Source: John E. Davidson/Getty
Rapper Chino XL, born Derek Emmanuel Barbosa, has reportedly passed away. It was 50.
AllHipHop.com reportedly confirmed the rapper died, and many of his peers took to social media to express their condolences. Fellow MC's Planet Asia and AFRO confirmed his death. RIP to CHINO XL .. Gonna miss you big bro 🕊️,” AFRO wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Born in the Bronx and raised in New Jersey, Chino XL released his debut album, Here To Save You All, in 1996 through Rick Rubin's American Records. Although positively received by critics, it performed only moderately commercially and it would be five years, and some label shuffling before he dropped a follow-up project (I told you). third album, Poison Pen, followed in 2006, and by then Chino had developed a reputation as a high-profile lyricist, a rapper widely respected by his peers.
While Chino XL never achieved mainstream fame, his reputation as an elite-level MC was outstanding. For example, in 2020 he dropped a smoking verse on “Superhumans,” which appears on Madlib and Oh No's self-titled album The Professionals. In the early 2000s he also found success in front of the camera as an actor.
In 2023, Chino XL linked up with producer Stu Bangas to release a self-titled album Carpenter of God. Since news of his death, peers such as Crooked I, Evidence, Chuck D and more, and fans of Chino XL have taken to social media to express their condolences and appreciation for his artistry of rhyme.
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