Bay Area Producer Tone Capone, Architect of “I Got 5 On It,” Dies at 59

Bay Area hip-hop has lost one of its defining producers.

Tone Capone has died at 59, leaving behind a catalog that helped shape Northern California rap throughout the 1990s. His best-known production, Luniz’s “I Got 5 On It,” became a global hit and remains one of the most recognizable records in West Coast hip-hop.

Capone also produced for artists including Mac Dre, E-40, C-Bo, Scarface, and the Geto Boys, extending his influence well beyond the Bay Area.