DJ Kay Slay’s legacy will forever live on in New York City as the late rap legend is set to be honored with his own street.
Kay Slay’s brother, Kwame Grayson, announced on Facebook on Saturday (July 15) that the Drama King will be immortalized with a street named after him in the Big Apple next month.
AD LOADING...
According to a poster, the street-naming ceremony will take place on August 13 — a day shy of what would’ve been his 57th birthday — at East 105th Street and 1st Ave. in East Harlem. The street’s new name has yet to be revealed.
The event will be hosted by Kay Slay’s close friend and collaborator Papoose, manager Jarrod “General” Whitaker and niece Ladi Kutz.
AD LOADING...
A bevy of big-name rappers have also been invited as special guests including 50 Cent, LL COOL J, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Tony Yayo and more.
“Our mother is SpeechLess,” Grayson wrote in his post along with praying hands emojis.
DJ Kay Slay (real name Keith Grayson) died at the age of 55 in April 2022 following a months-long battle with COVID-19.
“Hip Hop lost a real gem,” veteran Hip Hop promoter Van Silk confirmed to HipHopDX at the time. “From the mixtapes to helping him launch Straight Stuntin’ magazine and the whole What’s the Science project, the world not only lost a real dedicated person to the culture of Hip Hop, but a source of bridging the gap in Hip Hop. I’m gonna miss my little brother.”
Many more tributes from across the Hip Hop community quickly flooded in following his passing, with the likes of Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, LL COOL J, Fat Joe and Killer Mike all mourning the loss of the legendary DJ, radio host and graffiti writer.
“Dezzy Dez aka Kay Slay aka The Black Fat Joe love you my brother,” Joey Crack wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post next to a photo of a young Kay Slay. “You put on for the culture kept me on your tapes when i was cold always lead from your heart. I was praying hard for you i knew you’d make it i check almost everyday i had soooooo many stories to tell you since you been at the hospital.”
AD LOADING...
He added: “My brothers we lost a General today a Pilar of our community we will hold this man in the highest regards for he is an iconn when it comes to this culture RIP SLAY we love you we’ll keep your name alive as long as I’m here GOD BLESS Harlem east side stand the fuck up.”
Kay Slay was laid to rest at a memorial service at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater exactly one week after his death. Fat Joe, LL COOL J, Busta Rhymes, Kool DJ Red Alert, Papoose, Melle Mel and Remy Ma were among the many who showed up to pay their respects.
