A sold-out crowd of diehard fans lined the smoke-clouded Bayview block at the Midway on Saturday, Feb. 26, as hip-hop figures including East Bay rappersMistah Fab, Keak Da Sneak andP-Loalong with Branden Peters, former editor of the hip-hop magazine XXL, poured in for one of the largest hyphy celebrations in recent memory.
It was a night to mark what would have been the 43rd birthday of Sultan “Traxamillion” Banks, the beloved San Jose producer who died on Jan. 2 from a rare form of cancer.
“This is about keeping him alive, his memory, his name,” said Prashant “PK” Kumar, Trax’s friend and former manager. “We are still dealing with his loss, but it’s his actual birthday so I thought it would be cool to get all the classic names he has done music with and put us all under the same roof. He has produced so many records that we can actually play Trax music all night long. Every song tonight is his.”
Only music we bumping today is Traxamillion#Slapp4Ever
— Sketer Parker (@FlammyMarciano)February 26, 2022
Nearly two months after Traxamillion’s death, his following is stronger than ever, attracting fans from all over Northern California to fill the venue and surrounding streets with an array of “slapps” — a phrase he helped popularize, referring to the force of how hard a song hits. The concept largely defines Trax’s bass-knocking style, most famously embodied with the release of his breakthrough 2006 album, “The Slapp Addict.” His contributions to hyphy, the Bay Area’s brand of uptempo, “hyperactive” rap, are immeasurable.
“Traxamillion gave us an identity. He gave us something to believe in, a style for our area,” said longtime fan Antonio Lopez of East Palo Alto. “His songs represent our home.”
But fans don’t have to be Bay Area natives for Traxamillion’s music to resonate. Alex Vanderbelt was raised in a Seattle suburb and recalls listening to Traxamillion long before moving to Berkeley as an adult. On Saturday night, he knew every word to the songs performed while wearing a Thizz Nation jacket, a testament to Traxamillion and hyphy music’s reach.
“His music shaped my identity in high school,” Vanderbelt said. “The way I dressed, my slang. It was a way for me to connect with people.”
Happy birthday to Traxamillion, who would’ve turned 43 years old today.
rip. you are so missed.
a Bay Area legend forever.pic.twitter.com/dtEwkl6GHa
— Thizzney (@iamsydneywelch)February 26, 2022
Like the hundreds in attendance, Lopez and Vanderbelt were hyped to relive Trax’s extensive catalog of hits, featuring collaborative anthems with aforementioned greats Keak Da Sneak and Mistah Fab, as well as newer tracks from emerging artists such as San Jose’s City Shawn — all present for the event.
“Rest in peace. We miss you, boy,” City Shawn said onstage during one of many heartfelt moments in which performers shared praise and condolences for Trax.
Though he wasn’t physically present, Trax’s spirit manifested in the music blaring from speakers. His presence was also felt in the decorated space that was thoughtfully curated by his family and Kumar to resemble an actual birthday celebration. From Rice Krispies treats and balloons to a slideshow projecting images of Trax at different points in his life, it felt intimate and homegrown, something Kumar prioritized for his close friend and former client at Golden Mean Management.
The cast of performers included more than 15 guests in a rotating all-star lineup of who’s-who in the Bay Area hip-hop scene. Beginning with a surprise entrance from Vallejo’s Nef the Pharaoh, the night flowed on with lively appearances from Husalah, Big Rich, Dem Hoodstarz,Kevin Allen, and DJ Fresh, to name a few.
“He was influential to countless people,” Mistah Fab told the crowd. “Look at how many of us came together for this. The whole Northern California (is) here because of Trax.”
The performers were surprisingly smooth in transitioning from one set to the next, keeping the hungry fans satisfied and allowing for a wide variety of Traxamillion favorites such as “Super Hyphy,” “Sideshow,” and “Glamorous Lifestyle” to fill the air.
An hour into the night, the performances stopped so everyone could sing “Happy Birthday,” to which East Palo Alto rap duo Dem Hoodstarz came on to sing once more “with extra soul.”
Well past midnight, the event continued with music, laughter and gigging, a popular style of Bay Area dance. Friends, family and fans throughout the nearly three-hour event could be found “throwing up the T” with two-hands in honor of Traxamillion.
“I love that man with all my heart,” Keak Da Sneak told The Chronicle offstage. “He went hard for all of us, and we made some legendary songs together. I’m still very sad that he’s gone.”