Legendary New York City DJ and graffiti writer DJ Kay Slay has passed away HipHopDX can confirm. According to veteran Hip Hop promoter Van Silk, the 55-year-old died on Easter Sunday (April 17), four months after being hospitalized with COVID-19.
“Hip Hop lost a real gem,” Silk tells DX. “My dear brother is gone. I’ve known him since he was 16 years old. He was my little brother. I introduced him to many and we did a lot of things together. We last talked in December because we were finishing up the ‘200 Rolling Deep’ project. He was gonna do his video part with MC Sha-Rock.
“From the mixtapes to helping him launch Straight Stuntin‘ magazine and the whole What 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.”
A tweet started making the rounds Sunday night stating, “Legendary NY DJ, DJ Kay Slay has reportedly passed away, according to Wack 100. He was reportedly still recovering after being hospitalized for COVID-19 in December. RIP DJ Kay Slay.”
Wack 100 initially suggested DJ Kay Slay was moments from dying in an Instagram post from December 2021. But Kay Slay’s biological brother Kwame Grayson told DX that was far from the case, explaining, “He’s definitely not going to die. That right there…I’m not going to lie, I was jumping around. I was definitely happy. Kay Slay is a private dude and he didn’t tell anybody in the hospital who he was, and we was kinda getting average treatment. When they found out who he was, that’s when everybody stepped up treatment.
“He was slowly fading away, but God didn’t let that happen. Everything in time and when they found out who he was, they got him powered up again. So he’s up and going. He’s like in a recovery state, but he’s definitely not going to die. You can trust me on that.”
DJ Kay Slay's Brother Provides Promising Update On His COVID-19 Battle
Last week, Wack 100 said he was “still fighting” and needed all the prayers he can get, writing on Instagram, “He’s been off the #ECMO machine for a couple weeks now. Let’s continue our prayers as our brother continues to fight.”
Sadly, he didn’t pull through. HipHopDX sends our condolences to DJ Kay Slay’s family and all those who loved him. Check out a few of the reactions below.
please let me first to say rest in peace.
Rip to the legendary Dez aka kay slay.
Legend hip hop hall of fame
That’s a loss for Hip Hop. One of the few Mixtape creators that was never annoying and humble and braggadocio at the same time. RIP
RIP
This is really sad. I remember there was a time you couldnt hear a song without his adlibs over it. Lol. His mixtape game was crazy. Beats, crazy. Seems like he was all about giving rappers a platform to flex on if he thought you was dope enough. STREET SWEEPER R.I.P
Drama King Kay Slay live forever.
Damn.. Legend in every sense of the word
The family has asked for privacy in this time of grief. Donations can be made to cashapp $kslay40
Rest in peace king. Hip hop lost a legend.
I’m in shock right. Now smh ?♀️ I just can’t belive it this shit is crazy all the legends dieing young 55 kay slay still in his prime kay slay was a true pioneer for hip hop and djs he kept the craft alive and this cat open doors for cats and I have been a fan of this brotha from day one since His first street sweepers joint 2003 he had the illist collaberations another thing I always respected about this cat he was always for the underdogs that was swept under the rug Rest In Peace my brotha you may be gone you will never be forgotten I’m always gonna bang your joints joints gonna be classics forever word is bond
Rip, we lost a great dude
Wow. This true my sucks to hear. R.I.P.. a legit DJ with maybe the best Mixed tapes back in the day.
So Wack 100 was telling the truth when he said back in December he was moments from dying. RIP.
R.I.P. To Brotha Slay, his family friends and fans. Brotha Slay was far too young to leave us, myself, my cousins, homeboys we are all in his age range as a result even though I never met Slay I feel as if I lost a part of myself. Bless You Bro. SMH…
RIP to a man who helped keep Hip Hop’s lights on in every form since the ‘80s. The losses have been heavy these past few years.
RiP Legend. Bumping Rolling 110 Deep right now. He was bringing that real hip hop back. Legendary
Damn the only reason I knew about DJ Kay Slay was his Collaboration Three 6 Mafia & Amerie RIP
It was de vaxeen dat done keel dis mon.
I hope you die alone in the ER, 8chan fuckboi
Hey stay retarded
Yup.
I came across Kay Slay thru the 50 Cent/G-Unit era. Good times. RIP Drama King!
Damn, had hope he would make it (someway). Rest In Peace OG
Slay always put it down for the culture. RIP. Also one of the NY dudes who didn’t have that bias even though he was NY through and through. He just promoted hip hop, period. Drama King.
Damn… not the “Drama King”….sad news for hip-hop.
One of the stewards and preservers of real Hip-Hop. I wish I could say that Hip-Hop is in good hands now going forward, but it’s not. But when the whole story is told one day, it’s gonna include DJ Kay Slay. RIP.
He introduced the rest of the world to Papoose. Rest In Peace, Kay Slay.
Please say nice things about the man. Remember his ACCOMPLISHMENTS. He has passed. SMH. The other guy from Onyx can out rap cornball Papoose.
I finally finished listening to 110 Deep and then dude passes away damn. April seems to be a brutal month for hiphop, rip.
Yeah, DJ Kay Slay a.k.a. Slap ya favorite DJ
The black Fat Joe of the motherfuckin game
Terror Squad motherfuckers, y’all know what it is
I’ll buck, ooh, ooh ooh, I’ll slap the shit out of one of you
Motherfuckers
Y’all front on the Squad, man? Y’all know what it is, man
2003 shit, faggot ass motherfuckers, get the fuck outta here
Oh, oh, oh yeah, for promotional use only!
Rest in power.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EXCLUSIVES AND YOUR LOVE FOR THE CULTURE. YOU WILL BE MISSED. RIP
RIP drama king, since i was a youngin , hes been in my playlist
But please, keep talking shit about the vaccine. I’d rather be alive and dumb than dead and “woke.”
You and your Main stream gods do not follow science what so ever, go get vaxxed wear a mask when you leave your house, everytime you get a sniffle go get tested you stupid brainless bastard
Still in shock. This is crazy, he actually gave a damn about this artform and culture. Sad day
Rip
RIP the drama king!!! aka slay ya fav dj…aka dezzy dez your legacy is immortalized in film and thru music!
R.I.P. ese DJ Kay Slay. Ignore the nonsense, get vaccinated
Boooo
Rest in peace man..sad af smh.
Delete comments all you want, go get vaccinated dummies!
WORD
Your stupid as fuxk