Before Eazy-E passed away in 1995, he established BrownSide, a Chicano version of N.W.A.
Comprised of Los Angeles natives Toker, Danger, Wicked, Klever and Trouble, the group rose to prominence under Ruthless Records during the 90s gangsta rap era.
Toker — whose real name was Gilbert Izquierdo — died suddenly on Wednesday (October 10) in Rosarito, Mexico.
BrownSide disbanded shortly after the deaths of both Eazy and fellow member Danger, who was murdered in 1996. Over the years, Toker became incredibly dedicated to helping others.
“Toker reprised the group five years ago,” publicist and friend Shayna Wilson told HipHopDX. “He was an advocate for prison reform, an advocate for speaking out against gentrification in Los Angeles and was vocal about how ICE is affecting the family structure for Mexican-Americans in East L.A. and South Central. They went to Mexico after the earthquake last year and donated $30,000.
“He’s so well known in the projects in the inner city areas of L.A. just by helping random people. He was so humble and so nice. He would have given you the shirt off his back.”
Toker was extremely vocal about his love for Mexican-American culture and simply wanted Chicano MCs to get the same level of respect as other rappers.
“He was all about helping kids,” Wilson adds. “He was an amazing man. His only wish was for Mexican-American rappers to get the same kind of respect and accolades as African-American and white rappers. He believed Mexican-American rappers never got the appreciation they should have in the industry.
“But he made it his mission to help others. He’d always say, ‘We’re not rappers, we’re storytellers.’ He wanted people to hear their stories.”
Veteran West Coast gangsta rapper Kokane was close to Toker and appeared in videos with him over the years, including the 1993 Eazy-E cut “Any Last Werdz.”
“One of the realest dude’s in the game,” Kokane told DX. “He opened up the doors for many Latino and ESE rappers. Toker proved that it was never about color lines, but only about having heart and standing up for what you believe in. He was the true definition of keeping it gángster.
“Eazy-E signed BrownSide to Ruthless knowing that Toker and the BrownSide family would bring blacks and Latinos together. Plus, Toker and BrownSide were hard as fuck. I will highly miss my carnal. REST EAZY TOKER.”
Tributes have started flooding social media, making Toker’s impact evident. He was believed to be 51.
Check out some of the tributes below.
R.I.P to a real one, anyone doing good for the childrens sake is a real one fo’sho. poor little man you can tell hes gonna miss his dad big time, hope he grows up to be a man of integrity.
Damn, RIP Toker! I’ll pour one out for you holmes :'(
Rip toker
Big loss for the homies who really knew him. He looked out for alot of cats and myself when i hit Iron Wood. R.I.P from the homies from the SS BRATZ. You will always have our respect. God bless you. ✌️?
R.I.P
Who? Why they call him the “toker” thou? Because he was always tokin on dicks right? And how tacky is that photoshop of him with those angel wings lmfao
Stfu f.aggot ass. Really tough disrespecting a dude when he’s dead.
I will never stop disrespecting this f.agerino. Hell, i’ll even disrespect his grave. What you gonna do about it? cry likea little bish you are?
Ill piss on your grandparents and your moms grave after i pull my dick out of your girls mouth
Show Sum Respect!! This Dude was a OG from the struggle!!
Not as tacky as ur username. Name of a snitch but think ur a G. FOH.
DONNIE BITCH TOKER TOKED ON FIRE ASS WEED WHILE U WERE SMOKING ON PENISES LOL FUK DONNIE HES A CERTIFIED RAT
Suck on your mom’s dick Donnie Brasco!!!….Im next in line to piss on your grave….U disrespectful clown..
DummieBrasco-
Huh? You sound stupid AF.
Always a dumb one in the group.
REST IN PEACE TO BIG TOKER, A REAL SOUTHSIDE SURENO IN THE EASTSIDE OF SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES…
Why don’t they tell what really happened to him? The cartels are ruthless
True,I wonder if they don’t want to say,because over there if u speak they can come back to get the rest of the family.its ruthless over there.ms tokez probly gonna seell all and move back to Cali and put lil tokes in church and dress him like a nice Lil boy and send him to jr college
Rip to Toker he was a good generous caring man trying to make the best of life he will definitely be missed my heart goes out to the family and his wife and son lil Tokes Big Toker will be misded dearly and I just cant believe this such a tragic thing to have to go threw for is fans and family may god rest his soul… Till we meet again fly high MrToker!!
I woke up and saw this and I couldnt believe this was true. I was just watching him on live buying tickets to the new show. This hurts man. Fuck. Rip carnal.
REST IN PEACE BIG TOKES PURO BROWNSIDE FOR EVER ESE.
THIS BITCHAZZ FOOL DISRESPECTING A DEAD HOMIE..GOTTA BE A STRAIGHT PUNK..REGARDLESS OF YOUR BEEF!!!STFU..ONLY PUNKS BE SIDE BUSTING LIKE YOU..WHOEVER YOU ARE!!! OR WHATEVER YOUR PUNK BOY NAME IS..
R.I.P Big O.G Toker puro SouthSide. Real true Blue Sureño … My condolence to the family….
Toker was so busy insulting Mac Miller, by saying Fuck Mac Miller & how stupid he was for o/d ing with all that money. You reap what you sew. Carla’s a bitch hope you rot homie.
So this is your response… what does that say of you and your character? Mac miller spread positive vibes.
Its KARMA lame ass mike s. What do u know besides nothing buster! Carlas a bitch really either your dumb as a door nail or you didnt read your word prediction either way your still a buster poser!
you sir, are a fucking pH@gg0t. Toker is a motherfuckin East Side gangsta for real no matter what city what state you come from if you bang the E and the big 13 then Toker and brownside is the shit you be bumping having a good time beating the fuck down on lame fucks and pussy hater pH@g-Bags like you. This post may be from 2018 but still, I barely seeing it right now and you’re a bitch for trying to talk down on a real G, where in real LIFE that very same thing would catch you a .380 round the face hahahah
Damn cant believe that shit Rip toker i heard from him from my OG tio’s i was a young chavalito 6 years old when i heard eastside drama From southern tejas we will bump is tracks and i still do
RIP TOKER
Brownside will never be the same without Toker