Claire Dawson
DJ Kay Slay, the legendary graffiti artist turned prolific DJ, was hospitalized with COVID-19 in December 2021 and passed away four months later in April 2022. The hip-hop community was shocked and saddened by his death, with many paying tribute to the artist. Before his hospitalization, it was reported that DJ Kay Slay was unvaccinated, and some sources claimed that he had refused to get vaccinated despite encouragement from friends and family. While there was initially some hope for his recovery, he ultimately succumbed to the disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | DJ Kay Slay |
| Age | 55 |
| Profession | DJ, Record Executive, Graffiti Artist |
| Health Status | Hospitalized, battling Covid-19 |
| Vaccination Status | Unvaccinated before hospitalization |
| Treatment | On a ventilator, later taken off |
| Outcome | Passed away after a four-month battle with Covid-19 |
Explore related products
![The Big Brother [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91FejgPXqnL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![A Kay Slay Story [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81aBJBO11bL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
DJ Kay Slay was unvaccinated before hospitalisation
DJ Kay Slay, the legendary New York City hip-hop artist, passed away on April 17, 2022, after a four-month battle with Covid-19. The hip-hop community and fans mourned the loss of the 55-year-old, born Keith Grayson, who was an important figure in New York's hip-hop culture.
Before his hospitalisation, DJ Kay Slay was reportedly unvaccinated against Covid-19. Hip-hop producer and promoter, Van Silk, voiced his concerns about Slay's health when his hospitalisation was first reported. Silk revealed that he had tried multiple times to encourage the DJ to get vaccinated, but Slay had refused.
Some sources speculate that Slay may have received a vaccination after being admitted to the hospital. Doctors recommend that infected people get vaccinated after their health returns to normal, primarily to protect vaccine distributors and essential staff. However, there is no confirmation that Slay received the vaccine during his hospitalisation.
The news of DJ Kay Slay's death came as a shock to many, especially since there were earlier indications that he was recovering. His family has not released the details of his death, but his contribution to hip-hop culture and his legacy will be remembered.
Relieving Constipation: Hospital Treatment Options
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The Hospital [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61oQ2sBPcmL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
He was battling COVID-19
DJ Kay Slay was hospitalized with COVID-19 in December 2021. The hip-hop DJ and record executive, who was 55 years old at the time, had not been vaccinated against the virus.
Longtime music manager Wack100 shared the news of Slay's illness on his Instagram, posting a picture of the DJ and writing, "Pray for my brotha @djkayslay It's not looking good. He might be mad at me for this, but those that know Slay know he needs all the support he can get... Been 14 days fighting Covid and he's just been put on a ventilator. Keep him in your prayers, please."
In the following months, Wack100 continued to provide updates on Slay's condition, revealing that the DJ was "still fighting" and asking for continued prayers for his recovery. In one post, Wack100 shared that Slay had been off the ECMO machine—which was helping him breathe—for a couple of weeks.
Slay's brother, Kwame Grayson, also provided updates, expressing his confidence in his brother's recovery. In January, he told HipHopDX, "He's definitely not going to die... He's up and going." However, despite these positive updates, Slay ultimately lost his battle with COVID-19.
On April 18, 2022, it was reported that Slay had passed away after a four-month struggle with the virus. Tributes poured in for the artist, and many questioned whether he had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Hip-hop producer and promoter Van Silk, who had previously urged Slay to get vaccinated, spoke about the DJ's health, revealing that he had tried multiple times to convince Slay to get vaccinated but that he had refused.
While the exact cause of Slay's death was not disclosed by his family, his passing came as a shock to many, including his brother, who had believed Slay was on the road to recovery.
The Evolution of Candy Stripers in Hospitals
You may want to see also
Explore related products
He was on a ventilator
DJ Kay Slay was hospitalized with COVID-19 and placed on a ventilator in January 2022. The hip-hop artist and record executive had been fighting the virus for 14 days before his condition worsened, and he was transferred to the intensive care unit and put on a ventilator to assist his breathing.
