Traxamillion, the San Jose producer known for his significant contributions to the Bay Area’s hyphy movement, has passed away, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. He was 42 years old.
Bay Area-based blog Thizzler on the Roof first broke the news on Sunday (Jan. 2), tweeting, “Rest In Peace [Traxamillion], the San Jose producer who helped create the ‘Hyphy‘ sound passed away today. This is a huge loss for Northern California. We send our condolences to his family & loved ones.”
Empire Records, the record label Traxamillion was signed to, also confirmed his passing in a statement. “We lost a true Bay Area cornerstone to cancer today. Rest in Power to Traxamillion, the architect of the Hyphy sound and a legendary producer to the fullest.”
According to the Chronicle, Traxamillion died on Sunday morning following a multi-year battle with a rare form of cancer. The producer was in hospice at his aunt’s residence in Santa Clara, California at the time. According to his manager Prashant “PK” Kumar, Traxamillion was first diagnosed with the cancer in 2017.
“He was an amazing musician/producer,” Kumar told the outlet. “He was an integral part of the hyphy music sound who helped reopen the door for Bay Area hip hop. He did it in 2004 or 2005, and the rest of California got on it and adapted his sound.”
Traxamillion got his start in the 2000s, when the hyphy movement was growing beyond the Bay Area and into a worldwide subgenre. He produced tracks like Keak Da Sneak’s “Super Hyphy,” Mistah F.A.B.’s “Sideshow,” The Pack’s “Club Stuntin,” Izz Thizz’s “Gas, Skrape,” The Jacka’s “From the Hood,” Dem Hoodstarz’s “Grown Man Remix” and more.
In 2006, he released The Slapp Addict compilation, which featured Mistah F.A.B., Too $hort, Smitty Grands, Clyde Carson, Turf Talk, San Quinn, Keak Da Sneak, Zion I and more. He also worked with DJ Shadow, E-40, City Girls, Paul Wall, T.I., Mac Dre, Freeway and others.
On Twitter; rappers, producers and fans paid their respects.
“RIP TRAXAMILLION the legends are always the ones who bring something to the game that shifts it,” Metro Boomin wrote.
Rest In Peace. See more tributes to Traxamillion on Twitter below.