Tay Keith was a Grammy-nominated producer behind Sicko Mode and Look Alive. Explore his age, real name, career, achievements, legacy and cause of death.
Tay Keith was an American record producer, songwriter and music programmer who became one of the most recognizable producers in modern hip-hop. The Tay Keith biography is closely connected to the rise of Memphis rap and several major hits by artists including Drake, Travis Scott, BlocBoy JB, Beyoncé, Eminem and Sexyy Red. His hard-hitting production style and famous producer tag helped make him a distinctive presence in rap music.
Born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, Tay Keith built his career from teenage recording sessions in Memphis into Grammy-nominated, chart-topping work. He produced or co-produced songs such as “Look Alive,” “Nonstop,” “Sicko Mode,” “Rich Flex” and “First Person Shooter.” Keith died on June 18, 2026, at the age of 29.
Quick Facts About Tay Keith
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Brytavious Lakeith Chambers |
| Professional Name | Tay Keith |
| Date of Birth | September 20, 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Date of Death | June 18, 2026 |
| Age at Death | 29 years old |
| Place of Death | Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Record producer, songwriter, music programmer |
| Genres | Hip-hop, trap, Southern hip-hop |
| Education | Middle Tennessee State University |
| Known For | Sicko Mode, Look Alive, Nonstop, Rich Flex |
| Record Label/Company | Drumatized |
| Grammy Nominations | Two Best Rap Song nominations |
Early Life and Family
Tay Keith was born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers on September 20, 1996, in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in different parts of Memphis and experienced financial difficulties during his childhood.
Music became an important outlet for him at an early age. Keith later explained that his family listened to influential Memphis acts such as Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG and Playa Fly, exposing him to the city’s distinctive hip-hop sound.
He was the youngest of five children, with two brothers and two sisters. Keith initially lived with his mother before later moving in with his father.
As a teenager, he started recording himself using basic equipment. He eventually became more interested in creating beats than performing as a rapper.
Keith and his brothers also created a makeshift recording space in a garage. It became a place where young people from their neighborhood could record music.
One of those young artists was BlocBoy JB, whom Keith met when they were teenagers. Their friendship eventually became one of the most important partnerships of Keith’s early career.
Education
Despite his growing success in music, Tay Keith continued his education.
He attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he studied media-related subjects and remained active in music while completing his degree. He also worked as a DJ around the university community.
Keith graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree.
His graduation came during an extraordinary period in his career. By then, he had already worked on some of the biggest rap songs of the year, including “Look Alive,” “Nonstop” and “Sicko Mode.”
Keith often spoke about the importance of completing university. He was a first-generation college graduate and credited his parents with encouraging him to pursue his education.
Tay Keith’s Music Career
Tay Keith began experimenting with music when he was around 13 or 14. He initially recorded songs before teaching himself how to make beats.
His long-running collaboration with BlocBoy JB helped him build recognition in Memphis. The pair worked together before either became nationally famous.
Their breakthrough came when Drake appeared on BlocBoy JB’s 2018 single “Look Alive.” Produced by Tay Keith, the song became a major commercial success and reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100.
The record quickly introduced Keith’s production to a much larger audience.
The same year, Keith contributed to Drake’s “Nonstop” and Eminem’s “Not Alike.” He also co-produced Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” featuring Drake.
“Sicko Mode” became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Keith his first Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song.
Those releases transformed him from a rising Memphis producer into a major name in mainstream hip-hop.
Drake, Travis Scott and Other Major Collaborations
Keith continued working with some of the biggest artists in music after his 2018 breakthrough.
His credits expanded to include Beyoncé, Lil Baby, Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Future, Lil Nas X, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus and several other established performers.
His relationship with Drake remained particularly productive. Keith contributed to records including “Jimmy Cooks,” “Rich Flex” and “First Person Shooter.”
“Rich Flex,” performed by Drake and 21 Savage, earned Keith another Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song.
According to BMI, Keith accumulated 11 Billboard Hot 100 top-10 hits and contributed to four No. 1 records during his career.
Work With Sexyy Red
Tay Keith also played a significant role in the rise of fellow Memphis artist Sexyy Red.
He produced “Pound Town,” one of her breakout songs. A later version featuring Nicki Minaj, titled “Pound Town 2,” helped extend the song’s reach.
