NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Grammy-nominated record producer Tay Keith died from an accidental drug overdose involving kratom and ketamine, according to the Nashville Medical Examiner’s Office.
Keith, whose legal name was Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, was 29 when he was found dead June 18 in his Nashville apartment after police conducted a welfare check. No foul play was suspected.
According to multiple media outlets, the autopsy report revealed the cause of death was a combination of mitragynine, 7-hydroxy mitragynine, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and ketamine toxicity. The manner of death was ruled an accident.
Keith was a Grammy-nominated producer known for working with some of the biggest names in music, including Drake, Beyoncé and Travis Scott.
The three kratom-related compounds found in Keith’s system are associated with kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia. The Drug Enforcement Administration warns that kratom can be addictive and may produce stimulant effects at lower doses and sedative or even psychotic effects at higher doses.
Several states are taking emergency action to restrict kratom and products containing a potent chemical found in the plant, while the federal government is debating tighter controls on the chemical but not kratom itself. U.S. poison center data showed a 1,200% increase in kratom exposure reports between 2015 and 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also found kratom present in more than 5,200 deadly overdose cases between 2020 and 2024.
Ketamine, a controlled substance approved by the U.S. FDA for general anesthesia, has seen increased use, with a rise in clinics across the U.S. It is generally considered safe when administered by healthcare professionals. Still, recreational use carries risks of euphoria, dissociation, and, at high doses, immobilization and hallucinations. Several other high-profile cases involving the drug have recently drawn attention, including the overdose death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry.
Keith’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow artists.
“Endless and eternal gratitude for your spirit and your contributions to this thing that we all love so much,” Drake wrote in an Instagram post following Keith’s death. “You will be deeply missed.”
Travis Scott also paid tribute to Keith on his Instagram story, writing, “We gone miss ya broozayy. Gon keep going hard for ya….!!!.”
