Grammy-Nominated Producer Tay Keith Found Dead at 29 in Nashville

The body of Tay Keith was found in his Nashville apartment on Thursday afternoon after police responded to a welfare check. He was 29 years old.

His real name was BryTavious Chambers. Over the past decade, he built one of the most recognizable sounds in hip-hop, producing Travis Scott‘s Sicko Mode, Beyoncé’s Before I Let Go, and records with Drake and Eminem. He earned two Grammy nominations for Best Rap Song.

Nashville Police said no foul play is suspected. A cause of death is pending autopsy results. Officers found Chambers unresponsive at his Martin Street apartment after someone placed a welfare check call on Thursday afternoon.

Keith grew up in Memphis and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University before relocating to Nashville. He signed to Interscope Records and became one of the most sought-after producers in the genre. His producer tag, a deep sampled voice announcing his name, became instantly recognizable to hip-hop listeners worldwide.

He had reportedly been working on new material with several artists in the weeks before his death. News of his passing spread quickly through the music industry on Thursday night.

Entertainment has seen notable losses in recent days. Television director James Burrows, who created Cheers and directed hundreds of episodes of Friends, died at 85 on June 19. Country star Jelly Roll announced his divorce from Bunnie XO after nearly 10 years together. Grammy-winning Olivia Rodrigo is tracking toward the biggest debut week of her career with a new album release this month.

Keith’s production style, built on hard-hitting 808s and stripped-back arrangements, helped define the mainstream hip-hop sound through the early and mid-2020s. His credits span some of the highest-selling rap records of the past decade across multiple artists and labels.

His family has not yet issued a public statement. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. The Nashville medical examiner’s autopsy report is expected within several weeks. Rolling Stone published a full career obituary on Thursday evening.