Tone Capone, the Bay Area producer who helped shape the sound of West Coast hip-hop, has died. He was 59.
Capone, born Anthony Douglas Gilmour, died Saturday, according to reports shared by family members. His cause of death has not been disclosed.
His passing closes the chapter on a career deeply connected to Bay Area rap. Capone’s production helped define the region’s mobb music sound.
His signature moment arrived with Luniz’ “I Got 5 On It.” Released in 1995, the song became a Bay Area anthem and reached the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10.
The record began taking shape after Capone reconnected with Mike Marshall in 1993. Marshall, a former Timex Social Club member, brought him into a session with Luniz.
Marshall developed the melody for the hook. Capone built the beat around Club Nouveau’s “Why You Treat Me So Bad.”
Legendary Bay Area Producer Tone Capone (E-40, Mac Dre, Luniz) Dead At 59
The song later received a star-studded remix featuring Dru Down, Spice 1, E-40, Shock G and Richie Rich. Jordan Peele revived Capone’s haunting production for the 2019 horror film Us.
Yet “I Got 5 On It” represented only part of Capone’s extensive catalog. He produced records for Mac Dre, 3xKrazy, Celly Cel and E-40.
His credits also included Devin the Dude, The Jacka, Dru Down, Mac Mall and Andre Nickatina. He worked with Spice 1, San Quinn and numerous other West Coast artists.
Capone was born in Berkeley and raised in North Oakland near Bushrod Park. Music surrounded him from childhood, with funk legends filling his family home.
He learned to DJ at Berkeley High School using a friend’s turntables. By the mid-1980s, he was building beats with drum machines and four-track recorders.
After buying his first Technics 1200, Capone chose music over the streets.
His influence eventually reached Houston, where he worked with Scarface. Capone contributed to Scarface’s 1997 platinum album The Untouchable.
The project included “Mary Jane” and “Smile,” featuring one of Tupac Shakur’s final recorded verses. Scarface later named Capone among his greatest producers.
Capone remained active for decades. His work with Mac Dre produced “Fire,” “Not My Job” and “Genie of the Lamp.”
He continued exploring new sounds before his death. His recent work included a collaboration with Punjabi rapper Kanwar.
No memorial arrangements have been announced.
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