June 21, 2026
Award Winning, Hit Making Producer Found Dead At 29
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RSS Feed A tragedy in the music world, after authorities discovered 29-year-old Tay Keith dead in his apartment. Right now, his death is listed as “unclassified” pending an autopsy report, but as of this recording, no foul play is suspected. Keith was behind some of the biggest hits this past decade, working with artists like Drake, Travis Scott, Beyonce, Eminem, Kanye and DJ Khaled. His family says they will take comfort knowing his legacy will live on through the music he created and the lives he touched.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey, that folks.
00:00:02
Speaker 2: It is Sunday, June twenty first, and one of the most dynamic, popular hit making and current producers in all of hip hop has passed away at the age of twenty nine and right now police say they don't know why. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ.
00:00:22
Speaker 1: Rose.
00:00:23
Speaker 2: We can reel off all the names he's worked with. A lot of people won't know his name, but he has worked with the biggest stars and he has made some really big hits in recent years.
00:00:33
Speaker 3: Yes, he's one of those I would say unsung heroes except for his name.
00:00:36
Speaker 4: Husband sung the truth it has.
00:00:38
Speaker 3: It might not be a household name, but he's worked we're talking about, by the way, twenty nine year old Tay Keith, but he worked with artists like Drake, Travis Scott, Sexy Red, Beyonce, Eminem, Kanye Cardi.
00:00:52
Speaker 4: B DJ Khalid, basically anybody else, the mount Rushmore of hip hop, trouth.
00:00:59
Speaker 1: Of I mean road.
00:01:00
Speaker 2: This is the thing he was current, right, We had to get specific about this stat that we saw from Billboard, but this kind of drives home how relevant Tay Keith is right now in the music industry, and wrote how current he has been in recent years, in particular this decade.
00:01:17
Speaker 3: Yes, he right now currently holds the record for the most number one hits on the Hot R and B Hip Hop Songs Chart.
00:01:25
Speaker 4: This decade he has He had six. That is remarkable.
00:01:28
Speaker 3: He earned eleven top ten hits and four number one records.
00:01:33
Speaker 2: Okay, you just said in this decade, right, so it's twenty twenty six. You said he has six. That's one a year by average. That's not I mean people go their whole careers that that's pretty impressive. But Tay Keith is this dynamic producer. He's from Memphis originally, but he was living in Nashville. To give you the details of what at least happened here, first of all robes is this discovery was found on Thursday.
00:01:55
Speaker 1: Was supposed to be a welfare check.
00:01:58
Speaker 2: I didn't see the details about who called in and why in the first place police were sent there.
00:02:04
Speaker 4: Yes, I think he.
00:02:06
Speaker 3: Was.
00:02:07
Speaker 4: All I saw was that a welfare check was performed, so it didn't make in.
00:02:12
Speaker 3: They didn't get into any details about who called it in. But he was found unresponsive in his apartment, and the only thing we've heard from police specifically surrounding the death is that no foul play is suspected.
00:02:27
Speaker 2: No foul play, robes, no cause of death here found alone in his apartment, twenty nine years old. Now police haven't said one way or another. It's important to say no foul play I suspected, but twenty nine year olds, generally speaking, just don't drop dead.
00:02:44
Speaker 1: Robes.
00:02:46
Speaker 2: I don't know what kind of health situation or background he had, but Robes, you hear a twenty nine year old on his way who had made such an impact so far is dead at twenty nine, and no matter what, Robes, that's tragic. And then as I was, I was familiar with him for certain reasons, and then I started playing songs and letting you said, oh wait a minute, Like, there's so much stuff people are familiar with that he had a hand in that.
00:03:11
Speaker 1: Folks don't even realize it's true.
00:03:12
Speaker 3: And it's actually remarkable to say someone is or was prolific at the age of twenty nine.
00:03:20
Speaker 4: Not many people.
00:03:22
Speaker 3: This is remarkable when you start to hear all of the hits that he was a part of. And look, I'm not somebody who knows the names of songs the way you do. But when you started playing them for me. I was like, oh that one, oh that one.
00:03:35
Speaker 4: It was pretty remarkable. But his first top five hit.
00:03:39
Speaker 3: Was not even that long ago, because well, twenty eighteen.
00:03:43
Speaker 2: Look alive, I think that we don't have this one, right, this is the one robes he produced.
00:03:48
Speaker 1: This was this the one? No, it was rich Fleck. No, that was the one. It's the first.
00:03:53
Speaker 2: Yes, this was the one robes that he produced. I believe when he was still a senior in God.
00:03:59
Speaker 4: Yes, I read about that. That was remarkable. Look this is I mean, and it's sweet because.
