Skip to Content
News

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Repping "Eastside South-Central," the group was originally made up of Toker, Pierre “Wicked” Lamas, and Danger, who was shot and killed in 1996.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

RELATED: From Hollywood Stars to East L.A. Unrest ~ The Photography of George Rodriguez

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

The 38 Best Books of 2024

Like listening to music, reading is an activity that recharges the spirit. It offers a chance to unplug for an hour to fill your soul and slow down. Here are 38 ways to free your attention span from doom scrolling and algorithms.

December 18, 2024

A Trucker’s Oasis For Peruvian Chicharrón Sandwiches, Leche de Tigre, and Camote Donuts In Vernon

Their chicharrón sandwich is the best $10 you can spend in the beautiful city of Vernon. This mom-and-pop shop opened by a couple of retired truck drivers is a bonafide strip mall gem in Los Angeles, overlooking the L.A. River, too.

December 17, 2024

Street Food Defender Edin Enamorado Still In Jail, One Year Later. This Is the Latest

His lawyer, Damon Alimouri, said Enamorado is “staying strong, and he's going to fight at every turn.”

December 16, 2024

Performative Justice: Nearly 2 Years After Launching Unit to Free Innocent People in Prison, Attorney General’s Office Hasn’t Reviewed A Single Case

Joseph Trigilio, executive director of the Loyola Project for the Innocent, says he doesn’t know why it’s taken the attorney general so long to start reviewing cases. But he could see limited staffing being one of the main factors. “I don’t know that they have that many lawyers and the small amount of lawyers they do have are tasked with creating this unit from nothing,” he said

December 16, 2024

This Weekend: Lamb Heart Kebabs Open Until 2 AM, Mapo Tofu Fries, and Free Villa’s Tacos

Plus, Malay-style wings, a collaboration pizza-topped with Philippe The Original's French-dipped beef and hot mustard, and more in this week's roundup.

December 13, 2024
See all posts