Tay Keith's Cause of Death Revealed: Drake and Travis Scott Producer Died From 'Toxic Effects of Drugs'

Grammy-nominated hip-hop producer Tay Keith died from the toxic effects of drugs, according to an autopsy report, with the Nashville medical examiner ruling his death an accident.

The 29-year-old, born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, was found unresponsive at his Nashville apartment on 18 June after police carried out a welfare check.

The medical examiner recorded his cause of death as combined toxicity from mitragynine, 7-hydroxy mitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, compounds associated with the plant kratom, along with ketamine. The manner of death was classified as accidental.

The report also noted the presence of nicotine and ethanol, and mild coronary artery disease, although these were not identified as contributing to his death. Investigators have not established how Tay Keith obtained the kratom or whether taking it was intentional.

Metro Nashville Police said at the time that officers did not suspect foul play and passed the case to the medical examiner for classification.

From Memphis Beatmaker to In-Demand Hit Producer

Raised in Memphis, Tay Keith began producing beats as a teenager, drawing on the sound of Three 6 Mafia and 8Ball & MJG. He broke through aged 21 with Drake and BlocBoy JB's 'Look Alive' in 2018.

His credits expanded quickly from there. He co-produced Travis Scott's 'Sicko Mode', earning his first Grammy nomination for best rap song, and went on to work on Drake's 'Nonstop' and, with 21 Savage, 'Rich Flex', which brought a second nomination in 2024.

He also produced Eminem's 'Not Alike', Beyoncé's 'Before I Let Go', and executive produced Sexyy Red's 2024 album Sexyy We Trust, which included the hits 'Pound Town' and 'SkeeYee'.

Following news of his death, Drake wrote on Instagram: 'Endless and eternal gratitude for your spirit and your contributions to this thing that we all love so much... you will be deeply missed.' Travis Scott also paid tribute, writing that he would 'keep going hard' in Tay Keith's memory.

Juggling Chart Success With a University Degree

Away from music, Tay Keith was the first in his family to graduate from university, earning two degrees from Middle Tennessee State University while his production career was accelerating.

Beverly Keel, dean of MTSU's Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, said people had questioned why Tay Keith was continuing his studies when he was already working with Drake and Travis Scott.

'But it was so important to him. He had promised his mother that he would earn a college degree,' she said. The university later named him an honorary professor in recognition of his mentoring work on campus.

'We're all just shattered and devastated, and we all loved him so much,' Keel added. Fellow MTSU student and R&B artist Langston Bleu said Tay Keith had shown Black students at the university that 'success was possible'.

His family, in a statement issued through his label Drumatized on 21 June, described him as 'a visionary producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and cultural force whose work helped define the sound of a generation from Memphis to the global stage'.

They added that behind his professional achievements, he was 'a source of love, strength, laughter, and guidance'.