00:04:04
Speaker 3: You start to read about him. They talk about how he was this quiet and humble guy. That was his demeanor. He was constantly looking for the next hip. He was always behind the scenes. His brilliance wasn't something that was trumpeted. But I do appreciate because none of these artists would have had these songs without his contribution.
00:04:22
Speaker 2: And some even argue. Folks do know the name Sexy Red. She's been on the scene over the past several years, and she is credited in large part with putting her on the scene. She was struggling to get I guess to break through. He gave her a song that was the breakthrough. It's called Poundtown that he's actually featured as an artist on as well as producing. But that was the one rope that kind of shot her to superstardom. Wow, to a great degree, he was.
00:04:49
Speaker 3: Mind yeah, and I did find the one he produced while he was a student. So he was actually nominated for a Grammy in twenty nineteen for Sicko Mode, which he helped produce while he was a student at Middle Tennessee State University.
00:05:01
Speaker 2: Now that has got to be his biggest hit. Sicko Mo by Travis Scott.
00:05:06
Speaker 1: Is a a wonderful banger. It is a great song.
00:05:11
Speaker 2: But yes, he graduated within a month of producing that song and getting a Grammy nomination. He was graduating from the Middle Tennessee State, Middle Tennessee State, So go through it non stop. That's another one you might not by Drake. Play it and you'll of course know it. But that song starts off and the first thing you hear on that song is tay Keith, not his voice. His name is the first thing said on that song and robes this is something you are very familiar with a lot of people are, but not familiar with him necessarily. A lot of producers, I guess most famously DJ Galla producers get very famous by producing records, but they put their name or their sign or their call sign some kind of a thing on there.
00:05:57
Speaker 1: Call it is the best.
00:05:57
Speaker 2: Another one, right, you know, that's a DJ Klitz song. This guy, Tay Keith had a tagline that a bunch of folks used in their song and it goes, take Keith mess these dudes up man. Now I'm saying it. They're much harsher language in there.
00:06:16
Speaker 3: That's hilarious that that was your go to your I guess clinical version of what he actually said. The thing is a lot of times it's pretty cool. You'll record or you'll be able to record what some audio as we can play it for y'all and you can hear for yourselves. We were playing, I was like, yeah, we can't, we can't put that on the podcast because every word is words that well, most people cannot say and words that most people should not say.
00:06:40
Speaker 2: But it's in pretty much every one of the songs he produced. There is just this little quick lines said, take Keith mess these dudes up man, and that lets you know this is a Tay Keith produced song or something very special is about to happen with the drums on this song.
00:06:56
Speaker 1: It was just it's just cool. He made it.
00:06:58
Speaker 2: To that point, Robes, that's kind of a high point to get to at the age of twenty nine. And really, at any point in hip hop, a lot of producers would love for you to know their names and you don't.
00:07:08
Speaker 1: And he it was.
00:07:10
Speaker 2: These artists allowed it, they wanted it, they wanted him to be a part of it, and they liked his sound. The kid out of Memphis Rode have been producing since he was a teenager.
00:07:18
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, and that's what's so incredibly Obviously, it's tragic when anyone dies, but anyone dies at that young of an age. But the brilliance that this young artist had and what he still could have contributed, I think that's what's so incredibly profound, the fact of the music. He didn't get to create, the music that was still in him because he was credited with creating a new sound in this streaming age, a new hip hop sound that hadn't been seen before, or hadn't been heard before, I guess would be the better way to put it.
00:07:48
Speaker 1: It's again, Memphis rap is a very Memphis music. Has been.
00:07:51
Speaker 2: Look, I grew up there, so eight Ball, MJG Right, three six Mafia, all these.
00:07:55
Speaker 3: Older You're speaking basic like Chinese to me, because I understand many people would know what you're referring to.
00:08:00
Speaker 2: Their legends, you know, Glorilla, Right, But there's a particular Memphis sound. There's a Memphis music scene and he was very much a part of that, and he brought it to the streaming age. Right, they kind of lost influence, they said it's Memphis influence, but he was bringing back. It's just there's a way, there's a percussion, there's a rhythm, there's a pounding almost to how he does a drum beat in.
00:08:23
Speaker 1: Throughout his songs. That's there.
00:08:24
Speaker 2: Once you I'm saying it, like, what are you talking about? Once you hear it, go oh there it is there, It is there, it is.
00:08:29
Speaker 1: It's just a.
00:08:30
Speaker 2: Very particular sound rope. So yeah, he was on his way and Glorilla take Keith. Memphis is back, baby. And now to hear this happen, it sucks.
00:08:43
Speaker 4: To hear it really does.
