Tay-K was born on November 13, 2000, making him 25 years old as of 2026. Born Taymor Travon McIntyre in Long Beach, California, the American rapper and songwriter rose to prominence during the mid-2010s underground SoundCloud rap movement, most notably for his 2017 breakout single "The Race." His rapid ascension in the music industry became inextricably linked to a severe criminal trial and subsequent conviction, turning his age and birth date into frequently searched details as fans and legal observers track his status within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system.
Biography and Early Life
Taymor Travon McIntyre spent his early childhood in Long Beach, California, before relocating to Arlington, Texas, with his family as a teenager. Growing up in a military household—his father served in the United States Navy—McIntyre experienced frequent moves before settling in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. During his adolescent years in Arlington, he developed an interest in hip-hop production and lyricism, eventually joining the local rap collective Daytona Boyz alongside other teenage aspiring artists.
As a teenager navigating the local music scene, McIntyre began releasing tracks on the audio distribution platform SoundCloud. His early work gained modest traction regionally, establishing him within the burgeoning Texas underground rap circuit. However, his life took a sharp and dramatic turn in July 2016 when he became implicated in a capital murder case in Mansfield, Texas, while he was still a minor at the age of 15. This incident set off a multi-year legal saga that would ultimately define his life, career, and public profile.
Age and Legal Timeline Milestones
Understanding Tay-K's age requires mapping his chronological milestones against the timeline of his legal proceedings. Because he was a juvenile when the initial offense occurred in 2016, his case involved complex jurisdictional decisions regarding whether he would be tried as a juvenile or certified to stand trial as an adult.
The table below outlines key dates, his age at the time, and the corresponding events in his personal and legal history.
| Date / Year | Tay-K's Age | Event / Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| November 13, 2000 | 0 | Born in Long Beach, California. |
| July 2016 | 15 | Implicated in a fatal home invasion robbery in Mansfield, Texas. |
| March 2017 | 16 | Cut off his ankle monitor while under house arrest and became a fugitive. |
| Spring 2017 | 16 | Recorded and released the viral music video for "The Race" while on the run. |
| June 30, 2017 | 17 | Apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Elizabeth, New Jersey. |
| July 2019 | 19 | Convicted of murder and aggravated robbery in a Tarrant County court; sentenced to 55 years in prison. |
| November 2021 | 21 | Indicted on an additional capital murder charge stemming from a separate 2017 San Antonio incident. |
| November 13, 2026 | 26 | Current age in 2026, serving an aggregate sentence within the Texas prison system. |
The Fugitive Period and the Release of "The Race"
The most culturally significant period of Tay-K's life occurred when he was 16 years old, during his time as a fugitive from justice. Following his involvement in the July 2016 incident, he was placed under house arrest pending certification hearings to determine if he would be tried as an adult. In March 2017, facing the prospect of adult criminal charges, McIntyre cut off his electronic monitoring ankle monitor and fled.
While evading law enforcement across multiple states, McIntyre recorded the song "The Race," detailing his experiences as a fugitive running from the police. After his capture in New Jersey on June 30, 2017—weeks before his 17th birthday—the music video for "The Race" was officially released on YouTube. The video accumulated tens of millions of views rapidly, propelling the incarcerated teenager into national mainstream visibility.
The song debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, eventually peaking at number 44, and earned multi-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). High-profile artists and fans championed the track, creating a surreal cultural phenomenon where a teenager facing capital murder charges achieved major commercial music success from behind bars.
Trial, Adult Certification, and Sentencing
Despite committing the initial acts as a minor, the Tarrant County District Attorney's office successfully petitioned to have McIntyre certified to stand trial as an adult. Under Texas law, courts evaluate factors such as the severity of the offense, the suspect's sophistication, and previous record when deciding whether to transfer juvenile offenders to the adult criminal court system.
In July 2019, following a jury trial in Fort Worth, Texas, McIntyre—then 19 years old—was convicted of murder and two counts of aggravated robbery. The jury sentenced him to 55 years in prison for the murder charge, alongside concurrent 30-year sentences for one count of aggravated robbery and two 13-year sentences for additional counts.
Beyond the Tarrant County case, legal challenges continued to mount. In November 2021, a Bexar County grand jury indicted McIntyre for an additional charge of capital murder related to a separate fatal shooting outside a San Antonio hotel in April 2017, allegedly committed while he was still on the run. These accumulated legal matters ensured that his incarceration status remained extended for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Tay-K in 2026?
Tay-K is 25 years old in 2026. He was born on November 13, 2000, and celebrated his 25th birthday in November of that year.
What is Tay-K's real name?
His birth name is Taymor Travon McIntyre. He adopted the stage name Tay-K (often styled as Tay-K 47) during his early involvement with underground rap groups in Arlington, Texas.
How old was Tay-K when he recorded "The Race"?
Tay-K was 16 years old when he recorded "The Race" and shot its accompanying music video while evading federal and local law enforcement agencies as a fugitive across the United States.
Why was Tay-K sentenced to prison?
He was convicted in July 2019 for his role in a July 2016 home invasion robbery in Mansfield, Texas, which resulted in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Ethan Walker. A Tarrant County jury sentenced him to 55 years in prison for murder and aggravated robbery charges.
Is Tay-K eligible for parole?
In the Texas state prison system, individuals serving sentences for murder typically must serve at least half of their total sentence or 30 calendar years—whichever is less—before becoming eligible for parole consideration. Based on his 2019 sentencing date and age at conviction, his initial parole eligibility milestone falls decades into the future.
Conclusion and Current Status
Tay-K's trajectory from a teenage underground participant to a nationally recognized chart-topping recording artist serving a multi-decade prison sentence remains one of the most polarizing narratives in modern hip-hop history. As he continues serving his sentence within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, public interest persists around his age, legal appeals, and musical legacy. For accurate tracking of his status, legal scholars and fans rely on public records provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate database.
