DJ Kay Slay

Keith Grayson (born August 14, 1966), professionally known as DJ Kay Slay, is an American hip hop disc jockey (DJ) from New York City. He was referred to by The New York Times as "Hip Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults".[1][2] Kay Slay goes by several monikers, namely The Drama King, Dezzy Dez and Slap Your Favorite DJ. 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.

DJ Kay Slay
Birth nameKeith Grayson
Born (1966-08-14) August 14, 1966
OriginNew York City, New York, United States
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Disc jockey
Years active1983–present
LabelsStreetsweepers, Columbia, Sony Music
Associated actsBusta Rhymes, Fat Joe, French Montana, Ghostface Killah, Jim Jones, J.R. Writer, G-Unit, Maino, Papoose, Raekwon, Remy Ma, Ray J, Tony Yayo, Twista, Uncle Murda, Vado, Grafh, Eminem

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 says. “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. 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.

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.

Discography

Studio albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US US
R&B/HH
The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1 224
The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2
  • Released: March 30, 2004
  • Label: Streetsweepers, Columbia
  • Format: CD, download
 2710
More Than Just a DJ
  • Released: February 9, 2010
  • Label: Streetsweepers, E1
  • Format: CD, download
 13329
The Big Brother
  • Released: September 22, 2017
  • Label: Streetsweepers, Empire
  • Format: CD, download
 ——
Hip Hop Frontline
  • Released: January 25, 2019
  • Label: Streetsweepers, Empire
  • Format: CD, download
 ——

Collaborative albums
List of collaborative albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US US
R&B/HH
The Champions: North Meets South
(with Greg Street)
  • Released: August 22, 2006
  • Label: Koch
  • Format: CD, download
 5717

Mixtapes
List of mixtapes, with year released
Title Album details
The Month of the Bad Guy
  • Released: 2003[4]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: CD
The MySpace Maniac
  • Released: October 30, 2006[5]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Sign of the Times
  • Released: January 29, 2007[6]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Sign of the Times 2
  • Released: March 6, 2007[7]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Hate Is the New Love
  • Released: August 24, 2007[8]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Return of the God
  • Released: December 21, 2007[9]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Blockstars
  • Released: October 18, 2009[10]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Blockstars 2
  • Released: November 16, 2009[11]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The God Is Back!
  • Released: August 24, 2010[12]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Long Live the King!
  • Released: October 11, 2010[13]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Redemption
  • Released: January 14, 2011[14]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Soul Controller
  • Released: February 6, 2011[15]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Changing of the Guard
  • Released: July 24, 2012[16]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Return of the Gate Keeper
  • Released: September 8, 2012[17]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Grown Man Hip-Hop
  • Released: November 19, 2012[18]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Grown Man Hip-Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' with the Enemy)
  • Released: January 23, 2013[19]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Last Champion
  • Released: July 12, 2013[20]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Rise of a City
  • Released: January 23, 2014[21]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Last Hip Hop Disciple
  • Released: May 8, 2014[22]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Original Man
  • Released: November 14, 2014[23]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Industry Purge
  • Released: April 8, 2015[24]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Shadow of the Sun
  • Released: October 26, 2015[25]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
50 Shades of Slay
  • Released: February 15, 2016[26]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
The Rap Attack
  • Released: July 1, 2016[27]
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download
Living Legend
  • Released: 2020
  • Label: Streetsweepers
  • Format: Download

Singles

As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
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"[28]
(featuring Yo Gotti, Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes and Ray J)		 2009 — More Than Just a DJ
"Thug Luv"[29]
(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"[30]
(featuring Fabolous, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly and French Montana)		 2013 54
"Keep Calm"[31]
(featuring Juicy J, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz and Rico Love)		 —
"Don't Do It"[32]
(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.
gollark: Yes, I'm aware it's better business-wise, and I don't want to support that.
gollark: They could at least support bridging to XMPP or something natively.
gollark: It works for XMPP.
gollark: You could, theoretically, have selfhostable Discord instances with federation.
gollark: Also because it would cost money.

References
  1. 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.
  2. Ogunnaike, Lola (4 May 2003). "Hip-Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  3. Gary Suarez (January 28, 2019). "DJ Kay Slay Reveals How He Lands So Many Hip-Hop Greats On His Albums".
  4. "Kay Slay* - The Month Of The Bad Guy". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  5. "The MySpace Maniac - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  6. "Sign Of The Times - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  7. "Sign Of The Times 2 - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  8. "Hate Is The New Love - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  9. "The Return Of The God - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  10. "Blockstars - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  11. "Blockstars 2 - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  12. "The God Is Back! - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  13. "Long Live The King - DJ Kay Slay". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  14. "Redemption". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  15. "The Soul Controller". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  16. "The Changing Of The Guard". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  17. Zach Frydenlund. "Mixtape: DJ Kay Slay "The Return Of The Gatekeeper"". Complex. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  18. "Dj Kay Slay - Grown Man Hip Hop". DatPiff. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  19. "DJ Kay Slay - Grown Man Hip Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' With The Enemy)". DatPiff. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  20. "Dj Kay Slay - The Last Champion Hosted by Dj Kay Slay". DatPiff. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  21. Goddard, Kevin (January 23, 2014). "DJ Kay Slay - The Rise of a City". Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  22. Lilah, Rose (May 8, 2014). "DJ Kay Slay - The Last Hip-Hop Disciple". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  23. Goddard, Kevin. "DJ Kay Slay - The Original Man". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  24. Smith, Trevor (April 8, 2015). "DJ Kay Slay - The Industry Purge". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  25. "DJ Kay Slay - Shadow Of The Sun - Download & Listen [New Mixtape]". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  26. "New Mixtape: DJ Kay Slay '50 Shades Of Slay'". Rapradar.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  27. "Dj Kay Slay - The Rap Attack". Livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  28. "iTunes Store". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  29. "iTunes - Music - Thug Luv (feat. Maino, Papoose, Red Cafe & Ray J) - Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  30. "iTunes - Music - About That Life (feat. Fabolous, T Pain, Rick Ross, Nelly & French Montana) - Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  31. "iTunes - Music - Keep Calm (feat. Juicy J, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz & Rico Love) - Single by DJ Kayslay". iTunes. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  32. "iTunes Store". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
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