Tay-K projected release date update sparks intense online reaction
Rapper Tay-K, born Taymor Travon McIntyre, is now listed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) with a projected release date of August 8, 2099. If accurate, the date means the 24-year-old artist will remain incarcerated for another 74 years, effectively ruling out his release within his lifetime.
Tay-K's release date has been updated to 8/8/2099‼️
That is exactly 74 years from today. pic.twitter.com/fSx8CAVBtOTay-K rose to fame in 2017 with “The Race,” a track that went viral while he was a fugitive, blending an infectious hook with the notoriety of his situation. However, before his breakout success, his legal troubles had already begun. In 2016, he was involved in a home invasion in Mansfield, Texas, that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Ethan Walker.
In 2019, Tay-K was convicted of murder in that case and sentenced to 55 years in prison. His legal record grew in April 2025, when he was found guilty of killing 23-year-old Mark Saldivar during a botched carjacking while on the run. That conviction carried an additional 80-year sentence, to be served concurrently with the first. The combined sentences leave little possibility for parole.
The newly posted 2099 date has sparked widespread reaction on social media, with fans expressing disbelief, frustration, and sadness, while others speculate it may be an administrative error. Memes and commentary have mixed with more reflective posts lamenting what many see as a lost talent.
Tay-K’s trajectory—from teenage rap sensation to inmate facing a near-century of confinement—has become one of hip-hop’s most prominent cautionary tales. While “The Race” continues to resonate with fans who remember its chart success, his career now exists in suspension. The 2099 release date stands as a stark reminder of the violent events that derailed his rise and permanently altered his legacy.