Tay Keith’s impact on Sexyy Red’s career revealed after tragic death at 29

Tay Keith played a key role in Sexyy Red’s breakthrough as their hip-hop partnership produced major hits

Tay Keith’s influence on Sexyy Red’s career has become a major talking point following the death of the Grammy-nominated record producer at age 29.

The Nashville-based producer, known for working with major artists including Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé, died on June 18 after being found in his apartment. His cause of death has not been revealed, with an investigation reportedly ongoing.

Following news of his passing, Sexyy Red paid tribute to Tay Keith, sharing a photo of the pair and describing their connection as a lifelong bond. The two artists developed a close creative partnership that played a significant role in Sexyy Red’s rise in mainstream hip-hop.

Tay Keith produced Sexyy Red’s 2023 breakout hit “Pound Town,” which gained massive attention on TikTok and helped introduce the rapper to a wider audience. The track later reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became one of the defining songs of her early career.

Their collaboration continued with projects including “Pound Town 2,” “SkeeYee” and “Get It Sexyy.” Keith also served as executive producer on Sexyy Red’s 2024 project In Sexyy We Trust, which reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In a previous interview with Billboard, Tay Keith revealed that many people questioned his decision to work with Sexyy Red early on, but he believed in her potential. He described their relationship as a genuine brother-sister bond and credited their chemistry for creating successful records.

Keith explained that his club-focused production style matched Sexyy Red’s energy and helped create songs that connected with audiences.

Although the pair later faced a legal dispute over unpaid production claims, their musical partnership remained one of the most important collaborations of Sexyy Red’s career.