00:08:44
Speaker 3: And look, I'm learning about someone who I didn't even know before, and I think a lot of people obviously didn't know his name. People who worked in the industry. Obviously all those artists, he was a legend among them. But it is look at the very least to have his life cut short. It is it is I actually feel privileged to be able to learn about him and maybe even now explore some of this music that I wasn't as familiar with.
00:09:06
Speaker 4: And his real name.
00:09:07
Speaker 3: It's funny. It reminded me a little of you. Your Lutelius Holmes from West Memphis, and you go by TJ. He was Brightavius.
00:09:14
Speaker 2: Chambers and you win by Tay. Yes, it's the thing we do in the Memphis areas.
00:09:19
Speaker 4: Yes, you're a sister's letitious.
00:09:20
Speaker 3: She goes by Tish, Tay and TJ.
00:09:23
Speaker 4: Yes, all have names kind of similaries.
00:09:26
Speaker 1: I love it.
00:09:27
Speaker 2: But yeah, I never knew his first name. I never knew his real name until he passed. But a kid from Memphis, but he met a black boy JB. A lot of people don't know that. Again, I'm very much a Memphis artist. These two moved into the same neighborhood when they were teenagers, and they started making music at the age of thirteen and fourteen. So we see that nobody's an overnight success. We were talking about it with the guy from back rooms and what's the other obsession?
00:09:52
Speaker 1: Right, people think they're overnight successes. These kids have.
00:09:55
Speaker 2: Been in there with a laptop in their rooms since they're ten years old, honing their craft.
00:10:00
Speaker 4: Geniuses and savants.
00:10:01
Speaker 2: He's been doing it since he was fourteen, Right, He was producing beats and putting him on some platform in which he was getting paid, like some royalties for people just snatching and using stuff he was rot This is another great story that we only see the success and the results at the end. This kid's been at it for fifteen years. While you were fourteen buying lollipops and worried about getting invited to the dance. He was in there producing beats.
00:10:29
Speaker 4: That's pretty cool and you know what you do.
00:10:31
Speaker 3: It's one of those I got chills because I think about lives cut short and it was almost like you hear that song from Hamilton that runs like why does he write like he's running out of time? You kind of see that like it's a little eerie maybe even to look at it basically in with the perspective that we have now that his life was cut short. But he was writing and producing music like he was running out of time.
00:10:56
Speaker 2: But look at the you have them. Okay, let's continue with the Alexander Hamilton legacy. When he died, I can't remember who it is.
00:11:02
Speaker 1: I'd have to look that up.
00:11:03
Speaker 4: I would never know that often.
00:11:04
Speaker 2: But to that point, Robes like, you're running out of time, And look at the legacy that Alexander Hamilton left in a short time with doing all that he did. This guy is twenty nine years old, and he worked the way he did, and he put a stamp on an industry at twenty nine, twenty nine.
00:11:21
Speaker 1: That's and I applaud him for that.
00:11:23
Speaker 2: Now, some of the songs and help me, he had the big influence in hip hop, you know before I Let Go.
00:11:27
Speaker 1: But Beyonce, a lot of people know that song. Yeah, that's him wow before.
00:11:34
Speaker 2: And he had to borrow that from an old school song and you don't mess that up. And he didn't and Beyonce didn't. And so he's just what a what an influential cat Robes I hate I hate to see we lost one like this.
00:11:48
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it's it's an unbelievable shame for obviously the people who knew him and loved him, but for those of us. Who I guess now I'll be introduced in a different way to some of the music that I didn't realize is that came from him, or at least that he put a huge stamp on. And by the way, he died at twenty nine. Alexander Hamilton died at forty nine. So can you imagine? Can you imagine what Take Keith could have done with another twenty years?
00:12:13
Speaker 2: Wow? But then he's writing like he's running out of time. Why we think you got another twenty years? I'll get the next hit. I got time to do it. Ro It's good on him.
00:12:21
Speaker 1: For what he did.
00:12:22
Speaker 2: Just applaud when I see just like the producers of those movies that were Carson Parsons and the two producers of The Back Rooms and Obsession, Like I applaud you all been working like kids are in their room right now. Parents are yelling at him at thirteen, come out and all this stuff. I get that to a certain degree.
00:12:40
Speaker 3: But maybe they're creating things that will all be listening to, watching and admiring for decades to come.
00:12:47
Speaker 2: And stay here. We did hear from Take Keith's family. We'll let you hear what they had to say about and we also heard from Drake, who we did a lot of producing with.
00:12:57
Speaker 1: Stay here. You want to hear the words from the family, from those who worked with Take Keith. Stay here.
