Raysean Autry dead at 34: Kollege Kidd co-founder dies from pneumonia after Covid battle as brother Rich hospitalized

THE owner of an influential rap blog has died due to Covid complications.

Raysean Autry was co-founder of KollegeKidd.com, a hip hop news and culture site that has more than 1.2million followers on Instagram.




Raysean’s grieving brother PJ Taylor, 29, exclusively told The Sun: “He passed away on December 29 from Covid pneumonia. 

"He had been hospitalized for at least a couple of weeks in Toledo, Ohio.

"He was 34 years old. We were blindsided by his death. We couldn’t even celebrate the holidays. 

"His brother Rich is still in the hospital. They were on the same floor."

Raysean's twin brother Rich is the other co-founder of KollegeKidd.com.

The pair started the blog together in November 2011 and built it into a leading news source for hip hop on the internet.

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PJ explained that the family has not told Rich yet to protect him while he battles Covid.

He said: "Rich doesn’t know yet. He’s still in the ICU. We don’t want to tell him and elevate his vitals and something goes wrong. 

"I don’t think he will know until after Ray is buried, January 10 is the date right now.

"He’s going to be buried in Toledo but we’re still picking the cemetery."

FAMILY SUCCESSES

PJ added: "Ray and Rich had been living in LA but they had been back in Toledo for months and they got ill here. 

"They made a success of Kollege Kidd since the beginning when they were in the dorm rooms. 

"It was just hard work at a point in time before it was even profitable. They had to choose to get rid of one and they got rid of sleep, man. 

"They had to go to work, come home, work on Kollege Kidd. That would just be it.

"You would just see them working on Kollege Kidd 24/7, just be with each other 24/7.

"Until this day, while they was still in the hospital bed they’d still be posting until they couldn't no more."

Raysean leaves behind a daughter, who PJ said is "older than 10 now."

Speaking of Raysean's family life, PJ added: "When he would come home, me, Rich and my mom would be at our mom's house and Ray would come to our mom's house, but then he'd go down the street and go basically be with his daughter 24/7.

"The family can't even digest it. It's still so fresh.

"Ray was one of the fun brothers, man. You could joke with him, laugh with him. He was funny. 

"He was always my big brother, man. Since I've been in this earth, he's been there. I don't know life without him. He was like a superhero."

Raysean and Rich both went to college at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Raysean majored in television and film and interned at CNN's In America before co-founding Kollegekidd.com.

Rich studied journalism and went on to work as a reporter for the Toledo Free Press and intern at the Wall Street Journal as a metro reporter.

FRIEND PAYS TRIBUTE

Raysean’s friend Destinee Price, 33, told The Sun: "I met him and his brother in 2006 and we stayed friends ever since. 

"He gave me advice on college and I ended up going to the same college as him and Richard, Bowling Green State University.

"Ray and I stayed in the same dorm building and we would always meet up in the computer lab and talk.

"He was a great advice giver. He was a great person to be around because of his positive attitude.

"He was so smart and I was so proud of his accomplishments in his life. He was truly a beautiful soul. 

"He was so soft-spoken and respectful. I am going to miss him so much. My heart dropped when I heard the news. It makes me so sad. 

"I hope Richard pulls through but he is going to be so heartbroken. They had a tight bond.

“They look just alike but you can tell them apart because they have different mannerisms.

"They had a goal with Kollege Kidd and stuck with it. I’m sad that Ray’s life was cut so short because he was the sweetest guy."

'HUMBLE'

Raysean’s friend Rob Pasker – who attended Toledo Central Catholic high school with him – spoke of the media mogul’s humility. 

Real estate broker Rob, 34, told The Sun: “We grew close through classes, wrestling, football and just clownin’ around school. 

“Ray was a silly dude… always ready for some action. 

"We did all types of things just to spice up life at CCHS.

“We made music, we made skits, we made up dances… we created culture.

"Ray and Richard were built different. They had strong character at an early age. Their work ethic was unmatched. 

“Ray ended up being named to the All Toledo Blade football team senior year and played defensive tackle.  

“Ray and Richard would wear ankle weights during the school days to build up their strength.

“Nobody hit the weight room like they did.

“Ray and Richard were leaders. Ray didn’t just go with the crowd. He stood on what he believed in. 

“Ray was conscious. We had many conversations exploring the socioeconomic plight of Black people in America. 

“He used his platform to not only entertain, but educate.

“Ray was very talented. He was creative – an innovator. 

“Him and Richard produced films at Bowling Green under the name the Write Brothers. 

“They also started a College News network called Collegiance Network Television (CNtv) which I hosted a couple of their broadcasts. 

"The brothers literally built Kollege Kidd out of the mud. 

“They announced their company on 11-11-11…I remember the day.

"Ray was a very discreet person. He was also VERY humble. The people that were blessed to know him will miss him dearly.

"I’ll remember his laugh, his smile, his jokes. More than anything, I’ll remember his character,the integrity he carried himself with. 

“This is a tragic loss for his family and also for the world. The impact they built transcends age and borders.” 

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