At the time, his brother, Kwame Grayson, expressed optimism about his recovery, stating, "He's definitely not going to die." However, despite the initial positive outlook, DJ Kay Slay's health took a turn for the worse, and he remained in the hospital for several months.
During his hospitalization, there was an outpouring of support from friends, family, and fans, who sent prayers and positive messages. Many of his collaborators in the music industry, such as LL Cool J, also shared tributes and well wishes on social media platforms like Instagram.
Unfortunately, despite the hopes for his recovery, DJ Kay Slay ultimately succumbed to the illness. He passed away in April 2022, four months after contracting COVID-19. The exact cause of death was not disclosed by his family, but it was speculated that he may have lost his battle with the disease.
The news of his death came as a shock to many, especially considering the previous updates suggesting his improving health. DJ Kay Slay's passing left a profound impact on the hip-hop community, with tributes pouring in from all over the world.
The Vatican's Hospital: A Comprehensive Medical Facility
You may want to see also
Tributes poured in for the artist after his death
Tributes poured in for DJ Kay Slay, the hip-hop pioneer, after his death on 17 April 2022. The 55-year-old, whose real name was Keith Grayson, had been hospitalised and battling Covid-19 for four months.
Grayson's family issued a statement, saying: "Our hearts are broken by the passing of Keith Grayson, professionally known as DJ Kay Slay. A dominant figure in Hip Hop culture with millions of fans worldwide, DJ Kay Slay will be remembered for his passion and excellence with a legacy that will transcend generations."
Fellow hip-hop artist Ice T paid tribute on Twitter: "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. R.I.P. DJ KAY SLAY!!!! WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH OF A LEGEND HE WAS AND WHAT HE MEANT TO OUR CULTURE!!!!"
KXNG Crooked tweeted: "It’s a bunch of fake ass fraud people running around the culture and DJ Kay Slay was the total opposite. Real as they come. Rest in paradise, my brother."
Grand Hustle owner T.I. said: "Rest Easy Big Dog!!! A true pioneer & architect of the culture… The 1st DJ in NY to let me freestyle on his mixtape & welcome me to the city. Glad we had a chance to chop it up & kick it over the phone again last December. Was always honored to spit for you. Love & Respect King."
Tracking Direct Observation Privileging in Hospitals
You may want to see also
His family did not disclose details of his death
DJ Kay Slay, the legendary graffiti artist turned prolific DJ, passed away at the age of 55. Slay had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and was on a ventilator. While there were initially promising signs of recovery, his death came as a shock to everyone.
Before his hospitalization, DJ Kay Slay had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. It is unclear whether he received the vaccine after being admitted to the hospital, but doctors typically recommend that infected individuals get vaccinated once their health returns to normal. This is to protect vaccine distributors and essential staff.
While the exact cause of death has not been disclosed by his family, many believe it was related to his battle with COVID-19. Some sources indicate that he may have succumbed to the disease after a four-month struggle, during which time his friends, family, and fans prayed for his recovery.
In the days leading up to his death, Slay's brother, Kwame Grayson, had expressed confidence in his recovery, stating that his brother was “definitely not going to die." However, despite these positive updates, the news of his passing shocked everyone.
The hip-hop community mourned the loss of one of its own, with many paying tribute to the artist. Veteran NYC hip-hop promoter and producer, Van Silk, who had known Slay since he was 15, shared his grief publicly. Despite their differences regarding vaccination, Silk had previously urged Slay to get vaccinated and expressed his love and support during Slay's hospitalization.
The Memorial Hospital's Pet Euthanasia Policy Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, DJ Kay Slay was hospitalized with COVID-19.
No, DJ Kay Slay was not vaccinated against COVID-19 before being hospitalized.
Unfortunately, no. DJ Kay Slay passed away after a four-month battle with COVID-19.
DJ Kay Slay, aka Dez, was a prolific and legendary DJ and a former graffiti artist. He had been an active and important part of Hip Hop for almost 40 years.
Many of his friends, family, and fans were praying for his recovery. Veteran NYC hip-hop promoter and producer Van Silk also addressed a message to his "brother" Kay Slay, expressing his love and urging him to get well soon.
