Drake’s Producer Tay Keith Killed By Kratom Compound Mitragynine

Tay Keith left behind a catalog of hits that defined a generation, but the Memphis producer’s death in June revealed a darker reality behind the scenes.

The Nashville Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the 29-year-old died from a combination of ketamine and mitragynine, the active compound found in kratom, a Southeast Asian plant that’s been quietly reshaping the drug landscape across America.

He also had nicotine and ethanol in his system, and medical examiners noted he had mild coronary artery disease, all of which contributed to his fatal overdose.

When police found Tay Keith during a welfare check at his Nashville apartment, he was surrounded by drug paraphernalia, though no foul play was suspected.

The circumstances raised questions about how a producer at the height of his career, working with Drake, Travis Scott, Eminem, and Lil Baby, ended up in that situation.

What makes his death particularly relevant is the substance involved. Kratom is federally legal in the United States, sold openly in gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores across the country, often marketed as a natural supplement or pain reliever.

But medical professionals call it something else. They call it “gas station heroin” because mitragynine, kratom’s primary alkaloid, binds directly to the brain’s opioid receptors the same way heroin does.

The compound can produce sedation, respiratory depression, physical dependence, and withdrawal symptoms that mirror traditional opioid addiction.

According to TMZ, it’s unclear whether Tay Keith was intentionally using kratom or came into contact with it another way, but the medical examiner’s findings were definitive about its presence in his system.

The kratom crisis has become impossible to ignore.

Tennessee passed a full kratom ban in 2026 after weeks of debate, with lawmakers citing the substance’s dangers and its street reputation. Multiple other states are considering similar legislation.

The FDA and DEA have been monitoring kratom for years, and while the natural leaf itself hasn’t been federally controlled, a more potent synthetic version called 7-OH has been temporarily scheduled as a controlled substance due to its extreme potency and overdose risk.

Some advocates argue that kratom has legitimate medical applications for treating opioid dependency, but the public health concerns have begun to outweigh those arguments in legislative chambers across the country.

The producer’s family has established the Tay Keith Foundation to support music education and addiction awareness in Memphis.