Nicki Minaj is the latest in the music world to memorialize Tay Keith, the Memphis-born producer behind some of hip-hop's defining records, after news of his death at 29 shocked the industry.
During an X Space on Saturday (June 20), two days after news of his death, Nicki Minaj shared her condolences.
"I heard about the passing of Tay Keith, and it's such a tragic loss," she said. "I'm sending my condolences to his family and his fans, and the artists who had the pleasure of working with him. I don't believe I met him, but I was on one track as a feature that he did, and he was clearly so beyond talented. What a talented, talented person gone so soon."
Metro Nashville Police officers discovered Tay Keith, born BryTavious Lakeith Chambers, dead inside his apartment on Thursday (June 18) while performing a welfare check. In a statement, the department confirmed that no foul play is suspected and that his cause of death remains unknown pending autopsy results.
His family released a statement on Friday (June 19) remembering him as "a visionary producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and cultural force whose work helped define the sound of a generation." The statement continued: "While the world knew him as Tay Keith, his family knew him as BryTavious — a source of love, strength, laughter, and guidance."
Drake, whose “Sicko Mode” became one of Keith’s biggest hits, wrote on Instagram: "Endless and eternal gratitude for your spirit and your contributions to this thing that we all love so much…you will be deeply missed."
Sexyy Red, one of his frequent collaborators with whom Keith had been working in the studio as recently as the week before his death, posted: "BLOOD IN BLOOD OUT WE BROTHERS BUT NOT RELATED. I LOVE YOU BRUDDAAA @taykeith STILL DA BEST DUO US 5LIFE." A representative confirmed Keith considered her a sister.
BlocBoy JB, one of his earliest collaborators, wrote: "Never thought you'll leave this bitch before me thru my downs you kept me up you was and will always be the brother I never had."
MTSU, where Keith had been named an honorary professor, remembered him through Beverly Keel, Dean of the College of Media and Entertainment, according to WSMV: "He first and foremost was a really good man. Even if he hadn't had all this international success, he was a good person."
