Tone Capone, the Bay Area legend has sadly passed away at age 59.
There are producers who make great records, and then there are producers who help define the sound of a generation. Tone Capone was one of those producers. His distinctive blend of funk, soul, heavy bass and Bay Area street music became a signature sound that helped shape West Coast hip-hop.
For many, his name will forever be connected to the timeless Luniz classic “I Got 5 On It.” Released in 1995, the record became a worldwide anthem and one of the most recognisable songs ever to come out of the Bay Area. That legendary bassline and hypnotic groove were pure Tone Capone — but “I Got 5 On It” was only one chapter in an extraordinary catalogue.
Tone worked with some of the biggest names in West Coast and Southern hip-hop. His production credits included Mac Dre, with records such as “Fire,” “Not My Job” and “Genie of the Lamp,” as well as Celly Cel’s “It’s Goin’ Down,” 3XKrazy’s “Keep It on the Real,” E-40’s “Ring It” and Devin the Dude’s “Sticky Green.” He also worked with Dru Down, Mac Mall, Spice-1, The Click, Andre Nickatina, Messy Marv, San Quinn, The Jacka and many more.
His talents eventually took him beyond the Bay. Tone worked with Scarface, contributing to the classic The Untouchable album, including “Smile” featuring 2Pac and “Mary Jane.” That relationship also showed the level of respect he had earned within hip-hop. Scarface himself named Tone Capone among his greatest producers, alongside some of the biggest names ever to sit behind the boards.
SOME ESSENTIAL TONE CAPONE PRODUCTIONS INCLUDED:
Luniz — “I Got 5 On It”
Luniz — “I Got 5 On It (Bay Ballas Remix)”
Mac Dre — “Fire”
Mac Dre — “Not My Job”
Mac Dre — “Genie of the Lamp”
Celly Cel — “It’s Goin’ Down”
3XKrazy — “Keep It on the Real”
E-40 — “Ring It”
Devin the Dude — “Sticky Green”
Scarface — “Smile” feat. 2Pac
Scarface — “Mary Jane”
Even after Tone eventually retired from producing, his work never disappeared. The records continued to play, influence new artists and introduce new generations to the sound he helped create. That is the true measure of a producer’s legacy: the music continues long after the producer has left the studio.
Tone Capone helped put the Bay Area sound on the map. He worked with legends, created timeless records and left his fingerprints on an important chapter of hip-hop history. From Oakland to Houston, from Mac Dre to Scarface, his music travelled far beyond the streets where it began.
Rest in peace, Tone Capone.
You may have retired from making the music, but you’ll never retire from hip-hop history. The producer is gone. The music lives forever.
