‘Toker’ Dies ~ Chicano Rapper Was Shaped by Eazy-E in West Coast Heyday as Brownside

[dropcap size=big]G[/dropcap]ilbert "Toker" Izquierdo, the rapper of OG Chicano hip-hop group Brownside, has died, according to a note left on his social media. "On behalf of the Brownside family we regret to inform you our brother, father, husband and friend Toker has passed away. Please respect the family and let them mourn in peace," the Instagram note said.

During the heyday of West Coast gangster rap, L.A. legend Eazy-E signed Brownside to Ruthless Records in 1994. It was an attempt to mold a Chicano version of N.W.A., the history goes.

Repping "Eastside South-Central," the group was originally made up of Toker, Pierre “Wicked” Lamas, and Danger, who was shot and killed in 1996. The group released one single under Ruthless.

"Huge pillar, huge pioneer of Chicano rap," said Latin Hip-Hop Alert. Tributes in honor of Toker are flooding underground brown rap circles on YouTube.

The family did not release the cause of death or Izquierdo's age, reports said. L.A. Taco will have more updates when available.

Below, watch Toker in an interview in 1994.

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