DJ Kayslay Sweeps The Streets 'Streetsweeper Vol. 2 - The Pain From The Game' album

Hip-hop, a revolutionary music birthed in the streets of New York in the 70s, has evolved from what then-pundits dismissed as a mere fad into a billion-dollar-a-year culture and the indisputable musical voice of contemporary youth. Hip-hop is an aggressive force that can be heard throughout pop culture. Harlem's own DJ Kay Slay is hip-hop.

For the past 5 years, New York City's own DJ Kay Slay has been a best-selling staple of the influential promotional mix-tape market. Infamously known throughout the game as the "Drama King," DJ Kay Slay's ascension from graffiti kingpin to mix-tape master to one of the most powerful new voices in hip-hop is a saga worthy of a screenplay.

Act 1: KG/DEZ

Born in a time before hip-hop existed, DJ Kay Slay grew up Keith Grayson, a first-hand witness to the birth of hip-hop culture in the 1970s. Influenced by local DJs like Rodney Woodson and Willy Clyde, DJ Kay Slay (or KG as he was originally known) spun his way into notoriety throughout his Harlem stomping grounds by the late 70s. On weekends, KG would trek to the Bronx, hip-hop's Mecca, to catch a glimpse of pioneers such as Grandmaster Flash, Kid Flash and Rockin' Rob from Mean Machine crew during that era when territory intrusion could prove fatal.

While he was well on his way to carvinga name for himself on the street DJ circuit, Slay made his first foray into the realm of urban legend as a graffiti artist. As the legendary graffiti king, "DEZ," he left a mark in the graffiti world that has been chronicled in classic cult films such as "Wild Style" and "Style Wars" as well as in books including "Subway Art."

Act 2: The Drama King

From his public battles with some of graffiti's most prominent artists to his even more publicized beefs with other DJ's, Kay Slay's "Drama King" moniker has followed him throughout the past 20 years as he made the transition from aspiring DJ to graffiti legend to mix-tape king. But with the crack epidemic striking a terrible blow through out America's urban landscape, including New York, Slay, tempted by the fast money on the streets, put DJing on hold throughout much of the mid-to-late 80's only to get caught up on the wrong side of the tracks.

A resurgence of popularity among mix-tapes took place in the early 90s and DJ Kay Slay wanted to be part of it. So in '93, a re-invigorated Kay Slay came out of retirement focused on making his mark in the DJ world. When a federal crackdown on mix-tapes by the RIAA took place in the mid 90's, Slay took the art to another, more legitimate, level by making promotional mix-tapes for various music outlets across New York City.

Slay's aggressive approach to DJing has earned the respect of his peers in the hip-hop community. Through out the past few years, rapper of all levels from LL Cool J to Eminem to Ruff Ryders have it made it a must to appear on a Kay Slay mix-tape as either hosts of a tape or supplying an exclusive freestyle appearance. To the heads in the streets, Kay Slay mix-tapes have served as a CNN for the ghetto community; updating the world on the latest tracks as well as attacks and rebuttals from some of the games most infamous battles. By 1999, a determined Slay won his first mix-tape award for "Best Hip-Hop Mix-tape". By 2000, Kay Slay's reputation as no-nonsense DJ earned him the coveted "DJ of The Year" and "Best Hip-Hop DJ" awards at the 2000 Hip-Hop Mix-tape Awards. In 2001, Slay won 3 awards for "Hip-Hop DJ of the Year," "Best Mix-Tape Personality," and "Best Freestyles." And in 2002, Kay Slay sealed his stature as one of the greats by winning his 4th "Best Mix-Tape DJ" award as well as "Best Mix-Tape." The question was now posed: when was the DJ Kay Slay album coming?

Act 3: The Streetsweeper Vol.1

The world will witness the next chapter in this Slay's book of life with the release of the controversial DJ's debut The Streetsweeper Vol.1. On Slay's debut opus, an onslaught of hip-hop biggest names has assembled to pay their respects to hip-hop's most notorious DJ. The roll call for this event includes Nas, 50 Cent, Eminem, Fat Joe, The Lox, Scarface, Raekwon, Mobb Deep, E-40, 8-Ball, Redman, WC, Busta Rhymes, Keith Murray, N.W.A's MC Ren, Cam' Ron and many more. To compliment Kay Slay's renegade line-up, he's aligned those stars with an array of the most aggressive producers in hip-hop today. From the action packed sounds of EZ Elpee to the groundbreaking sounds of Dr. Dre to the emotional backdrops of The Alchemist, Kay Slay made rugged backdrops a top priority when selecting the sound for his cavalry.

