DJ Kay Slay, a hip-hop culture icon, passed away from complications of COVID-19 on April 17.
The 55-year-old’s death was confirmed on early Monday morning by music artist manager Wack 100. Wack paid a four-hour tribute to Kay Slay on Youtube and Clubhouse. He shared stories and memories of his fallen comrade.
““My dear brother is gone. I’ve known him since he was 16 years old. He was my little brother. I introduced him to many and we did a lot of things together.”
He continued, “From the mixtapes to helping him launch Straight Stuntin‘ magazine and the whole “What The Science” project, the world not only lost a real dedicated person to the culture of Hip-Hop but a source of bridging the gap in Hip-Hop. I’m gonna miss my little brother.”
Wack also revealed to fans that Kay Slay was the originator of the mixtape, and had it not been for his work– many artists we know today wouldn’t exist.
“Y’all gotta understand, he started the whole mixtape s***. He started the mixtape, he the first n***a to get it with the million-dollar lawsuits. He started that s***. That n*** got a wall with every artist Jim Jones, T.I all these n**** looked like they had 38 cents in their pocket and couldn’t even do nothing.”
“He was putting them on those mixtapes and pumping them out there. He was defying s*** and keeping it real for hip-hop. Keep it real Jay-Z had the music on the radio in a chokehold,” Wack continued. “When he had the beef with Nas and Nas came with Ether all the radio stations had a block not to play it. What DJ Kay Slay say ? F*** Y’all and spun that motherf***. If that didn’t happen, it would have offset a whole bunch of other s***.”
Wack also expressed that he had a nagging feeling the day the deejay passed. He disclosed that at one point he thought Kay Slay was going to die while he was in the hospital early on battling COVID.
“This s*** was very unexpected. I expected it to happen when I expected it to happen and it didn’t happen. On that f*** machine and he came out of that s***. I gain another spiritual solder another motherf**** that I know going to be watching over me for real,” said Wack.
“Things happen for a reason because I was supposed to go to Miami, but [DJ] Akademiks called me and told me he needed me in New York. I jump on a last-minute plane and come out here. I was supposed to leave this morning, then later at six o’clock, and I kept putting the s*** off, and then I get this f***ing call… All day, something was telling me not to move. I always go with my gut feeling.”
Fans reacted to the Drama King’s founder’s death on social media.
“Now you don’t want no drama, boy..
Cuz we the Drama Kings” ?RIP KAY SLAY ?? pic.twitter.com/fHchohmxeW
— DeFame of the Wrong Crowd (@DeFameWC) April 18, 2022
RIP KAY SLAY A New York Originator of The Sound Culture!!??
— A.D.O.R. (@trureign1) April 19, 2022
RIP KAY SLAY A New York Originator of The Sound Culture!!??
— A.D.O.R. (@trureign1) April 19, 2022
We lost one of the most SOLID MFs in HipHop.. I’ve been checking in on him his whole struggle in the Hospital. I honestly thought he was gonna pull through. This truly Hurts… F Covid. RIP to the Drama King ? #Kay Slay pic.twitter.com/5MyanPPPWo
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) April 18, 2022
DJ KAY SLAY CHANGED MY LIFE WITH THIS MIXTAPE WHEN I WAS IN 6TH GRADE AND IM FOREVER AND A DAY GRATEFUL FOR THE DRAMA KING!!!!!
RIP KAY SLAY
STREET SWEEPERS 4 LIFE pic.twitter.com/1dOjZuzccR— Twi. (from RUNNING TRIZZ) (@westside_Twi) April 18, 2022
According to his bio on Hot 97’s website, Kay Slay was not only an ill deejay, but he was the CEO of Straight Stuntin’ Magazine. He also solidified his hip-hop legacy with an early Friday morning slot on the famed radio station called the “Drama Hour.”
The Harlem native was signed to the late Chris Lightly’s Violator Record Label in 2004. Kay Slay also played a huge role in rapper Papoose’s career in rap.
In January, Wack gave an update on his comrade who had been hospitalized with the virus in December.
“UPDATE 
@djkayslay still fighting. He’s been off the #ECMO machine for couple weeks now. Let’s continue our prayers as our brother continues to fight ??”
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Our prayers go out to Kay Slay’s Family and friends.
