The family of Tay Keith, the chart-topping hip-hop producer who passed away Thursday (June 18) at age 29, has released a statement following his death.
“It is with profound sadness that we confirm the passing of BryTavious ‘Tay Keith’ Chambers,” Keith’s family wrote in a statement sent to Billboard on Friday.
Keith was found unresponsive in his Nashville apartment during a welfare check by Metro Nashville Police on Thursday. His cause of death has not been reported.
With 11 top 10 hits and four No. 1 s on the Hot 100, including Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode” and Drake’s “First Person Shooter,” Keith additionally holds this decade’s record for most No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with six. Born in Memphis but working out of Nashville, the prolific producer also expanded into country music as the founder of Drumatized, a label and creative hub serving both hip-hop and country artists.
“BryTavious was a visionary producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and cultural force whose work helped define the sound of a generation. From Memphis to the global stage, he shaped countless hit records and left a lasting mark on music and culture. He was deeply committed to creating opportunities for others through his company, Drumatized, supporting emerging songwriters, producers, and artists,” his family said.
Of his accomplishments, they added, “A proud graduate and honorary professor of Middle Tennessee State University, BryTavious remained an active alumnus, mentor, and advocate for young creatives. He was also a passionate supporter of mental health awareness and cancer-related causes in honor of his late mother.”
“Above all, BryTavious was a beloved son, brother, uncle, family member, and friend,” the statement noted. “While the world knew him as Tay Keith, his family knew him as BryTavious — a source of love, strength, laughter, and guidance. We take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through the music he created, the opportunities he provided, and the lives he touched.”
Keith’s family said memorial arrangements will be shared at a later date, and that they “respectfully ask for privacy and continued prayers for his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
