Chino XL, the New York rapper known for his feuds with Tupac Shakur and his dense, evocative wordplay, has died. He was 50.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the family of the rapper, whose real name was Derek Keith Barbosa, said: “Our father had many titles — one-liner king, Puerto Rican superhero — but the most important was that of the girls’ dad. And what he gave us most in that role was his strength, his candor, and his ability to be super down-to-earth. The main thing we feel now is that our dad is at peace, and so are we.” The statement did not mention the cause of death, but noted that his death occurred on Sunday.
The rapper was born in the Bronx to a family of Puerto Rican descent. He quickly made his mark in rap and at age 16 was signed to Rick Rubin’s American Recordings. His debut album, “Here to Save You All,” was released in 1996 and received critical acclaim. The best-known single from that album was “Riiiot!”, which included the instantly famous line, “I’m trying not to get fucked up like Tupac in jail.”
Those lyrics infuriated Shakur, who soon released the song “Hit 'Em Up” and included Chino XL among those he wished would “die slowly… My .44 will make sure all you kids don't grow up.”
Barbosa released three more albums: 2001’s “I Told You So,” 2006’s “Poison Pen” and his final LP, 2012’s “Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary.” That last album, hailed as his best work, includes the heartbreaking song “Father’s Day,” about taking his cancer-stricken son to the hospital. “If only my weak hands could remove / This neuroblastoma tumor from your adrenal glands,” he raps. “This is a father’s shame / That I can’t save you from it all.”
He also recently appeared as a guest on rap legend Rakim's new album, “GOD'S Network (Reb7rth).”
Along the way, Barbosa volunteered at a youth architecture program for underprivileged children. “I’ve been on this planet for several decades and moved in some pretty radical circles, but personally, I don’t recall ever meeting a melanated architect in my entire life,” he told Rolling Stone in 2018. “Just the fact that these kids know I exist is important.”
He was also an actor, landing roles on “Reno 911!” and “CSI: Miami,” and appeared in the 2003 film “Alex & Emma” with Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson. Several notable figures in the rap world, including podcaster Joe Budden, mourned his death online.
His family's statement says Barbosa is survived by his children, Chynna, Bella, Lyric and Kiyana; his stepson Shawn; his grandchildren Emmy, Emery, Chris, Luis and Dyani; his mother, Carole; and his former long-time partner, Stephanie.
