DJ Kay Slay

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.

DJ Kay Slay
Background information
Birth name	Keith Grayson
Also known as	The Drama King Dez Slap Your Favorite DJ
Born	(1966-08-14)August 14, 1966 New York City, U.S.
Died	April 17, 2022(2022-04-17) (aged 55) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Disc jockey music promoter
Years active	1983–2022
Labels	E1 Streetsweepers Columbia

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

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 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.^[4]

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".^[5] He died from COVID-19 in New York City, on April 17, 2022, at the age of 55.^[6][7]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US	US R&B/HH
The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1	Released: May 20, 2003 Label: Streetsweepers, Columbia Format: CD, download	22	4
The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2	Released: March 30, 2004 Label: Streetsweepers, Columbia Format: CD, download	27	10
More Than Just a DJ	Released: February 9, 2010 Label: Streetsweepers, E1 Format: CD, download	133	29
The Big Brother	Released: September 22, 2017 Label: Streetsweepers, Empire Format: CD, download	—	—
Hip Hop Frontline	Released: January 25, 2019 Label: Streetsweepers, Empire Format: CD, download	—	—
The Soul Controller^[8]	Released: December 17, 2021 Label: Streetsweepers, Empire Format: CD, download	—	—

Collaborative albums

List of collaborative albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US	US R&B/HH
The Champions: North Meets South (with Greg Street)	Released: August 22, 2006 Label: Koch Format: CD, download	57	17

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with year released

Title	Album details
The Month of the Bad Guy	Released: 2003^[9] Label: Streetsweepers Format: CD
The MySpace Maniac	Released: October 30, 2006^[10] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Sign of the Times	Released: January 29, 2007^[11] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Sign of the Times 2	Released: March 6, 2007^[12] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Hate Is the New Love	Released: August 24, 2007^[13] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Return of the God	Released: December 21, 2007^[14] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Blockstars	Released: October 18, 2009^[15] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Blockstars 2	Released: November 16, 2009^[16] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The God Is Back!	Released: August 24, 2010^[17] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Long Live the King!	Released: October 11, 2010^[18] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Redemption	Released: January 14, 2011^[19] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Soul Controller	Released: February 6, 2011^[20] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Changing of the Guard	Released: July 24, 2012^[21] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Return of the Gate Keeper	Released: September 8, 2012^[22] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Grown Man Hip-Hop	Released: November 19, 2012^[23] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Grown Man Hip-Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' with the Enemy)	Released: January 23, 2013^[24] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Last Champion	Released: July 12, 2013^[25] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Rise of a City	Released: January 23, 2014^[26] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Last Hip Hop Disciple	Released: May 8, 2014^[27] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Original Man	Released: November 14, 2014^[28] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Industry Purge	Released: April 8, 2015^[29] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Shadow of the Sun	Released: October 26, 2015^[30] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
50 Shades of Slay	Released: February 15, 2016^[31] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
The Rap Attack	Released: July 1, 2016^[32] Label: Streetsweepers Format: Download
Living Legend	Released: March 6, 2020 Label: Streetsweepers Format: CD, download
Homage	Released: November 12, 2020 Label: Streetsweepers Format: CD, download
Accolades	Released: June 25, 2021 Label: Streetsweepers Format: CD, download

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"^[33] (featuring Yo Gotti, Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes and Ray J)	2009	—	More Than Just a DJ
"Thug Luv"^[34] (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"^[35] (featuring Fabolous, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly and French Montana)	2013	54
"Keep Calm"^[36] (featuring Juicy J, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz and Rico Love)		—
"Don't Do It"^[37] (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

1. Ivey, Michael (June 16, 2006). . nobodysmiling.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
2. Ogunnaike, Lola (May 4, 2003). "Hip-Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
3. Gary Suarez (January 28, 2019). "DJ Kay Slay Reveals How He Lands So Many Hip-Hop Greats On His Albums". Forbes. from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
4. "Video: DJ Kay Slay Ft. Various Artists "Rolling 110 Deep"". Rap Radar. June 25, 2021. from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
5. Price, Joe (January 7, 2022). "DJ Kay Slay Hospitalized Due to COVID-19, Brother Shares Update on His Condition". complex.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
6. Eustice, Kyle (April 18, 2022). "Legendary New York City DJ Kay Slay Has Passed Away Following COVID-19 Battle". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
7. "DJ Kay Slay, Fiery Radio Star and Rap Mixtape Innovator, Dies at 55". The New York Times. April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
8. "DJ Kay Slay – The Soul Controller". Apple Music. from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
9. "Kay Slay* - The Month Of The Bad Guy". Discogs.com. from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
10. "The MySpace Maniac – DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
11. "Sign Of The Times – DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
12. "Sign Of The Times 2 – DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
13. "Hate Is The New Love – DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
14. "The Return Of The God – DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
15. "Blockstars – DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
16. "Blockstars 2 – DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
17. "The God Is Back! - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
18. "Long Live The King – DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
19. "Redemption". LiveMixtapes. from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
20. "The Soul Controller". LiveMixtapes. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
21. "The Changing Of The Guard". LiveMixtapes. from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
22. Zach Frydenlund. "Mixtape: DJ Kay Slay "The Return Of The Gatekeeper"". Complex. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
23. "Dj Kay Slay – Grown Man Hip Hop". DatPiff. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
24. "DJ Kay Slay – Grown Man Hip Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' With The Enemy)". DatPiff. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
25. "Dj Kay Slay – The Last Champion Hosted by Dj Kay Slay". DatPiff. from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
26. Goddard, Kevin (January 23, 2014). "DJ Kay Slay – The Rise of a City". HNHH. from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
27. Lilah, Rose (May 8, 2014). "DJ Kay Slay – The Last Hip-Hop Disciple". Hotnewhiphop.com. from the original on May 11, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
28. Goddard, Kevin (November 5, 2014). "DJ Kay Slay – The Original Man". HotNewHipHop. from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
29. Smith, Trevor (April 8, 2015). "DJ Kay Slay – The Industry Purge". HotNewHipHop. from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
30. "DJ Kay Slay – Shadow Of The Sun – Download & Listen [New Mixtape]". Hotnewhiphop. October 26, 2015. from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
31. "New Mixtape: DJ Kay Slay '50 Shades Of Slay'". Rapradar.com. February 15, 2016. from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
32. "Dj Kay Slay – The Rap Attack". Livemixtapes.com. from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
33. "iTunes Store". Itunes.apple.com. September 15, 2009. from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
34. "iTunes – Music – Thug Luv (feat. Maino, Papoose, Red Cafe & Ray J) – Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. January 12, 2010. from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
35. "iTunes – Music – About That Life (feat. Fabolous, T Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly & French Montana) – Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. February 5, 2013. from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
36. "iTunes – Music – Keep Calm (feat. Juicy J, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz & Rico Love) – Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. October 15, 2013. from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
37. "iTunes Store". Itunes.apple.com. September 9, 2014. from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.

External links

• 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