00:13:11
Speaker 2: Right will continue here on this Sunday edition of Amy and TJ on this Father's Day actually June twenty first, speaking on what has still robes a mystery, but waiting on answers about this very influential and very young producer found dead in his Nashville apartment. Take Keith, big time hip hop R and B producer, worked with Drake, A bunch had hits with Drake, had a couple of Grammy nominations. Was one of them at least with Drake? What was the song rich Flex? That was Drake and twenty one Savage. I play that song, you'll go, oh yeah.
00:13:46
Speaker 3: So that with knowing the names of these songs, but I hear the beat because obviously you're playing music con a lot, so I'm like, oh, and.
00:13:53
Speaker 4: This music, in particular is music I've.
00:13:55
Speaker 3: Recently been introduced to in the last few years, but different the last few years.
00:14:01
Speaker 4: I don't know my relationship with you.
00:14:03
Speaker 1: Why would that make a difference.
00:14:04
Speaker 3: I love the I love the musical influence of different cultures and ways of listening to artists.
00:14:11
Speaker 1: Cool.
00:14:11
Speaker 2: This is the last one that will just mess you up. The whole Drake versus Kendrick Lamar rap battle. Yes, everybody well aware of all that happened, the Grammys that came, the super Bowl halftime performed. All this stuff that happened was started because of one song. That song was called First Person Shooter by Drake and J Cole. That song was produced by Take Keith. Wow, it's Take Keith's fault.
00:14:37
Speaker 4: All that happened really goodness.
00:14:40
Speaker 2: He produced the very song that started that entire beef.
00:14:46
Speaker 3: So you could say that Kendrick Lamar could thank Keith for his Grammys, nice for his super Bowl halftime shows, because he launched him into a whole other statisphere. Is it?
00:14:57
Speaker 2: But Take Keith produced that song First Person Shoo. Go back and listen to when you get a chance. But it's where they were talking about the Big Three. Drake, J Cole and Kendrick Lamar were supposed to be on that album. Kendrick said no, Kendrick made another song and that line very famously said Big three, it's just big me. That's where I all got started. Roldon, Take Keith was in the middle of it. Again, we talk about influence. You have no idea that battle was going on. Take Keith was in the middle of it.
00:15:24
Speaker 4: That's crazy.
00:15:25
Speaker 3: And Drake had this to say about his friend and partner. He said, endless and eternal gratitude for your spirit and your contributions to this thing that we all love so much.
00:15:36
Speaker 4: You will be deeply missed.
00:15:38
Speaker 2: And his family put out a pretty extended statement, but they made the point of Robes is, Yes, we knew him as Brtavius, it's the name, But they said he was a visionary producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, philanthropist and cultural force whose work helped define the sound of a generation from Memphis to the global stage. He shaped countless hit records and left the lasting mark on music and culture.
00:15:57
Speaker 1: No doubt about that.
00:15:58
Speaker 4: Robes, absolutely, he said.
00:16:00
Speaker 3: While the world knew him as take Keith, his family knew him as Bride Savious, source of love, strength, laughter and guidance. We take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through the music he created, the opportunities he provided, and the lives he touched. And look, they asked for privacy, which we understand and continued prayers because they're still trying to figure out what the hell actually happened.
00:16:24
Speaker 4: They don't know. I did think it was cool.
00:16:27
Speaker 3: They said he was a passionate supporter of mental health awareness and cancer related causes in honor of his late mother. So he was more than just a music man. He also gave back, and I think that's important to note. I also thought it was cool that he was an active alumni or alumnus of Middle State Tennessee University and was a mentor an advocate. And didn't I see he was a professor, an honorary professor.
00:16:48
Speaker 1: That's kind of cool.
00:16:49
Speaker 3: That's really cool to see him helping young students and give back to the university that helped bring him up.
00:16:56
Speaker 4: That's awesome.
00:16:57
Speaker 2: He's a Memphis kid, Middle Tennessee's date grad was living in I think he was getting into like country and he was I mean, Nashville is the spot now for music.
00:17:05
Speaker 1: Well, it's just this needs to be able.
00:17:07
Speaker 2: We'll at least mentioned and acknowledge because attorneys for Sexy Red have at least addressed this. But there were plenty of reports and chatter, I should say, first of all, but the attorney did respond, but a suggestion that there were some kinds of financial dispute about his royalties with Sexy Red and the suggestion that in some way that had an influence or weighed on him in some way. Attorney did come out and put out a statement and said, we have been working to resolve this issue. We've been working prior to this, and so now we're going to expedite the process to make sure his estate can get all the royalties that are coming to him. That's at least worth mentioning Rope. There's no suggestion by the authorities or anyone else right now that whatever was happening contributed any way to his death, So at least want to put that on the radar because that is talked about.
