Patrick Wayne Stay, widely known as Pat Stay, was a celebrated Canadian battle rapper whose humor, confidence, improvisational ability and unmistakable personality earned him a lasting place in hip-hop culture. He died on September 4, 2022, at the age of 36, leaving behind two children, family, friends and a worldwide community of fans who continue to remember his contribution to battle rap.

Born February 18, 1986, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Stay developed his reputation through the competitive battle-rap scene. The culture relies heavily on wordplay, timing, improvisation and the ability to respond creatively to an opponent, qualities that became central to Stay’s performances.

His professional career grew through the Nova Scotia battle scene before he became closely associated with King of the Dot, one of Canada’s leading battle-rap organizations. Stay eventually won the league’s championship and successfully defended the title against several respected competitors.

His battles with performers including Dizaster, Daylyt, Charron and Illmaculate helped expand his reputation beyond Canada. Stay’s ability to combine humor with sharp lyrical attacks made him a distinctive performer, while his relaxed confidence and commanding stage presence made him immediately recognizable to battle-rap audiences.

Over the course of his career, Stay competed on major battle platforms and performed internationally. With more than 40 battles to his name, he became one of the most recognizable Canadian representatives of the battle-rap movement.

His work also reached beyond competitive rap. Stay appeared in Bodied, the 2017 battle-rap comedy produced by Eminem, connecting him with a broader entertainment audience and highlighting the growing influence of battle rap in popular culture.

Stay remained creatively active shortly before his death. On September 2, 2022, he released “Warm Up,” a diss track directed toward rapper The Game. The song became one of the final releases associated with his career.

His death came just days later. Shortly after midnight on September 4, police found Stay suffering from stab wounds in downtown Halifax. He was transported to hospital but later died. The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service determined that his death was a homicide.

The news sent shockwaves through the hip-hop and battle-rap communities. Artists and fans around the world paid tribute to Stay, with Eminem among those honoring him and recognizing his status as one of the most accomplished battle rappers of his generation.

Stay’s death also resulted in a criminal prosecution. Adam Drake was convicted of second-degree murder in June 2025 in connection with the killing, bringing a major legal chapter of the case to a close.

Beyond the battle stage, Pat Stay was remembered as a father and as someone whose humor and personality extended into his relationships with family, friends and fellow artists. His public performances offered only one part of the personality that made him so memorable.

For battle-rap fans, his legacy remains especially significant. Stay demonstrated how competitive rap could combine spontaneity, comedy, aggression and performance into an art form capable of reaching audiences around the world.

More than four years after his death, Pat Stay’s battles, music and performances continue to be revisited by longtime followers and new fans discovering his work. His career was cut short while he was still creatively active, but the influence he made during his lifetime remains visible throughout the battle-rap community.

Pat Stay will be remembered not only for his lyrical ability, but also for his humor, authenticity and extraordinary connection with audiences. From Dartmouth to international battle stages, he built a reputation that continues to endure within Canadian hip-hop and the wider battle-rap culture.

To his family, children, friends, fellow artists and fans, his loss remains deeply felt. His voice and personality continue to live on through the music, battles and memories he left behind.