DJ Kay Slay
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Short description|American DJ (1966–2022)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = DJ Kay Slay
| image = DJ Kay Slay.jpg
| birth_name = Keith Grayson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1966|8|14}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|4|17|1966|8|14}}
| death_place = New York City, U.S.
| alias = {{hlist|The Drama King|Dez|Slap Your Favorite DJ}}
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = {{hlist|Disc jockey|music promoter}}
| years_active = 1983–2022
| label = {{hlist|E1|Streetsweepers|Columbia}}
| current_member_of =
}}
Keith Grayson (August 14, 1966 – April 17, 2022), professionally known as DJ Kay Slay, was an American disc jockey (DJ) from New York City. He is referred to by The New York Times as "Hip Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults".{{Cite web|url=http://www.nobodysmiling.com/hiphop/news/86337.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411225243/http://www.nobodysmiling.com/hiphop/news/86337.php|url-status=dead|title=DJ Kay Slay and Shaq Seek to Bridge the Gap|last=Ivey|first=Michael|date=June 16, 2006|website=nobodysmiling.com|archive-date=April 11, 2008|access-date=May 19, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/04/arts/music-hip-hop-s-one-man-ministry-of-insults.html|title=Hip-Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults|last=Ogunnaike|first=Lola|date=May 4, 2003|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 19, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304014809/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/04/arts/music-hip-hop-s-one-man-ministry-of-insults.html|url-status=live}} He released four studio albums: The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1 (2003), The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2 (2004), The Champions: North Meets South (with Greg Street; 2006), and More Than Just a DJ (2010). Known for extensive curation of prominent figures in East Coast hip-hop, his albums were met with success in the regional market; his first two were released by Columbia Records. Grayson died from COVID-19 in 2022.
Early life
Grayson was born August 14, 1966, in New York City. He was originally a prominent graffiti artist, having been featured in the 1983 hip hop documentary, Style Wars. One of Grayson's better known tags was "Dez". As a youth involved in New York's flourishing hip hop scene, Keith witnessed firsthand the ascent of legendary disc jockeys such as Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizzard Theodore, and Kool DJ Red Alert, in the late 1970s and into the 1980s. "I didn't so much set out to be a DJ," he said. "It was just something to do that was fun and that I enjoyed doing."{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/garysuarez/2019/01/28/dj-kay-slay-reveals-how-he-lands-so-many-hip-hop-greats-on-his-albums/#739d54bc5903|date=January 28, 2019|title=DJ Kay Slay Reveals How He Lands So Many Hip-Hop Greats On His Albums|author=Gary Suarez|website=Forbes|access-date=July 31, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108004119/https://www.forbes.com/sites/garysuarez/2019/01/28/dj-kay-slay-reveals-how-he-lands-so-many-hip-hop-greats-on-his-albums/#739d54bc5903|url-status=live}} With the decline of the graffiti movement in the late 1980s, Dez began dealing with narcotics and consequently ended up in jail by the late 1980s. Grayson was released from jail in 1990, and claimed to have abstained from using drugs thereafter. He hailed from the East River Houses located in East Harlem, New York. In the early years of his life, he also met long-time friend Sauce Money, whom he was friends with until his death.
Career
= 2003–2009: ''Streetsweeper'' series =
DJ Kay Slay released his debut album, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, on May 20, 2003. In the summer of 2003, Kay Slay released a single, accompanied by a music video, for a song titled "Too Much For Me". The single, which features a chorus sung by then-up-and-coming singer Amerie, also features verses from American rappers Birdman, Nas, and Foxy Brown. The song peaked at number 53 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it the DJ's highest-charting single to date. The single's music video includes cameo appearances by Swizz Beatz, N.O.R.E., Raekwon, WC, and Lloyd Banks.{{citation needed|date=December 2009}} Although the song was not a major success, its music video was aired on MTV Jams and BET. The "Too Much For Me" video did not feature Nas (because of Nas' solo projects) or Baby; so Loon was featured instead. This replacement started a feud between Nas and Kay Slay.