00:17:58
Speaker 3: And they have responded, and we just wanted the I learned a lot. I know you did too, you knew more already going into this, but I just think it's important to note somebody who was this prolific and this profound, who died at such a such a young age, everyone should remember his name. And with that everyone, we appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Robach alongside TJ.
00:18:18
Speaker 4: Holmes. We will talk to you soon.
Speaker 1: Hey, that folks.
00:00:02
Speaker 2: It is Sunday, June twenty first, and one of the most dynamic, popular hit making and current producers in all of hip hop has passed away at the age of twenty nine and right now police say they don't know why. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ.
00:00:22
Speaker 1: Rose.
00:00:23
Speaker 2: We can reel off all the names he's worked with. A lot of people won't know his name, but he has worked with the biggest stars and he has made some really big hits in recent years.
00:00:33
Speaker 3: Yes, he's one of those I would say unsung heroes except for his name.
00:00:36
Speaker 4: Husband sung the truth it has.
00:00:38
Speaker 3: It might not be a household name, but he's worked we're talking about, by the way, twenty nine year old Tay Keith, but he worked with artists like Drake, Travis Scott, Sexy Red, Beyonce, Eminem, Kanye Cardi.
00:00:52
Speaker 4: B DJ Khalid, basically anybody else, the mount Rushmore of hip hop, trouth.
00:00:59
Speaker 1: Of I mean road.
00:01:00
Speaker 2: This is the thing he was current, right, We had to get specific about this stat that we saw from Billboard, but this kind of drives home how relevant Tay Keith is right now in the music industry, and wrote how current he has been in recent years, in particular this decade.
00:01:17
Speaker 3: Yes, he right now currently holds the record for the most number one hits on the Hot R and B Hip Hop Songs Chart.
00:01:25
Speaker 4: This decade he has He had six. That is remarkable.
00:01:28
Speaker 3: He earned eleven top ten hits and four number one records.
00:01:33
Speaker 2: Okay, you just said in this decade, right, so it's twenty twenty six. You said he has six. That's one a year by average. That's not I mean people go their whole careers that that's pretty impressive. But Tay Keith is this dynamic producer. He's from Memphis originally, but he was living in Nashville. To give you the details of what at least happened here, first of all robes is this discovery was found on Thursday.
00:01:55
Speaker 1: Was supposed to be a welfare check.
00:01:58
Speaker 2: I didn't see the details about who called in and why in the first place police were sent there.
00:02:04
Speaker 4: Yes, I think he.
00:02:06
Speaker 3: Was.
00:02:07
Speaker 4: All I saw was that a welfare check was performed, so it didn't make in.
00:02:12
Speaker 3: They didn't get into any details about who called it in. But he was found unresponsive in his apartment, and the only thing we've heard from police specifically surrounding the death is that no foul play is suspected.
00:02:27
Speaker 2: No foul play, robes, no cause of death here found alone in his apartment, twenty nine years old. Now police haven't said one way or another. It's important to say no foul play I suspected, but twenty nine year olds, generally speaking, just don't drop dead.
00:02:44
Speaker 1: Robes.
00:02:46
Speaker 2: I don't know what kind of health situation or background he had, but Robes, you hear a twenty nine year old on his way who had made such an impact so far is dead at twenty nine, and no matter what, Robes, that's tragic. And then as I was, I was familiar with him for certain reasons, and then I started playing songs and letting you said, oh wait a minute, Like, there's so much stuff people are familiar with that he had a hand in that.
00:03:11
Speaker 1: Folks don't even realize it's true.
00:03:12
Speaker 3: And it's actually remarkable to say someone is or was prolific at the age of twenty nine.
00:03:20
Speaker 4: Not many people.
00:03:22
Speaker 3: This is remarkable when you start to hear all of the hits that he was a part of. And look, I'm not somebody who knows the names of songs the way you do. But when you started playing them for me. I was like, oh that one, oh that one.
00:03:35
Speaker 4: It was pretty remarkable. But his first top five hit.
00:03:39
Speaker 3: Was not even that long ago, because well, twenty eighteen.
00:03:43
Speaker 2: Look alive, I think that we don't have this one, right, this is the one robes he produced.
00:03:48
Speaker 1: This was this the one? No, it was rich Fleck. No, that was the one. It's the first.
00:03:53
Speaker 2: Yes, this was the one robes that he produced. I believe when he was still a senior in God.
00:03:59
Speaker 4: Yes, I read about that. That was remarkable. Look this is I mean, and it's sweet because.
00:04:04
Speaker 3: You start to read about him. They talk about how he was this quiet and humble guy. That was his demeanor. He was constantly looking for the next hip. He was always behind the scenes. His brilliance wasn't something that was trumpeted. But I do appreciate because none of these artists would have had these songs without his contribution.
