicko Mode,” BlocBoy JB’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 5 “Look Alive,” and Drake’s 2024 Grammy-nominated track “Rich Flex.”
He founded Drumatized, earned a Forbes 30 Under 30 (music) honor and a Billboard top-25 producer of the 21st century listing in 2025, prompting tributes from BlocBoy JB and Drake.

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