DJ Kay Slay

Keith Grayson (August 14, 1965 – April 17, 2022), known professionally as DJ Kay Slay, was an American disc jockey (DJ) from Manhattan, New York. He is referred to by The New York Times as "Hip Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults". He released four studio albums: The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, 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, 1965, in New York City. He was born and raised in the East River Houses located in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. 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". 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. 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. 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.

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. The Song Killa Soundboy featured Dj Kay Slay's protege Papoose. 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.

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". He died from COVID-19 in New York City, on April 17, 2022, at the age of 55.

The intersection of First Avenue and East 105th Street in East Harlem was renamed "DJ Kay Slay Way" in 2023.

Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions US USR&B/HH The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1Released: May 20, 2003 Label: Streetsweepers, Columbia Format: CD, download 22 4 The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2: The Pain from the GameReleased: March 30, 2004 Label: Streetsweepers, Columbia Format: CD, download 27 10 More Than Just a DJReleased: February 9, 2010 Label: Streetsweepers, E1 Format: CD, download 133 29 The Big BrotherReleased: September 22, 2017 Label: Streetsweepers, Empire Format: CD, download — — Hip Hop FrontlineReleased: January 25, 2019 Label: Streetsweepers, Empire Format: CD, download — — The Soul Controller 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 USR&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 detailsThe Month of the Bad Guy Released: 2003

Format: CDThe MySpace Maniac Released: October 30, 2006

Format: DownloadSign of the Times Released: January 29, 2007

Format: DownloadSign of the Times 2 Released: March 6, 2007

Format: DownloadHate Is the New Love Released: August 24, 2007

Format: DownloadThe Return of the God Released: December 21, 2007

Format: DownloadBlockstars Released: October 18, 2009

Format: DownloadBlockstars 2 Released: November 16, 2009

Format: DownloadThe God Is Back! Released: August 24, 2010

Format: DownloadLong Live the King! Released: October 11, 2010

Format: DownloadRedemption Released: January 14, 2011

Format: DownloadThe Soul Controller Released: February 6, 2011

Format: DownloadThe Changing of the Guard Released: July 24, 2012

Format: DownloadReturn of the Gate Keeper Released: September 8, 2012

Format: DownloadGrown Man Hip-Hop Released: November 19, 2012

Format: DownloadGrown Man Hip-Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' with the Enemy) Released: January 23, 2013

Format: DownloadThe Last Champion Released: July 12, 2013

Format: DownloadThe Rise of a City Released: January 23, 2014

Format: DownloadThe Last Hip Hop Disciple Released: May 8, 2014

Format: DownloadThe Original Man Released: November 14, 2014

Format: DownloadThe Industry Purge Released: April 8, 2015

Format: DownloadShadow of the Sun Released: October 26, 2015

Format: Download50 Shades of Slay Released: February 15, 2016

Format: DownloadThe Rap Attack Released: July 1, 2016

Format: DownloadLiving Legend Released: March 6, 2020

Format: CD, downloadHomage Released: November 12, 2020

Format: CD, downloadAccolades Released: June 25, 2021

Format: CD, download

Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Album USR&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" (featuring Yo Gotti, Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes and Ray J) 2009 — More Than Just a DJ "Thug Luv" (featuring Maino, Papoose, Red Cafe and Ray J) 2010 112 "60 Second Assassins" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Layzie Bone, Twista and Jaz-O) 2011 — "The Kings of the Streets" (featuring DJ Khaled, DJ Drama, DJ Doo Wop and Fly Nate) 75 "About That Life" (featuring Fabolous, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly and French Montana) 2013 54 "Keep Calm" (featuring Juicy J, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz and Rico Love) — "Don't Do It" (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.