00:04:22
Speaker 2: And some even argue. Folks do know the name Sexy Red. She's been on the scene over the past several years, and she is credited in large part with putting her on the scene. She was struggling to get I guess to break through. He gave her a song that was the breakthrough. It's called Poundtown that he's actually featured as an artist on as well as producing. But that was the one rope that kind of shot her to superstardom. Wow, to a great degree, he was.
00:04:49
Speaker 3: Mind yeah, and I did find the one he produced while he was a student. So he was actually nominated for a Grammy in twenty nineteen for Sicko Mode, which he helped produce while he was a student at Middle Tennessee State University.
00:05:01
Speaker 2: Now that has got to be his biggest hit. Sicko Mo by Travis Scott.
00:05:06
Speaker 1: Is a a wonderful banger. It is a great song.
00:05:11
Speaker 2: But yes, he graduated within a month of producing that song and getting a Grammy nomination. He was graduating from the Middle Tennessee State, Middle Tennessee State, So go through it non stop. That's another one you might not by Drake. Play it and you'll of course know it. But that song starts off and the first thing you hear on that song is tay Keith, not his voice. His name is the first thing said on that song and robes this is something you are very familiar with a lot of people are, but not familiar with him necessarily. A lot of producers, I guess most famously DJ Galla producers get very famous by producing records, but they put their name or their sign or their call sign some kind of a thing on there.
00:05:57
Speaker 1: Call it is the best.
00:05:57
Speaker 2: Another one, right, you know, that's a DJ Klitz song. This guy, Tay Keith had a tagline that a bunch of folks used in their song and it goes, take Keith mess these dudes up man. Now I'm saying it. They're much harsher language in there.
00:06:16
Speaker 3: That's hilarious that that was your go to your I guess clinical version of what he actually said. The thing is a lot of times it's pretty cool. You'll record or you'll be able to record what some audio as we can play it for y'all and you can hear for yourselves. We were playing, I was like, yeah, we can't, we can't put that on the podcast because every word is words that well, most people cannot say and words that most people should not say.
00:06:40
Speaker 2: But it's in pretty much every one of the songs he produced. There is just this little quick lines said, take Keith mess these dudes up man, and that lets you know this is a Tay Keith produced song or something very special is about to happen with the drums on this song.
00:06:56
Speaker 1: It was just it's just cool. He made it.
00:06:58
Speaker 2: To that point, Robes, that's kind of a high point to get to at the age of twenty nine. And really, at any point in hip hop, a lot of producers would love for you to know their names and you don't.
00:07:08
Speaker 1: And he it was.
00:07:10
Speaker 2: These artists allowed it, they wanted it, they wanted him to be a part of it, and they liked his sound. The kid out of Memphis Rode have been producing since he was a teenager.
00:07:18
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, and that's what's so incredibly Obviously, it's tragic when anyone dies, but anyone dies at that young of an age. But the brilliance that this young artist had and what he still could have contributed, I think that's what's so incredibly profound, the fact of the music. He didn't get to create, the music that was still in him because he was credited with creating a new sound in this streaming age, a new hip hop sound that hadn't been seen before, or hadn't been heard before, I guess would be the better way to put it.
00:07:48
Speaker 1: It's again, Memphis rap is a very Memphis music. Has been.
00:07:51
Speaker 2: Look, I grew up there, so eight Ball, MJG Right, three six Mafia, all these.
00:07:55
Speaker 3: Older You're speaking basic like Chinese to me, because I understand many people would know what you're referring to.
00:08:00
Speaker 2: Their legends, you know, Glorilla, Right, But there's a particular Memphis sound. There's a Memphis music scene and he was very much a part of that, and he brought it to the streaming age. Right, they kind of lost influence, they said it's Memphis influence, but he was bringing back. It's just there's a way, there's a percussion, there's a rhythm, there's a pounding almost to how he does a drum beat in.
00:08:23
Speaker 1: Throughout his songs. That's there.
00:08:24
Speaker 2: Once you I'm saying it, like, what are you talking about? Once you hear it, go oh there it is there, It is there, it is.
00:08:29
Speaker 1: It's just a.
00:08:30
Speaker 2: Very particular sound rope. So yeah, he was on his way and Glorilla take Keith. Memphis is back, baby. And now to hear this happen, it sucks.
00:08:43
Speaker 4: To hear it really does.
00:08:44
Speaker 3: And look, I'm learning about someone who I didn't even know before, and I think a lot of people obviously didn't know his name. People who worked in the industry. Obviously all those artists, he was a legend among them. But it is look at the very least to have his life cut short. It is it is I actually feel privileged to be able to learn about him and maybe even now explore some of this music that I wasn't as familiar with.
