Tributes pour in for late US producer Traxamillion

US hip hop producer Traxamillion, real name Sultan Banks, passed away aged 42 on Sunday from a rare form of cancer that he had been secretly battling since 2017.

The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that Traxamillion died January 2, at his aunt’s house in Santa Clara, California - where he’d been living in hospice care.

Known for his debut album in 2006 named ‘The Slapp Addict compilation’ it included songs featuring Mistah F.A.B. and Too $hort, Smitty Grands, Keak da Sneak, Zion I, and more. Since then he has worked with DJ Shadow, E-40, City Girls, and many others.

Tributes to the late hip-hop producer have been flooding in as the Bay Area online blog Thizzler on the Roof posted the tweet: “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.”

Traxamillion’s record label Empire also posted on Twitter: “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.#SuperHyphy #FuckCancer”

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that his manager Prashant “PK” Kumar, said: “He was an amazing musician/producer. 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.”

Artists have also taken to social media to pay tribute, including DJ Fresh, Jubilee, and P-Lo.

“RIP TRAXAMILLION,” tweeted Metro Boomin. “The legends are always the ones who bring something to the game that shifts it.”

[Via: Pitchfork]

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter