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Tay-K, born on June 16, 2000, under the real name Taymor Travon McIntyre, is an American rapper and songwriter from Arlington, Texas.
Tay-K started his rap career in 2014 as a member of Daytona Boyz with rappers Santana Sage and Pimpyz. In December 2014, they released their first track “Drift” on SoundCloud.
Although the group barely got attention despite releasing many songs, they performed at numerous parties to establish a presence in the local rap scene. However, Tay-K drew a different kind of attention due to his troubles with the law and got jailed for them.
What charges was Tay-K sentenced to jail for? What challenges did the Texas rapper experience while in prison? Did he interact with fans while incarcerated?
This article discusses why Tay-K is in jail and how long he must serve his sentence. It also explores the online users’ responses to the rapper’s imprisonment.
If you want to locate your incarcerated loved ones and check their jail records, use LookUpInmate.org’s inmate search tool. LookUpInmate.org also offers informative articles about other notable people serving prison time.
What Is Tay-K in Jail for?
According to a Fort Worth Star-Telegram report, rapper Tay-K received a 55-year prison sentence after a Texas jury found him guilty of murdering 21-year-old Ethan Walker.
Murder is when a person unlawfully kills another human being. Its legal definition varies by jurisdiction, and most states separate murder into varying degrees.
For example, the Texas penal code states that murder is a first-degree felony. A crime of this degree is punishable by imprisonment between 5 and 99 years, or life and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
However, the crime becomes a second-degree felony if the defendant can prove, during the trial’s punishment stage, that they caused the death under an immediate influence of sudden passion from an adequate cause by a preponderance of the evidence.
In this case, the punishment for second-degree murder is a prison sentence between 2 and 20 years.
Since his imprisonment, Tay-K has taken to social media, claiming he would not have been handed such a lengthy prison time if not for his race.
In July 2016, authorities arrested Tay-K and six others on capital murder charges following a Mansfield, Texas drug dealer’s death. Sources said Tay-K and two women allegedly entered the residence by seducing a 19-year-old, hoping to steal money and drugs.
However, things did not go as planned. Walker, the drug dealer, got killed during the confrontation.
In January 2017, authorities placed Tay-K under house arrest while he awaited court proceedings. However, he and a friend removed their ankle monitors and escaped to San Antonio, Texas. There, they killed 23-year-old Mark Anthony Saldivar during a robbery.
An ankle monitor is a bracelet-like device usually worn on the lower leg and above the ankle. This device can track individuals through radio frequency or global positioning system (GPS).
In another incident, the rapper allegedly robbed and knocked down a 65-year-old man, who was rendered unconscious.
While Tay-K was on the run, he recorded “The Race,” a song describing his time fleeing the police.
On June 17, 2017, the same day Tay-K shared the song’s music video, the U.S. Marshals Service apprehended him in Elizabeth, New Jersey. By July 2017, they transferred him to an adult jail.
Tay-K’s lawyer argued the rapper did not lethally shoot Walker. Tay-K’s girlfriend also testified, claiming his hands were in the air when Walker got shot. Although it was revealed that Tay-K’s alleged role in the home invasion was to find drugs to steal, the rapper still faced murder charges.
In July 2019, the Tarrant County jury in Texas found Tay-K guilty of murder. He was also accused of taking part in a home robbery resulting in Walker’s death.
Aside from receiving a 55-year sentence for murder, Tay-K received 30 years for an aggravated robbery charge and two 13-year sentences for two additional counts of aggravated robbery. The rapper will serve these sentences concurrently and pay a total fine of $21,000.
Aggravated robbery happens under severe circumstances and requires the perpetrator to use a deadly weapon, such as a gun or knife, during the robbery or inflict serious bodily harm on the victim.
As of 2023, Tay-K is serving prison time in San Antonio’s Bexar County Adult Detention Center for his first murder charge and awaiting trial for his second murder case.
Rapper Tay-K Hopes for a “Second Opportunity” During 55-Year Homicide Conviction
After Tay-K’s arrest on murder charges and a botched home invasion, the court handed the rapper a 55-year sentence on July 23, 2019. While serving a 55-year sentence, Tay-K hopes for a second chance at adulthood.
Murder is different from manslaughter in that the latter is an unlawful killing without malice or intent to harm or kill seriously. This absence of malice aforethought means that manslaughter has less moral blame than murder.
Voluntary manslaughter in the U.S. is punishable with fines or imprisonment of up to 15 years or both. For involuntary manslaughter, the penalties include fines or imprisonment of up to eight years or both.
A person commits voluntary manslaughter when they kill in the heat of passion due to provocation. Meanwhile, involuntary manslaughter is the unintentional killing while committing a crime other than a felony.
Qualifying for parole may give Tay-K a chance to achieve this goal. However, he must serve at least half his sentence before becoming eligible for this form of early release.
In some of Tay-K’s tweets, he said he should have received trial as a juvenile instead of an adult and claimed that race was a factor behind his lengthy sentence. The rapper was only 16 when the incident that left Walker dead happened.
In the U.S., a juvenile is a person who has not reached their eighteenth birthday. Juvenile delinquency is a U.S. law violation done by a person below 18, which would have been a crime if an adult committed the act.
Tay-K also pointed to one of his accomplices, a 16-year-old white girl, who received a 10-year probation.
In a tweet dated January 6, 2023, Tay-K said his female codefendant was not certified as an adult. In contrast, he was certified as such, resulting in him getting 55 years.