Keith’s involvement went beyond producing individual tracks. He served as an executive producer on Sexyy Red’s In Sexyy We Trust project, which included songs such as “Get It Sexyy” and “U My Everything.”
The partnership demonstrated Keith’s interest in developing emerging talent as well as working with established stars.
Drumatized and Business Ventures
As his career expanded, Tay Keith moved beyond simply selling beats.
He developed Drumatized Music Group with the goal of creating opportunities for producers, songwriters and artists. He also established a recording studio and creative operation in Nashville.
Drumatized organized writing camps and collaborative sessions involving creators from different musical backgrounds. Keith became particularly interested in connecting Nashville’s hip-hop community with the city’s dominant country music industry.
He also supported younger musicians and spoke publicly about creating opportunities for people from backgrounds similar to his own.
Awards and Achievements
Tay Keith received two Grammy nominations for Best Rap Song during his career. The first came for his contribution to Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” while the second recognized his work on Drake and 21 Savage’s “Rich Flex.”
BMI also repeatedly honored his work.
He received Producer of the Year recognition multiple times and was also honored as a songwriter. His award-winning catalog included major records such as “Sicko Mode,” “Nonstop” and “First Person Shooter.”
By the end of his career, Keith had become one of the most commercially successful producers to emerge from the modern Memphis rap scene.
Tay Keith’s Wife, Girlfriend and Children
Tay Keith kept his romantic life largely outside the public spotlight.
There was no widely verified public announcement that he was married, and reliable information about a wife or long-term partner was not publicly established during his lifetime.
For the same reason, claims about his relationships or children should be treated carefully unless supported by dependable records or statements from his family.
Much of Keith’s public presence focused on his music, business ventures and efforts to support new artists.
Tay Keith Net Worth
Tay Keith earned money through music production, songwriting royalties, publishing, recording projects and his business interests.
However, there is no authoritative public record confirming Tay Keith’s exact net worth.
Various entertainment websites have published estimates, but these figures are not independently verified. It is therefore more accurate to describe him as a commercially successful producer rather than present an unsupported net-worth figure as fact.
His extensive catalog of platinum records, charting songs and major-artist collaborations nevertheless shows that he built a substantial professional career before his death.
Tay Keith’s Death and Cause of Death
Tay Keith died on June 18, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 29 years old.
Police found him in his Nashville apartment while conducting a welfare check. Authorities initially said there were no signs of foul play and that an autopsy would determine his cause of death.
In September 2026, the Nashville medical examiner’s findings provided additional information.
The medical examiner determined that Keith died from drug toxicity involving ketamine and several mitragynine-related compounds. Mitragynine is a chemical associated with kratom.
His manner of death was officially ruled accidental.
The finding clarified months of uncertainty surrounding his unexpected death and became one of the most significant updates concerning Tay Keith following his passing.
Legacy
Tay Keith’s career showed how a producer from a local music scene could influence mainstream hip-hop without abandoning his musical roots.
His production helped connect Memphis artists with international audiences, while collaborations with performers such as Drake and Travis Scott placed his sound on some of the biggest rap records of his generation.
He also used his success to build Drumatized, mentor developing artists and create collaborative opportunities in Nashville.
Although Tay Keith died at only 29, his catalog includes multiple No. 1 records, Grammy-nominated songs and productions that became defining releases in late-2010s and 2020s hip-hop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Tay Keith’s real name?
Tay Keith’s real name was Brytavious Lakeith Chambers.
How old was Tay Keith?
Tay Keith was 29 years old when he died on June 18, 2026. He was born on September 20, 1996.
What was Tay Keith famous for?
He was famous for producing and co-producing major hip-hop songs including “Look Alive,” “Nonstop,” “Sicko Mode,” “Rich Flex” and “First Person Shooter.”
What was Tay Keith’s cause of death?
The Nashville medical examiner ruled that Tay Keith died from drug toxicity involving ketamine and mitragynine-related compounds. His death was ruled accidental.
Did Tay Keith win a Grammy?
Tay Keith did not win a Grammy, but he received two Best Rap Song nominations for his work on “Sicko Mode” and “Rich Flex.”
Where did Tay Keith go to college?
He attended Middle Tennessee State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in December 2018.
Was Tay Keith married?
There was no widely verified public record confirming that Tay Keith was married. He generally kept details about his romantic life private.
