In his first interview in nearly a decade, incarcerated rapper Tay-K opened up about his life behind bars, his musical growth, and his feelings toward his breakout hit “The Race” during an exclusive conversation with Complex journalist Jordan Rose.
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The 26-year-old rapper revealed that despite prosecutors using his 2017 hit against him in court, he still loves the record and refuses to let his legal troubles change how he views his music. Tay-K explained that creating music continues to give him a sense of freedom despite his incarceration.
He also shared details about his daily routine, which includes reading manga, listening to music, and recording songs over the phone. Surprisingly, Tay-K revealed that his musical taste has expanded to include artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Nirvana, and Linkin Park, alongside his favorite Hip-Hop acts.
Throughout the interview, Tay-K acknowledged support from artists including Kodak Black, Pi’erre Bourne, and Playboi Carti. He also discussed his appearance on Dominic Fike’s album How to Quit Smoking.
The interview arrives as Tay-K prepares to release his new project, #MonstersUnderMyBed, recorded while incarcerated, marking another chapter in his music career as he continues serving lengthy prison sentences.
Tay-K speaks on how he feels about "The Race" after it was used against him in court: "I love that song, bro. I ain’t going to lie… That’s just a song for real. I won’t let the fact that people try to wield it like a weapon at me in these courtrooms make me not like my art. That’s art and that should be viewed as art and nothing more, nothing less." (via @Complex / @jrosethereturn)
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) November 12, 2026