Despite his legal troubles, Tay-K was a promising hip-hop star. His single “The Race” peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, making this song his most successful single and certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The RIAA represents some of the most renowned record labels behind many famous artists. It also protects creative freedom and fights for federal and state policies that help strengthen the music ecosystem.
Although Tay-K’s pre-prison music reflected his lawless life, he mentioned in an Instagram message posted in March 2023 that he now strives to inspire others to stay positive and shun violence.
Since the rapper’s arrest, his management team continued releasing tracks, such as “After You,” “The Race (Remix)” featuring fellow artists Young Nudy and 21 Savage, and “Hard” featuring BlocBoy JB and No Jumper.
Tay-K Claims He’s Treated Like a “Hamster” in Jail While Serving a 55-Year Murder Conviction
In an article dated January 18, 2023, Tay-K said he had a difficult time behind bars. He likened his prison treatment to that of a ferret or hamster.
On January 17, 2023, the 22-year-old rapper took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to tell fans that things were not going well for him inside. He also said he was at “war within,” but correctional officers were not making his experience any better.
Tay-K also claimed that he would not have received a 55-year sentence if he was a “lil white kid.”
In another tweet, he claimed one of his codefendants, a white 16-year-old girl, received a 10-year probation, unlike him and another codefendant, Pimpyz, who allegedly received a 30-year prison sentence.
Rappers often find themselves in trouble with the legal system and stand on the wrong side of the law. In such cases, they often get locked up or serve a lengthy prison sentence.
Aside from Tay-K, notable artists in jail fighting legal battles include YNW Melly and Young Thug.
Melly had a double-murder case mistrial and would face a retrial in October 2023.
A mistrial is when a jury cannot reach a verdict, and a new trial must occur with a new jury. A mistrial can also happen when a procedural error or misconduct occurs, resulting in an unfair trial. In this scenario, the judge adjourns the case without a decision and awards a new trial.
Meanwhile, Thug was on trial for racketeering charges. Racketeering typically involves any of the following activities:
- Using a business to commit illegal acts
- Acquiring a business through unlawful activity
- Operating a business with illegally earned income
From Prison, Tay-K Pens a Letter to His Fans: “I Was Young and Lacked Positive Role Models”
In a letter Tay-K wrote for his supporters and posted on his Instagram account on March 31, 2023, Tay-K talked about the injustices during his trial.
One of those injustices he mentioned was his sentence length. The rapper claimed he only went with a large group of men and did not fire the shot that killed Walker.
He also said that despite not being the alleged shooter and not suspected of hurting anyone, he got tried as an adult and sentenced to 55 years. However, he acknowledged he was young back then and did not have positive figures around.
Further in his Instagram letter, Tay-K reflected on his prison life and how much he appreciated fans supporting him.
He mentioned sitting and thinking about his fans and missing them. He also said he knew there were many issues he did not talk about. Although his fans knew plenty of things, he said he was uncertain if everyone else did.
As of the letter’s writing, Tay-K had been in prison for five and a half years. He felt indebted to his fans for their support. However, he found it difficult that he never had a chance to live in the open as an adult.
The rapper said he would use his music for good and to steer young artists on the right path. He planned to do so by giving them a phone call or writing letters to them to keep them positively inspired.
Netizens Respond to Tay-K’s Claims of Racial Bias in His Extended Sentence
Internet users had mixed reactions to Tay-K’s statements. Some agreed he would have received a shorter sentence if he were Caucasian.
Several comments on the social media platform X showed support for the rapper.
One comment dated January 6, 2023, mentioned he should get at least 10 years off his sentence. Another user said Tay-K was not lying and did not deserve a 55-year sentence. Still, another poster said Tay-K deserved a second chance.
However, others criticized him, claiming he should not bring up the issue of race. One online user said Tay-K was not wrong, but he deserved what happened to him. One comment even said he did not deserve another chance after taking someone else’s life.
As previously mentioned, Tay-K would face 55 years in prison. However, he may be eligible for parole starting January 23, 2047.
During Tay-K’s early life, his dad, Kevin Beverly, spent significant time in prison. When Tay-K was eight, his mom moved him and his sister to Las Vegas, Nevada. After Beverly’s release, their family moved to Arlington, Texas, seeking a better life.
After moving, Tay-K attended high school before dropping out in ninth grade. This moment was when he started focusing on his music career. He started at 14 as part of Daytona Boyz, an Arlington-based rap group.
As of 2023, one of Tay-K’s most popular releases is the album Santana World. According to the Last.FM website, this album has had more than 500,000 listeners since its release in 2017. Notable songs from this album include “The Race,” “M…. She Wrote,” “Lemonade,” and “Megaman.”
Other works Tay-K released include the extended play (E.P.) album Live From Cell Blocc, containing the songs “Bling Bling,” “In Da News,” and “Sneacc Up In Ur House.”
References
- Murder
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/murder - PENAL CODE – TITLE 5. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON – CHAPTER 19. CRIMINAL HOMICIDE
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.19.htm - PENAL CODE – TITLE 3. PUNISHMENTS – CHAPTER 12. PUNISHMENTS – SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.12.htm - 18 U.S. Code § 1112 – Manslaughter
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1112 - “JUVENILE” DEFINED
https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-38-juvenile-defined - WHAT WE DO
https://www.riaa.com/what-we-do/ - Mistrial
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/mistrial - Racketeering Definition, State vs. Federal Offenses, and Examples
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/racketeering.asp