Posted by Bay Area, CA – Bay Area producer Traxamillion (real name Sultan Banks), who has produced singles for E-40, Keak Da Sneak and The Pack, has passed away.
News of his death started to circulate via Twitter on Sunday (January 2) with fellow Bay Area staple Equipto tweeting a simple, “Traxamillion?” While a cause of death has yet to be confirmed, someone in the comment section suggested he lost his battle with cancer.
Traxamillion.???
— QUIP (@EQUIPTO) January 2, 2022
Tributes have started pouring in on Traxamillion’s final Instagram post with E-40 writing, “Rest up my fella you will be missed #gonebutneverforgotten” and Iamsu! adding, “Rest In Peace” with a crying emoji.
Born in San Jose, Traxamillion was instrumental in the Bay Area’s hyphy movement and is responsible for songs such as Keak da Sneak’s “Super Hyphy” and Dem Hoodstarz “Grown Man Remix.”
His debut album, The Slapp Addict compilation, arrived in 2006 and featured a roster of Bay Area artists, including Too $hort, Mistah F.A.B., Zion I and Izz Thizz. In 2012, he released his second studio album, My Radio, and the Traxamillion Did It mixtape.
More recently, Traxamillion contributed to E-40’s 2019 album Practice Makes Paper on the songs “Wake They Shit Up” featuring B-Legit and Stressmatic, “Don’t @ Me” with OMB Peezy and “Stayed Down” featuring Peezy, Trenchrunner Poodie and Damani. He also worked with the City Girls, Paul Wall, Yukmouth, Andre Nickatina, Mac Dre, Messy Marv, Joyner Lucas, T.I., Freeway and more over the course of his career.
E-40 is clearly reeling over his death. He later shared a video of Traxamillion to his own Instagram page and talked about how much he admired the 43-year-old beat maestro. He also seemed to confirm his cause of death was indeed cancer with the hashtag #fuckcancer.
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“Rest up my fella you will be missed,” he wrote. “@traxamillion you was definitely a [GOAT] in my eyes glad to be part of your journey #gonebutneverforgotten #fuckcancer.” His post elicited condolences from Freestyle Fellowship’s Myka 9, Hieroglyphics’ DJ Toure and more.
HipHopDX has reached out to Traxamillion’s team for more information. In the meantime, our condolences go out to his friends and family.
View this post on Instagram
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. #RIPTraxamillion pic.twitter.com/I3k4NsUq5M
— Thizzler On The Roof (@TheThizzler) January 2, 2022
RIP Traxamillion ?
— P-Lo (@p_lo) January 2, 2022
Damn, Rest In Peace @Traxamillion a true pioneer in Bay Area music and just a real good dude. Made some of my fav slaps ever. Gone too soon. ??
— KevChoice (@KevChoice) January 2, 2022
Rest easy @Traxamillion pic.twitter.com/3G8SrnXco6
— DaryleTHEGURUJohnson (@DDDGURU) January 2, 2022
rest easy traxamillion. damn dude.
— solange stan account (@RexxLifeRaj) January 2, 2022
You can’t talk about the hyphy movement without speaking about Traxamillion. He was one of the core pieces of the Bay’s musical history. Prayers up for his loved ones and all of the Bay Area
— BAD MOM (@RayanaJay) January 2, 2022
rest well Traxamillion ??
— PROBLEM (@PROBLEM354) January 2, 2022
rest easy my brother @Traxamillion . Pioneer pic.twitter.com/brR3AQC5hK
— DjFreshDjFreshDjFresh (@DJFreshX3) January 2, 2022