DJ Kay Slay
American DJ (1966–2022) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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".[1][2] 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".[2] 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."[3] 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
Summarize
Perspective
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] 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]
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.[4][5] The Song Killa Soundboy featured Dj Kay Slay's protege Papoose.[6][7] 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.[8]
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".[9] He died from COVID-19 in New York City, on April 17, 2022, at the age of 55.[10][11]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/HH | ||
| The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1 |
|
22 | 4 |
| The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2: The Pain from the Game |
|
27 | 10 |
| More Than Just a DJ |
|
133 | 29 |
| The Big Brother |
|
— | — |
| Hip Hop Frontline |
|
— | — |
| The Soul Controller[12] |
|
— | — |
Collaborative albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/HH | ||
| The Champions: North Meets South (with Greg Street) |
|
57 | 17 |
Mixtapes
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Month of the Bad Guy |
|
| The MySpace Maniac |
|
| Sign of the Times |
|
| Sign of the Times 2 |
|
| Hate Is the New Love |
|
| The Return of the God |
|
| Blockstars |
|
| Blockstars 2 |
|
| The God Is Back! |
|
| Long Live the King! |
|
| Redemption |
|
| The Soul Controller |
|
| The Changing of the Guard |
|
| Return of the Gate Keeper |
|
| Grown Man Hip-Hop |
|
| Grown Man Hip-Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' with the Enemy) |
|
| The Last Champion |
|
| The Rise of a City |
|
| The Last Hip Hop Disciple |
|
| The Original Man |
|
| The Industry Purge |
|
| Shadow of the Sun |
|
| 50 Shades of Slay |
|
| The Rap Attack |
|
| Living Legend |
|
| Homage |
|
| Accolades |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B/HH | |||
| "Too Much for Me" (featuring Nas, Baby, Foxy Brown and Amerie) |
2003 | 53 | The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1 |
| "Not Your Average Joe" (featuring Fat Joe, Joe Budden and Joe) |
2004 | 63 | The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2 |
| "Who Gives a Fuck Where You From" (featuring Three 6 Mafia, Lil Wyte and Frayser Boy) |
89 | ||
| "Blockstars"[37] (featuring Yo Gotti, Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes and Ray J) |
2009 | — | More Than Just a DJ |
| "Thug Luv"[38] (featuring Maino, Papoose, Red Cafe and Ray J) |
2010 | 112 | |
| "60 Second Assassins" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Layzie Bone, Twista and Jaz-O) |
2011 | — | Non-album singles |
| "The Kings of the Streets" (featuring DJ Khaled, DJ Drama, DJ Doo Wop and Fly Nate) |
75 | ||
| "About That Life"[39] (featuring Fabolous, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly and French Montana) |
2013 | 54 | |
| "Keep Calm"[40] (featuring Juicy J, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz and Rico Love) |
— | ||
| "Don't Do It"[41] (featuring Fat Joe, French Montana and Rico Love) |
2014 | — | |
| "Hocus Pocus" (featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Blueface and Moneybagg Yo) |
2019 | — | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
References
External links
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