00:09:06
Speaker 4: And his real name.
00:09:07
Speaker 3: It's funny. It reminded me a little of you. Your Lutelius Holmes from West Memphis, and you go by TJ. He was Brightavius.
00:09:14
Speaker 2: Chambers and you win by Tay. Yes, it's the thing we do in the Memphis areas.
00:09:19
Speaker 4: Yes, you're a sister's letitious.
00:09:20
Speaker 3: She goes by Tish, Tay and TJ.
00:09:23
Speaker 4: Yes, all have names kind of similaries.
00:09:26
Speaker 1: I love it.
00:09:27
Speaker 2: But yeah, I never knew his first name. I never knew his real name until he passed. But a kid from Memphis, but he met a black boy JB. A lot of people don't know that. Again, I'm very much a Memphis artist. These two moved into the same neighborhood when they were teenagers, and they started making music at the age of thirteen and fourteen. So we see that nobody's an overnight success. We were talking about it with the guy from back rooms and what's the other obsession?
00:09:52
Speaker 1: Right, people think they're overnight successes. These kids have.
00:09:55
Speaker 2: Been in there with a laptop in their rooms since they're ten years old, honing their craft.
00:10:00
Speaker 4: Geniuses and savants.
00:10:01
Speaker 2: He's been doing it since he was fourteen, Right, He was producing beats and putting him on some platform in which he was getting paid, like some royalties for people just snatching and using stuff he was rot This is another great story that we only see the success and the results at the end. This kid's been at it for fifteen years. While you were fourteen buying lollipops and worried about getting invited to the dance. He was in there producing beats.
00:10:29
Speaker 4: That's pretty cool and you know what you do.
00:10:31
Speaker 3: It's one of those I got chills because I think about lives cut short and it was almost like you hear that song from Hamilton that runs like why does he write like he's running out of time? You kind of see that like it's a little eerie maybe even to look at it basically in with the perspective that we have now that his life was cut short. But he was writing and producing music like he was running out of time.
00:10:56
Speaker 2: But look at the you have them. Okay, let's continue with the Alexander Hamilton legacy. When he died, I can't remember who it is.
00:11:02
Speaker 1: I'd have to look that up.
00:11:03
Speaker 4: I would never know that often.
00:11:04
Speaker 2: But to that point, Robes like, you're running out of time, And look at the legacy that Alexander Hamilton left in a short time with doing all that he did. This guy is twenty nine years old, and he worked the way he did, and he put a stamp on an industry at twenty nine, twenty nine.
00:11:21
Speaker 1: That's and I applaud him for that.
00:11:23
Speaker 2: Now, some of the songs and help me, he had the big influence in hip hop, you know before I Let Go.
00:11:27
Speaker 1: But Beyonce, a lot of people know that song. Yeah, that's him wow before.
00:11:34
Speaker 2: And he had to borrow that from an old school song and you don't mess that up. And he didn't and Beyonce didn't. And so he's just what a what an influential cat Robes I hate I hate to see we lost one like this.
00:11:48
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it's it's an unbelievable shame for obviously the people who knew him and loved him, but for those of us. Who I guess now I'll be introduced in a different way to some of the music that I didn't realize is that came from him, or at least that he put a huge stamp on. And by the way, he died at twenty nine. Alexander Hamilton died at forty nine. So can you imagine? Can you imagine what Take Keith could have done with another twenty years?
00:12:13
Speaker 2: Wow? But then he's writing like he's running out of time. Why we think you got another twenty years? I'll get the next hit. I got time to do it. Ro It's good on him.
00:12:21
Speaker 1: For what he did.
00:12:22
Speaker 2: Just applaud when I see just like the producers of those movies that were Carson Parsons and the two producers of The Back Rooms and Obsession, Like I applaud you all been working like kids are in their room right now. Parents are yelling at him at thirteen, come out and all this stuff. I get that to a certain degree.
00:12:40
Speaker 3: But maybe they're creating things that will all be listening to, watching and admiring for decades to come.
00:12:47
Speaker 2: And stay here. We did hear from Take Keith's family. We'll let you hear what they had to say about and we also heard from Drake, who we did a lot of producing with.
00:12:57
Speaker 1: Stay here. You want to hear the words from the family, from those who worked with Take Keith. Stay here.
00:13:11
Speaker 2: Right will continue here on this Sunday edition of Amy and TJ on this Father's Day actually June twenty first, speaking on what has still robes a mystery, but waiting on answers about this very influential and very young producer found dead in his Nashville apartment. Take Keith, big time hip hop R and B producer, worked with Drake, A bunch had hits with Drake, had a couple of Grammy nominations. Was one of them at least with Drake? What was the song rich Flex? That was Drake and twenty one Savage. I play that song, you'll go, oh yeah.
