The hip-hop scene mourns the loss of Derek Keith Barbosa, famously known as Chino XL, as he died at age 50. The Bronx-born rapper passed away on Sunday at his home, as per his family’s statement. Born in 1974 in East Orange, New Jersey, he developed a passion for rapping from a young age and he became a known rapper in his school there. He left behind him a diverse legacy that will keep his memory alive as he was a rapper, actor, and author of graphic novels.
Chino XL’s Career
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Chino XL built a name for himself that he became known as the “Lyrical Messiah.” In the late ’80s, He formed the Art of Origin with producer Kerri Chandler and signed with Def American Recordings via Warner Bros. In the early ’90s after releasing singles, the infamous rapper pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Here to Save You All in 1996. He also made collaborations on a later album with B-Real, Kool G Rap, J Dilla, and others. He kept producing albums over the span of two decades that gave him his name.
He is most known for his feud with Tupac Shakur where Shakur dissed him in the song Hit ‘Em Up. Whether they settled their differences prior to Shakur’s death is still unknown. Furthermore, the ’99 single The Anthem was a huge landmark in his career as he co-starred with Eminem, RZA, and KRS-One. He didn’t fail to enchant his fans on the East and West Coast in addition to his worldwide fans with his multisyllabic wordplay.
Chino XL wasn’t only a rapper, he went for acting in the early 2000s where he made an appearance in Reiner’s Alex & Emma. He also became a star in Brandon Sonnier’s 2003 hip-hop film The Beat. In addition, he also made appearances in Reno 911!, CSI: Miami, and The Young and the Restless. The hip-hop icon also opted to be a graphic novel author, having made Black Mass, Lucy, and Skin and Bones: The Descent of the Holy. His latest appearance was on Rakim’s G.O.D.’s Network (Reb7rth), where he was featured on the track Pendulum Swing on July 26th.
Tributes Paid
The family hasn’t released a cause of death and they wished that everyone would respect their privacy. They are also planning for a memorial that will be announced shortly. Chino XL’s family and a lot of stars are shocked to see that Chino XL has passed away, his daughters expressed their shock in a joint statement, saying:
“Our father had many titles — King of Punchlines, Puerto Rican Superhero — but the most important one was Girl Dad. And what he gave us most in that role was his strength, straightforwardness, and ability to be super realistic. The main thing we are feeling now is that our Dad is at peace, and so we are at peace.”
KXNG Crooked, who also joined Chino and Rakim in the Pendulum Swing, talked about how they were speaking on the phone the other day and laughed. His death came to him as a surprise and he expressed how he is messed up by it. Furthermore, Joe Budden also paid his tributes on X in the wake of the tragic news. Chino XL is survived by his children, Chynna, Bella, Lyric, and Kiyana; stepson Shawn; five grandchildren; his mother and his longtime partner Stephanie. He may be gone but he will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in peace.
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