Taymor Travon McIntyre, known professionally as Tay-K, emerged as a controversial figure in hip-hop whose brief music career became inextricably linked to his serious legal troubles. Born in Long Beach, California, he spent parts of his childhood in Nevada before his family settled in the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas when he was ten years old. His path into music began early, as he dropped out of high school during his freshman year and joined the local rap collective Daytona Boyz in 2014, laying the groundwork for his own artistic pursuits.

His life took a drastic turn in July 2016 when he was charged in connection with a violent home invasion and robbery in Mansfield, Texas, that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Ethan Walker. Released on house arrest in January 2017 while awaiting trial, McIntyre cut off his ankle monitor and fled in March, initiating a nationwide manhunt. It was during this period on the run that he recorded and released the single that would define his public persona, "The Race." The song, which lyrically detailed his flight from law enforcement, was uploaded to SoundCloud and quickly went viral, peaking at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually earning a platinum certification from the RIAA.

Tay-K was captured by U.S. Marshals in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on June 30, 2017, the same day "The Race" was officially released. His arrest and the song's popularity created a macabre synergy, garnering him significant online notoriety. While incarcerated at Tarrant County Jail, his management team released his debut mixtape, Santana World, in July 2017. The project, which featured the breakout single, received generally positive critical reception and entered the Billboard 200 chart, a rare feat for an artist already in custody.

His legal proceedings ultimately overshadowed his music. In July 2019, McIntyre was found guilty of murder for his role in the 2016 home invasion that killed Ethan Walker and was sentenced to 55 years in prison. Later that November, he was indicted on a second murder charge for the shooting death of 23-year-old Mark Anthony Saldivar, which occurred during his time as a fugitive in San Antonio. In April 2025, he was convicted of that murder and received an additional sentence of 80 years in prison. Tay-K remains incarcerated, his legacy cemented by a single hit song and the grave criminal convictions that followed.