Tay Keith's Cause of Death Confirmed as Drug-Related

Tay Keith, a hip-hop producer, was found dead in his Nashville apartment at the age of 29 on June 18. The cause of death has been confirmed as the toxic effects of drugs, including ketamine and mitragynine, an active ingredient in kratom, according to reports from TMZ. The Nashville Medical Examiner’s Office stated that Keith had both ketamine and mitragynine in his system at the time of his death. Additionally, nicotine and ethanol were present, and he had mild coronary artery disease. It remains unclear whether Keith was using kratom or if he came into contact with it in another way, as kratom is legal at the federal level in the United States. The Metro Nashville Police reported that officers discovered Keith after conducting a welfare check. Born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers in Memphis, Tennessee, Keith gained recognition for his work with artists such as BlocBoy JB, Drake, and Travis Scott. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2019 for best rap song and received another nomination in 2024 for his collaboration on 'Rich Flex.' He was also awarded producer of the year at the 2024 BMI Awards and made the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Music list in 2025. Keith's last social media post was on May 7, promoting a new song by Chris Brown. Following his death, tributes from fellow artists, including BlocBoy JB and Hitkidd, were shared on social media.