Tay Keith, Hitmaking Memphis Producer, Found Dead At Age 29

Award-winning music producer Tay Keith has reportedly died at the age of 29.

According to reports, the famed Memphis-born producer was found dead in his Nashville apartment on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

Police said officers responded to a welfare check at his residence and discovered him unresponsive. Authorities added that no foul play is suspected.

Tay Keith was widely known for his signature trap-inspired sound and played a major role in producing some of the biggest hip-hop hits of the last decade.

He recorded massive success on the Billboard Hot 100, producing 11 top-10 songs and four No. 1 singles, including Sicko Mode by Travis Scott and First Person Shooter by Drake.

The producer was also credited with helping launch the career of Sexyy Red through her breakout hit “Pound Town,” which brought her into mainstream recognition.

Beyond hip-hop, Tay Keith expanded into country music and founded DRUMATIZED, a creative label and studio hub in Nashville that supported both hip-hop and country artists. The facility became Nashville’s second Black-owned recording studio and served as a space for emerging and established musicians.

One of the biggest moments of his career came in December 2018 when “Sicko Mode” reached No. 1 and earned him his first Grammy nomination, the same month he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University.

Educators and colleagues described him as intelligent, visionary, and passionate about helping others succeed.

Throughout his career, Tay Keith also helped elevate several Memphis artists, including BlocBoy JB and Blac Youngsta. In 2018, he produced BlocBoy JB’s breakthrough hit Look Alive, which featured Drake and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Following news of his death, friends, collaborators, and artists paid emotional tributes on social media. BlocBoy JB expressed shock and grief, sharing old photos and writing, “We talked every day. Yeen tell me you’re leaving.”

Tay Keith leaves behind a legacy as one of the most influential producers of his generation, whose sound helped shape modern hip-hop and brought greater attention to Memphis music on the global stage.