DJ Kay Slay dies after months-long COVID-19 illness

DJ Kay Slay has died after being admitted to the hospital more than four months ago for COVID-19.

DJ Kay Slay, whose real name was Keith Grayson, was 55 years old, NME reported.

His family and radio station Hot 97 confirmed his death. DJ Kay Slay had a show “The Drama Hour” on Hot 97 for more than two decades, WPIX reported.

The Grayson family released a statement to Hot 97, saying:

“Our hearts are broken by the passing of Keith Grayson, professionally known as DJ Kay Slay. A dominant figure in Hip Hop culture with millions of fans worldwide, DJ Kay Slay will be remembered for his passion and excellence with a legacy that will transcend generations. In memory of DJ Kay Slay, our family wishes to thank all of his friends, fans, and supporters for their prayers and well wishes during this difficult time. We ask that you respect our privacy as we grieve this tragic loss.”

The radio station said DJ Kay Slay was “a vital part of what made HOT 97 the successful station it is today.”

Grayson was known as “Drama King” and died on Sunday, Vibe reported.

DJ Kay Slay got his start as a graffiti artist under the tag “Dez.” His rise to fame was documented in the 1983 documentary “Style Wars,” Hot 97 reported. He started using the monkier “Kay Slay” in the late 1990s when producing mixtapes. He signed a record deal with Columbia Records, releasing his first album “The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1″ in 2003, which got all the way to No. 4 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Vibe reported.

The follow-up album, “The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2″ came out in 2004 and made it to No. 10.

Over his career, DJ Kay Slay worked with top hip-hop artists such as Nas, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes and Foxy Brown, according to Hot 97.

His most recent album, “The Soul Controller,” was released in December, just before he was hospitalized, VIBE reported.

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