For his warm-up single, "50 Shot Ya," Slay showcased 50 Cent over producer DJ Scratch's rendition of LL Cool J's classic posse cut. The record was the most played record on mix-tapes through out 2002. He soon leaked out "Champions," a once unimaginable posse-cut record featuring the most legendary mix-tape name on the business.

"Everybody is a champion in some way shape form or fashion," admits this student of the spinning arts. "Everyone on this record has a part of [DJing] history that they will go down for. So everybody gotta chance to get their s*** off their chest. Do a little braggin' about themselves and the contributions they've made to the game." The Dame Grease produced track features DJs Funkmaster Flex, Doo-Wop, Tony Touch, Ron G, Kid Capri, SnS, the legendary Brucie-B as well as surprise appearance by rival DJ Clue.

As expected, the bulk of 20-plus-track debut will be flooded with cuts from the most notorious street emcees the game has to offer. If listeners don't catch a gash from cuts like Def Squad's "All out warfare," Prodigy's "The Drama" or Noreaga's "Ima Smack this Mu'fucka," then expect wounds of the severe kind from The Lox's "Streetsweeper," the Dame Grease-produced "Coast 2 Coast Gangsta" featuring Sauce Money, U.G.K's Bun B, Killa Mike, Twista and Joe Buddens and the action packed "Neva Liked Your Ass" featuring Fat Joe, Raekwon and a Geto Boys induced performance from Scarface. To celebrate his knack for spotting big talent early, Slay created "New Jack City." This first of 3 cuts produced by Ez Elpee, features a crop of next generation talent in the form of Graph, J-Hood, Posta Boy and Cassidy. All are alumni of Kay Slay's new school of hard rocks and are destined for big things in years to come.

Not one to limit his opportunities, Slay gets a dose of Southern Hospitality from 8Ball and E40 on the melodic "TKTKTK" and a bit of Caribbean flavor from Wyclef on the cinematic "Nino Brown."

"I wanted him to do reggae instead of rap," admits Slay, "'cause this is what he comes off with. I like when he does this stuff."

In true DJ fashion, Slay take a club-matic approach with the album's first single "TKTKTKTK." Produced by TKTKTKTK, this festive jewel features Nas, Cash Money's Baby, Loon accompanied by songbird, Amerie. Another cut sure to get radio club love is "Somebody Else Guy," a remake of the TKTKTKTK classic, featuring Sharisa, Raekwon and U God.

Act 4: The Drama pt.2

The cut that is sure to take listeners into the heart and soul of this hardworking DJ is the album's set-off track, "Intro." This TKTKTK-produced track finds Kay Slay letting off emotional steam with an autobiographical verse that is sure to change any negative perception the world may have of him. "A lot of people get me confused. They think I'm a reckless trouble making DJ. But it's like any nigga in the streets would consider it nothing. Any cat that's not from the streets will think 'oh, this guys such-n-such.'" The song features a dynamic comeback appearance by R&B crooner, Aaron Hall.

"I'm a master of waking up the dead," says Slay about his selections. "I like to grab a hold of brothers who people kind of forgot about, that still have potential and the talent, but no one's willing to give them a chance. I like to be the groundbreaker for that."

Act 5: The Drama continues...

"Every song that's on the album is a song pertaining to myself says Slay, referring to the various songs titles on The Streetsweeper Vol.1. "This whole album is like a biography of Kay Slay. That's why a lot of the titles are symbolic to things that I went through in my life. From 'Get Shot The F*** Up," to "Drama" to "Ima Smack This Nigga Up" to "I Never Liked Your Ass,' every title is based upon my life."

Look for the most important chapter in DJ Kay Slay's life to unfold unto your sound system with the release of The Streetsweeper Vol.1.

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DJ Kayslay Sweeps The Streets - Streetsweeper Vol. 2 - The Pain From The Game