TIA: In 2017, Texas rapper Tay-K dropped “The Race,” a song that would quickly make him
a hip-hop sensation.
TIA: While “The Race” would go on to be
Tay-K’s most successful song, he was not around to reap the benefits of the track’s
success.
ANNOUNCER: 17-year-old Taymore McIntyre has been arrested in New Jersey by the U.S. Marshal
Service and is being held there pending his extradition back here to Texas.
TIA: Tay-K was arrested the day the video for “The Race” dropped, on charges of
capital murder and the song’s lyrics tell tell his story *pretty* clearly.
TIA: In July 2019, Tay-K plead guilty to two
counts of aggravated robbery but not guilty to capital murder, stemming from the death
of 21-year-old Ethan Walker in 2016.
TIA: That same month, Tay-K was sentenced to 55 years in prison after being found guilty
of murder and three counts of aggravated robbery.
JUDGE: We the jury find the defendant guilty of the offense of murder.
Tay-K’s rap career began way before “The Race,” notably as part of the Daytona Boyz
alongside fellow rappers Pimpyz and Santana, both of whom are also doing ample prison time
TIA: However, after ”The Race” caught
fire and the story of his arrest blew up, tons of rappers started dropping their own
freestyles over the beat, many of them taking the opportunity to shout him out, like Lil Yachty.
YACHTY: I met Tay-K my first show I had in Texas.
They paid me like $250 to drive to Texas to do a show, he was on the same bill.
TIA: And Lud Foe, who Tay-K even named as one of his favorite rappers.
LUD FOE: I fuck with Lud Foe heavy.
Lud Foe is a big inspiration.
TIA: In September 2017, Alabama’s YBN Nahmir dropped his viral hit “Rubbin Off The Paint,”
featuring his own Tay-K line.
NAHMIR: My brother just got locked up on a gun charge you feel me that’s why I said
Free Lil Tay know he keep a ‘k but he not Tay-K.
And Tay-K was poppin at the time so I was like they prolly gonna think I’m talkin’ about Tay-K.
TIA: And Nahmir eventually dropped his own
freestyle on “The Race.”.
TIA: Besides freestyles, a number of rappers
have referenced “The Race” and its lyrics, in their songs, too.
Everyone from Brooklyn’s Tekashi 6ix9ine…
TIA: ...to Offset…
TIA: ...to Cardi B have all mentioned “The Race” on their songs.
TIA: And it’s not just “The Race” that’s gotten love from other rappers.
TIA: In 2018, the BlocBoy JB collaboration “Hard” was released, a redux of Tay-K’s
earlier cut, “Opp Shit.”
TIA: And in February 2020, Lil Mosey interpolated some of these lines on his cut “Blueberry Faygo."
TIA: Besides specific song mentions, Tay-K’s always just being shouted out in lyrics, whether
calling for his freedom or another mention of his hit song.
TIA: In 2019, Zack Fox dropped his own memorable Tay-K mention on “Jesus Is The One.”
ZACK FOX: Get Tay-K out of there, man.
What’s a couple of lives when you got bars?
TIA: And recently, Trippie Redd name-dropped Tay-K on “How I Was Raised.”
TIA: As of early 2020, Tay-K is still behind
bars and is still facing a robbery and another murder charge for his alleged involvement
in two separate incidents back in 2017.
TIA: Genius reached out to his attorneys for comment but they did not respond by press time.
TIA: While it doesn’t look like he’s set to be released any time soon, Tay-K has still
remained one of hip-hop’s favorite figures over the last few years.
I’m Tia with Genius News bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.