On March 30, 2004, Kay Slay's second album The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2, was released. Another single and video were released for "Who Gives A...Where You From" with Three 6 Mafia, which peaked at number 89 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Kay Slay and the song were featured on the 2004 NFL Street video game. {{citation needed|date=December 2009}}
= 2010–2022: ''More Than Just a DJ'' and ''Rhyme or Die'' =
After releasing More Than Just a DJ in 2010, Rhyme or Die was released. The first album's initial two singles "60 Second Assassins" featuring Busta Rhymes, Layzie Bone, Twista, and Jaz-O and "The Kings of the Streets" featuring DJ Khaled, DJ Drama, DJ Doo Wop, and Fly Nate were released in 2011. In 2013, "About That Life" featuring Fabolous, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly, and French Montana was released as a single from Rhyme or Die. It debuted and peaked at #54 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it one of Kay Slay's most successful singles to date. In the beginning of 2014, "Free Again" was released featuring Fat Joe and 50 Cent, which came as a surprise for some seeing as how they had "beef" before, but later reconciled. In 2019 DJ Kay Slay Broke Bronx New York Rapper Bruse Wane's hit song Killa Soundboy live on his streets sweepers radio show.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ty |title=DJ Kay Slay interviews Bruse Wane |url=https://www.solovibesmusic.com/2019/08/dj-kay-slay-interviews-bruse-wane.html |access-date=2024-12-28}}{{Cite web |last=jxd |date=2019-08-15 |title=Bruse Wane Interview with DJ Kay Slay - Blackout Hip Hop |url=https://blackouthiphop.com/bruse-wane-interview-with-dj-kay-slay/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0KxoTPzwNmhpOOTy8E5IlkHuKXRycsvAr4TRP4XrFjo9O2zVGriF2mm6A_aem_EEZZg_C3YX2UYL4DTwZiMA |access-date=2024-12-28 |language=en-US}} The Song Killa Soundboy featured Dj Kay Slay's protege Papoose.{{Cite web |last=O |date=2019-07-17 |title=Lil Nas X ft. Young Thug, Billy Ray Cyrus & Mason Ramsey "Old Town Road Remix," Bruse Wane ft. Papoose "Killa Soundboy" & More {{!}} Daily Visuals 7.16.19 |url=https://hiphopwired.com/813774/lil-nas-x-ft-young-thug-billy-ray-cyrus-mason-ramsey-old-town-road-remix-bruse-wane-ft-papoose-killa-soundboy-more-daily-visuals-7-16-19/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=Hip-Hop Wired |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ivy |first=Justin |date=2019-07-15 |title=#DXCLUSIVE: Bruse Wane Connects With Papoose For "Killa Soundboy" Video |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.52128/title.dxclusive-bruse-wane-connects-with-papoose-for-killa-soundboy-video |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}} In 2021, Dj Kay Slay released the track "Rolling 110 Deep" which featured 110 hip hop artists with contributing verses from Ice-T, Shaq, Coke La Rock, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah, Roy Jones Jr, Omar Epps, and others.{{Cite web|title=Video: DJ Kay Slay Ft. Various Artists "Rolling 110 Deep"|url=http://rapradar.com/2021/06/25/video-dj-kay-slay-ft-various-artists-rolling-110-deep/|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=Rap Radar|date=June 25, 2021 |language=en-US|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625052616/https://rapradar.com/2021/06/25/video-dj-kay-slay-ft-various-artists-rolling-110-deep/|url-status=live}}
Illness and death
In January 2022, DJ Kay Slay's brother said he was in the hospital after contracting COVID-19, but was "in a recovery state".{{cite web |last1=Price |first1=Joe |title=DJ Kay Slay Hospitalized Due to COVID-19, Brother Shares Update on His Condition |url=https://www.complex.com/music/dj-kay-slay-covid-19-battle-brother-comments |website=complex.com |access-date=April 18, 2022 |date=January 7, 2022}} He died from COVID-19 in New York City, on April 17, 2022, at the age of 55.{{cite web |last1=Eustice |first1=Kyle |title=Legendary New York City DJ Kay Slay Has Passed Away Following COVID-19 Battle |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.69615/title.legendary-new-york-city-dj-kay-slay-has-passed-away-following-covid-19-battle# |website=hiphopdx.com |access-date=April 18, 2022 |date=April 18, 2022}}{{cite web|title=DJ Kay Slay, Fiery Radio Star and Rap Mixtape Innovator, Dies at 55|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/arts/music/dj-kay-slay-dead.html|work=The New York Times|date=April 18, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US |
|---|
| scope="row" | The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1
|
| 22 || 4 |
| scope="row" | The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2: The Pain from the Game
|
| 27 || 10 |
| scope="row" | More Than Just a DJ
|
| 133 || 29 |
| scope="row" | The Big Brother
|
| — || — |
| scope="row" | Hip Hop Frontline
|
| — || — |
| scope="row" | The Soul Controller{{Cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-soul-controller/1598235987 |title=DJ Kay Slay – The Soul Controller |publisher=Apple Music |accessdate=December 17, 2021 |archive-date=December 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217172623/https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-soul-controller/1598235987 |url-status=live }}
|
| — || — |
= Collaborative albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of collaborative albums, with selected chart positions and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US |
|---|
| scope="row" | The Champions: North Meets South (with Greg Street) |
| 57 || 17 |
= Mixtapes =
Singles
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.hot97.com/djkayslay/ DJ Kay Slay's Hot 97 web page biography]
- DJ Kay Slay charts:
- The information in the personal section is from Circuit City's DJ Kay Slay bio [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010513/http://entertainment.circuitcity.com/Music/Artist.aspx?p_id=P+++557399&type=bio Circuit City-Music: DJ Kayslay]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kay Slay, DJ}}
Category:American graffiti artists
Category:American prisoners and detainees
Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians
Category:Columbia Records artists
Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
Category:Musicians from New York City
Category:MNRK Music Group artists
Category:American music industry executives