DJ Kay Slay
![]() | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (May 2014) |
DJ Kay Slay | |
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Also known as |
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Born | August 14, 1966 |
Origin | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 1983–present |
Labels | |
Associated acts |
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Keith Grayson (born August 14, 1966), professionally known as DJ Kay Slay, is an American disc jockey (DJ) and record executive from New York City. He was referred to by The New York Times as "Hip Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults".[1][2] He has released four studio albums, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2, The Champions: North Meets South (with Greg Street) and More Than Just a DJ.
Early life[]
Keith Grayson was born August 14, 1966 in New York City, New York. Grayson was originally a prominent graffiti artist, having been featured in the 1983 hip hop documentary, Style Wars. One of Grayson's better known tags was "Dez".[2] As a youth involved in New York’s flourishing hip-hop scene, Keith witnessed firsthand the ascent of legendary disc jockeys such as Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizzard Theodore and Kool DJ Red Alert, in the late 1970s and into the 1980s. “I didn’t so much set out to be a DJ,” he said. “It was just something to do that was fun and that I enjoyed doing.”[3] With the decline of the graffiti movement in the late 1980s, Dez began dealing with narcotics and consequently ended up in jail by the late 1980s. Grayson was released from jail in 1990, and claims to have abstained from using drugs ever since. He is from East River Projects located in East Harlem, New York.
Career[]
2003–2009: Streetsweeper series[]
DJ Kay Slay released his debut album, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, on 20 May 2003. In the summer of 2003, Kay Slay released a single, accompanied by a music video, for a song titled "Too Much For Me". The single, which features a chorus sung by then-up-and-coming singer Amerie, also features verses from American rappers Birdman, Nas and Foxy Brown. The song peaked at number 53 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it the DJ's highest charting single to date. The single's music video includes cameo appearances by Swizz Beatz, N.O.R.E., Raekwon, WC and Lloyd Banks.[citation needed] Although the song was not a major success, its music video was aired on MTV Jams and BET. The "Too Much For Me" video did not feature Nas (because of Nas' solo projects) or Baby; so Loon was featured instead. This replacement started a feud between Nas and Kay Slay.
On March 30, 2004, Kay Slay's second album The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2, was released. Another single and video were released for "Who Gives A...Where You From" with Three 6 Mafia, which peaked at number 89 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Kay Slay and the song were featured on the 2004 NFL Street video game.[citation needed]
2010–present: More Than Just a DJ and Rhyme or Die[]
After releasing More Than Just a DJ in 2010, Rhyme or Die is scheduled for release in 2015. The album's first two single "60 Second Assassins" featuring Busta Rhymes, Layzie Bone, Twista and Jaz-O and "The Kings of the Streets" featuring DJ Khaled, DJ Drama, DJ Doo Wop and Fly Nate were released in 2011. In 2013, "About That Life" featuring Fabolous, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly and French Montana was released as a single from Rhyme or Die. It debuted and peaked at #54 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it one of Kay Slay's most successful singles to date. In the beginning of 2014, "Free Again" was released featuring Fat Joe and 50 Cent, which came to a surprise for some seeing as how they had beef before, but have since reconciled. In 2021 Dj Kay Slay released the track "Rolling 110 Deep" which featured 110 hip hop artist with contributing verses from Ice-T, Shaq, Coke La Rock, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah, Roy Jones Jr, Omar Epps and others. [4]
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
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US | US R&B/HH | ||
The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1 |
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22 | 4 |
The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2 |
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27 | 10 |
More Than Just a DJ |
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133 | 29 |
The Big Brother |
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— | — |
Hip Hop Frontline |
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— | — |
Collaborative albums[]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
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US | US R&B/HH | ||
The Champions: North Meets South (with Greg Street) |
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57 | 17 |
Mixtapes[]
Title | Album details |
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The Month of the Bad Guy |
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The MySpace Maniac |
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Sign of the Times |
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Sign of the Times 2 |
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Hate Is the New Love |
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The Return of the God |
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Blockstars |
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Blockstars 2 |
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The God Is Back! |
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Long Live the King! |
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Redemption |
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The Soul Controller |
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The Changing of the Guard |
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Return of the Gate Keeper |
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Grown Man Hip-Hop |