00:13:46
Speaker 3: So that with knowing the names of these songs, but I hear the beat because obviously you're playing music con a lot, so I'm like, oh, and.
00:13:53
Speaker 4: This music, in particular is music I've.
00:13:55
Speaker 3: Recently been introduced to in the last few years, but different the last few years.
00:14:01
Speaker 4: I don't know my relationship with you.
00:14:03
Speaker 1: Why would that make a difference.
00:14:04
Speaker 3: I love the I love the musical influence of different cultures and ways of listening to artists.
00:14:11
Speaker 1: Cool.
00:14:11
Speaker 2: This is the last one that will just mess you up. The whole Drake versus Kendrick Lamar rap battle. Yes, everybody well aware of all that happened, the Grammys that came, the super Bowl halftime performed. All this stuff that happened was started because of one song. That song was called First Person Shooter by Drake and J Cole. That song was produced by Take Keith. Wow, it's Take Keith's fault.
00:14:37
Speaker 4: All that happened really goodness.
00:14:40
Speaker 2: He produced the very song that started that entire beef.
00:14:46
Speaker 3: So you could say that Kendrick Lamar could thank Keith for his Grammys, nice for his super Bowl halftime shows, because he launched him into a whole other statisphere. Is it?
00:14:57
Speaker 2: But Take Keith produced that song First Person Shoo. Go back and listen to when you get a chance. But it's where they were talking about the Big Three. Drake, J Cole and Kendrick Lamar were supposed to be on that album. Kendrick said no, Kendrick made another song and that line very famously said Big three, it's just big me. That's where I all got started. Roldon, Take Keith was in the middle of it. Again, we talk about influence. You have no idea that battle was going on. Take Keith was in the middle of it.
00:15:24
Speaker 4: That's crazy.
00:15:25
Speaker 3: And Drake had this to say about his friend and partner. He said, endless and eternal gratitude for your spirit and your contributions to this thing that we all love so much.
00:15:36
Speaker 4: You will be deeply missed.
00:15:38
Speaker 2: And his family put out a pretty extended statement, but they made the point of Robes is, Yes, we knew him as Brtavius, it's the name, But they said he was a visionary producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, philanthropist and cultural force whose work helped define the sound of a generation from Memphis to the global stage. He shaped countless hit records and left the lasting mark on music and culture.
00:15:57
Speaker 1: No doubt about that.
00:15:58
Speaker 4: Robes, absolutely, he said.
00:16:00
Speaker 3: While the world knew him as take Keith, his family knew him as Bride Savious, source of love, strength, laughter and guidance. We take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through the music he created, the opportunities he provided, and the lives he touched. And look, they asked for privacy, which we understand and continued prayers because they're still trying to figure out what the hell actually happened.
00:16:24
Speaker 4: They don't know. I did think it was cool.
00:16:27
Speaker 3: They said he was a passionate supporter of mental health awareness and cancer related causes in honor of his late mother. So he was more than just a music man. He also gave back, and I think that's important to note. I also thought it was cool that he was an active alumni or alumnus of Middle State Tennessee University and was a mentor an advocate. And didn't I see he was a professor, an honorary professor.
00:16:48
Speaker 1: That's kind of cool.
00:16:49
Speaker 3: That's really cool to see him helping young students and give back to the university that helped bring him up.
00:16:56
Speaker 4: That's awesome.
00:16:57
Speaker 2: He's a Memphis kid, Middle Tennessee's date grad was living in I think he was getting into like country and he was I mean, Nashville is the spot now for music.
00:17:05
Speaker 1: Well, it's just this needs to be able.
00:17:07
Speaker 2: We'll at least mentioned and acknowledge because attorneys for Sexy Red have at least addressed this. But there were plenty of reports and chatter, I should say, first of all, but the attorney did respond, but a suggestion that there were some kinds of financial dispute about his royalties with Sexy Red and the suggestion that in some way that had an influence or weighed on him in some way. Attorney did come out and put out a statement and said, we have been working to resolve this issue. We've been working prior to this, and so now we're going to expedite the process to make sure his estate can get all the royalties that are coming to him. That's at least worth mentioning Rope. There's no suggestion by the authorities or anyone else right now that whatever was happening contributed any way to his death, So at least want to put that on the radar because that is talked about.
00:17:58
Speaker 3: And they have responded, and we just wanted the I learned a lot. I know you did too, you knew more already going into this, but I just think it's important to note somebody who was this prolific and this profound, who died at such a such a young age, everyone should remember his name. And with that everyone, we appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Robach alongside TJ.
00:18:18
Speaker 4: Holmes. We will talk to you soon.