Hip-hop producer Tay Keith’s cause of death revealed

Tay Keith’s cause of death has been revealed after the famed producer was found dead in his Nashville apartment at age 29 on June 18.

The “Sicko Mode” hitmaker passed away from the toxic effects of drugs, including ketamine and an active ingredient in kratom, according to TMZ.

Kratom is a tree from Southeast Asia that acts as a sedative and interacts with the brain’s opioid receptors to reduce pain and cause calmness, per Yale Medicine.

The Nashville Medical Examiner’s Office told the outlet that Keith had ketamine and mitragynine in his system when he died.

Keith also had nicotine and ethanol in his system and had mild coronary artery disease.

TMZ reported that it’s unclear whether the hip-hop star was using kratom, which is legal at the federal level in the United States, or if he came into contact with the drug some other way.

The Metro Nashville Police announced his passing on X, revealing that officers found him after conducting a welfare check.

Keith — born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers — is from Memphis, Tennessee, and met his longtime producing partner, BlocBoy JB, in the city as a teenager.

Drake took an interest in their work before bringing them aboard to help him with his 2018 hit song “Look Alive.”

That same year, Keith joined forces with Travis Scott on “Sicko Mode.”

In 2019, the musician was nominated for a Grammy for best rap song for the track.

Keith earned another nod in 2024, in the same category, for Drake and 21 Savage’s hit “Rich Flex.”

At the 2024 BMI Awards, the late star won producer of the year.

Keith made the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Music list in 2025, with his bio reading, “At 23, Tay Keith became a Grammy-nominated producer for his work on Travis Scott’s ‘Sicko Mode,’ adding to his roster of clients like Cardi B, Eminem and music’s ‘Queen B’ Beyoncé.”

Keith last posted on May 7 to promote Chris Brown’s new song “Call Your Name,” featuring GloRilla and Sexyy Red.

Social media tributes quickly poured in after news of Keith’s death broke.

BlocBoy JB wrote on his Instagram Stories, “Damn Cuz You Just Hurt Me Bad.”

A follow-up shot showed a video of their call history, with the text, “We talked’everyday yeen tell me you was leaving.”

Artist Hitkidd also posted an Instagram tribute, penning, “I ain’t even got the words, we been doing this since 2010 @taykeith 🕊️.”