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Grown Man Hip-Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' with the Enemy) |
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The Last Champion |
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The Rise of a City |
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The Last Hip Hop Disciple |
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The Original Man |
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The Industry Purge |
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Shadow of the Sun |
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50 Shades of Slay |
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The Rap Attack |
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Living Legend |
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Homage |
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Accolades |
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Singles[]
As lead artist[]
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
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US R&B/HH | |||
"Too Much for Me" (featuring Nas, Baby, Foxy Brown and Amerie) |
2003 | 53 | The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1 |
"Not Your Average Joe" (featuring Fat Joe, Joe Budden and Joe) |
2004 | 63 | The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2 |
"Who Gives A Fuck Where You From" (featuring Three 6 Mafia, Lil Wyte and Frayser Boy) |
89 | ||
"Blockstars"[29] (featuring Yo Gotti, Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes and Ray J) |
2009 | — | More Than Just a DJ |
"Thug Luv"[30] (featuring Maino, Papoose, Red Cafe and Ray J) |
2010 | 112 | |
"60 Second Assassins" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Layzie Bone, Twista and Jaz-O) |
2011 | — | Non-album singles |
"The Kings of the Streets" (featuring DJ Khaled, DJ Drama, DJ Doo Wop and Fly Nate) |
75 | ||
"About That Life"[31] (featuring Fabolous, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly and French Montana) |
2013 | 54 | |
"Keep Calm"[32] (featuring Juicy J, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz and Rico Love) |
— | ||
"Don't Do It"[33] (featuring Fat Joe, French Montana and Rico Love) |
2014 | — | |
"Hocus Pocus" (featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Blueface and Moneybagg Yo) |
2019 | — | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
References[]
- ^ Ivey, Michael (16 June 2006). "DJ Kay Slay and Shaq Seek to Bridge the Gap". nobodysmiling.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Ogunnaike, Lola (4 May 2003). "Hip-Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ Gary Suarez (January 28, 2019). "DJ Kay Slay Reveals How He Lands So Many Hip-Hop Greats On His Albums".
- ^ "Video: DJ Kay Slay Ft. Various Artists "Rolling 110 Deep"". Rap Radar. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ^ "Kay Slay* - The Month Of The Bad Guy". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "The MySpace Maniac - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Sign Of The Times - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Sign Of The Times 2 - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Hate Is The New Love - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "The Return Of The God - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Blockstars - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Blockstars 2 - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "The God Is Back! - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Long Live The King - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Redemption". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "The Soul Controller". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "The Changing Of The Guard". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ Zach Frydenlund. "Mixtape: DJ Kay Slay "The Return Of The Gatekeeper"". Complex. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "Dj Kay Slay - Grown Man Hip Hop". DatPiff. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "DJ Kay Slay - Grown Man Hip Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' With The Enemy)". DatPiff. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "Dj Kay Slay - The Last Champion Hosted by Dj Kay Slay". DatPiff. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ Goddard, Kevin (January 23, 2014). "DJ Kay Slay - The Rise of a City". Retrieved July 7, 2015.
- ^ Lilah, Rose (May 8, 2014). "DJ Kay Slay - The Last Hip-Hop Disciple". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
- ^ Goddard, Kevin. "DJ Kay Slay - The Original Man". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ Smith, Trevor (April 8, 2015). "DJ Kay Slay - The Industry Purge". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ "DJ Kay Slay - Shadow Of The Sun - Download & Listen [New Mixtape]". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "New Mixtape: DJ Kay Slay '50 Shades Of Slay'". Rapradar.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Dj Kay Slay - The Rap Attack". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "iTunes Store". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "iTunes - Music - Thug Luv (feat. Maino, Papoose, Red Cafe & Ray J) - Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "iTunes - Music - About That Life (feat. Fabolous, T Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly & French Montana) - Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "iTunes - Music - Keep Calm (feat. Juicy J, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz & Rico Love) - Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "iTunes Store". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
External links[]
- DJ Kay Slay's Hot 97 web page biography
- DJ Kay Slay charts:
- The information in the personal section is from Circuit City's DJ Kay Slay bio [1]
- 1966 births
- African-American musicians
- American graffiti artists
- East Coast hip hop musicians
- Mixtape DJs
- Columbia Records artists
- Five percenters
- Musicians from New York City
- Entertainment One Music artists
- Living people
- American hip hop DJs
- American music industry executives