Bay Area hip-hop producer Traxamillion (real name Sultan Banks) has passed away at the age of 42.
Born in San Jose, Banks was best known for producing hyphy, a music genre that began in Oakland. The term was coined by rapper Keak da Sneak. It is short for “hyperactive,” and utilizes uptempo, drum-driven beats to create its unique sound.
According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, Banks succumbed to a rare form of cancer he had been fighting since 2017. He had been under hospice care at his aunt in San Jose when he passed.
Banks’ manager, Prashant “PK” Kumar, said, “He was an amazing musician/producer. He was an integral part of the hyphy music sound which 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.”
In 2006, Banks released The Slapp Addict Mixtape. This self-produced album featured numerous local Bay-Area artists. In 2010, he signed with 454 Life Entertainment after producing the single “We Get Money” by Drew Weezy and Thai VG featuring Glasses Malone. After signing with them, he then produced the majority of the label’s complication album As Real as it Gets. A track of his titled “The Movement” is featured in the basketball video game College Hoops 2k7.
