Grammy-Nominated Producer Tay Keith Found Dead in Nashville Apartment, Police Confirm

The music industry is in mourning following the sudden death of Tay Keith — the Grammy-nominated hip-hop producer behind some of the 2010s and 2020s' biggest records — who was found dead Thursday, June 18, 2026, in his Nashville apartment. Metro Nashville Police confirmed the death of Grammy-nominated producer Brytavious Chambers, better known as Tay Keith. The 29-year-old was found dead in his Martin Street apartment Thursday afternoon, MNPD said. Police have stated that no foul play is suspected, though the cause of death has not yet been determined and will remain unclassified pending autopsy results. The news has sent shockwaves through the hip-hop community, with tributes pouring in from collaborators who built some of the genre's defining hits alongside him.

What We Know: The Confirmed Circumstances of His Death

Details surrounding Tay Keith's death have been confirmed through official statements from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD):

• Discovered During a Welfare Check: Brytavious Chambers—also known as Tay Keith—was found deceased inside his Martin Street apartment after officers were called to conduct a welfare check.
• No Foul Play Suspected: A report from Nashville police reads: "No foul play is suspected in the death of Brytavious Chambers, 29, also known as Grammy nominated record producer Tay Keith. He was found dead in his Martin St. apt. this afternoon by officers performing a welfare check."
• Cause of Death Pending Autopsy: His death is unclassified pending autopsy results. The cause of Keith's death is pending autopsy results.
• His Age — 29: Brytavious Lakeith Chambers was born September 20, 1996, in Memphis, Tennessee — meaning he had just turned 29 less than a year ago.

For the most comprehensive and continuously updated reporting on Tay Keith's death and the ongoing investigation, NBC News' breaking coverage provides authoritative sourcing directly from Metro Nashville Police Department statements.

Who Was Tay Keith? The Memphis Producer Who Shaped a Generation of Hip-Hop

Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, known professionally as Tay Keith, built one of the most influential and recognizable production catalogs in modern hip-hop — with a string of chart-topping records that defined an era:

• "Sicko Mode" — Travis Scott (2018): Tay Keith is best known for co-producing Travis Scott's 2018 single "Sicko Mode," which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. The song became one of the defining hip-hop records of the late 2010s and remains one of the most streamed songs in the genre's history.
• "Nonstop" — Drake (2018): Keith also produced Drake's hit "Nonstop," which peaked at number two on the Hot 100 — one of four No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 records he contributed to across his career, alongside Drake's 2023 hit "First Person Shooter."
• "Look Alive" — BlocBoy JB: Keith co-produced BlocBoy JB's "Look Alive," which peaked at number five on the Hot 100 — a record that helped define the signature "Tay Keith, f*** 'em up" tag drop that became one of the most recognizable producer tags in hip-hop history.
• "Not Alike" — Eminem: Keith's production work with Eminem on "Not Alike" peaked at number 24 on the Hot 100, demonstrating his reach across different corners of the hip-hop landscape.
• "Pound Town" with Sexyy Red (2023): His 2023 single "Pound Town" with Sexyy Red marked his first entry on the chart as a lead artist — showing his evolution from purely behind-the-scenes producer to a recognized artist in his own right.
• Forbes 30 Under 30 — Music (2025): He was among those included in Forbes' 30 Under 30 Music list in 2025, earning the listing alongside Cambrian Strong for their Drumatized record label.
• Working with Music's Biggest Stars: Keith hailed from Tennessee and worked with music's biggest stars, including Beyoncé and Drake — including a bonus track from Beyoncé's live "Homecoming" album, "Before I Let Go," as well as collaborations with Lil Baby.

From Memphis Bedroom Producer to Hip-Hop Architect

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Keith began posting songs to YouTube and hip-hop sites like Datpiff as a teenager — the classic underground producer origin story that has launched many of hip-hop's most influential beatmakers. Chambers was an integral part of the Memphis rap scene, working closely with local stalwart BlocBoy JB and was widely credited as a key part in shaping the Memphis rap scene's resurgence in the late 2010s.

Chambers attended Middle Tennessee State University — reflecting a path that combined formal education with his rapidly developing production career, eventually building his own Drumatized record label and establishing himself as one of the most in-demand producers in hip-hop.

His Final Days: Still Actively Creating

In a detail that underscores how suddenly this tragedy struck, Tay Keith was actively working and celebrating new releases in the weeks before his death. His last post, on June 9, was celebrating the inclusion of "Get It Sexyy" — the Sexyy Red track he produced — on the latest season of HBO's Euphoria. Just before that, his last post on May 7 was an announcement for Chris Brown's latest song, "Call Your Name," which features Sexyy Red and GloRilla.

In his final social media posts, Chambers promoted doing what he loved — helping create music for major artists — a fitting final reflection on a career defined by an enduring passion for production and collaboration.

Tributes Pour In From the Hip-Hop Community

News of Tay Keith's death prompted immediate and heartfelt tributes from his closest collaborators across the music industry:

BlocBoy JB, one of Chambers' closest creative partners, posted a throwback photo of the two together on Instagram with the caption, "Dam Cuz…You just hurt me bad." The two artists had built one of hip-hop's most influential producer-artist partnerships through "Look Alive" and their broader work together shaping the Memphis sound.

Fans and fellow artists across social media have flooded tribute posts honoring Keith's contributions to some of the most beloved hip-hop records of the past decade — many noting that his signature producer tag has become inseparable from the songs themselves in the minds of millions of listeners worldwide.

A Legacy Built on Signature Sound

Tay Keith's influence on modern hip-hop production extends beyond any single song — he helped define a distinctive sonic approach that blended hard-hitting trap drums with melodic elements that made his beats instantly recognizable across multiple artists' catalogs. His ability to work seamlessly with artists spanning from Memphis underground rap to global superstars like Beyoncé, Drake, and Eminem speaks to a rare versatility that few producers achieve.

Tay Keith's last full length project was his 2023 collaborative project with Lil Darius, "Yung n Turnt."

The Bottom Line

The death of Tay Keith at just 29 years old is a profound loss for hip-hop — a genre he helped shape through some of its most enduring and influential records. From his Memphis bedroom beginnings posting beats on Datpiff to producing chart-topping hits for Travis Scott, Drake, Eminem, and Beyoncé, Brytavious Chambers built a legacy that will continue to resonate through the songs he helped create — songs that defined a generation's sound and will remain part of hip-hop's permanent canon.

As the investigation continues and autopsy results are awaited, the music community continues to process the sudden loss of one of its most talented and beloved architects. Rest in peace, Tay Keith.