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Tuesday, April 19, 2022

R.I.P.: DJ Kay Slay, Influential NYC Personality


DJ Kay Slay, a prominent disc jockey, radio host and music executive from New York, died Sunday following a four-month fight with COVID-19, his family and the WQHT Hot 97 station confirmed Monday.

The artist, whose real name was Keith Grayson, was 55, reports The NY Daily News.

“Our hearts are broken by the passing of Keith Grayson, professionally known as DJ Kay Slay,” his family said in a statement. “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.

Grayson, who grew up in Harlem, rose to fame as a graffiti artist during the 1980s before transitioning to a music career in which he came out with six albums and dozens of mixtapes. He released his first album, “The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1,” in 2003.

Grayson also hosted the show “Drama Hour” on the Hot 97 radio station in New York, which aired on Fridays from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.

As an executive, Grayson led the artists and repertoire division for Shaquille O’Neal’s Deja 34 label, did similar work for Ray J’s “All I Feel” album, and signed the New York-born rapper Papoose, according to his biography on the Hot 97 website.

“Hot 97 is shocked and saddened by the loss of our beloved DJ Kay Slay,” the hip-hop music station said in a statement. “We cherish the many memories created through the 20-plus years he dedicated to the ‘Drama Hour.’

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