Chino XL, the New York rapper identified for Nineties hits like “No Complicated” and “Kreep,” died at his residence on Sunday morning (July 28), his household shared in a press release. “Our father had many titles — King of Punchlines, Puerto Rican Superhero — however crucial one was Lady Dad,” his daughters wrote on social media. “And what he gave us most in that position was his energy, straightforwardness, and skill to be tremendous real looking. The principle factor we’re feeling now’s that our Dad is at peace, and so we’re at peace.” Chino XL was 50 years outdated.
Born Derek Emmanuel Barbosa within the Bronx, Chino XL was so drawn to hip-hop at a younger age that he began his personal group, Artwork of Origin, as a preteen with pal and future DJ Kerri Chandler. After catching the eye of Rick Rubin, a 16-year-old Chino XL was signed to American Recordings and rolled out his debut album, Right here to Save You All, in 1996 with visitor appearances from Kool Keith, Gravitation, and Ras Kass.
Right here to Save You All’s lead singles, “No Complicated” and “Kreep”—the latter of which is a nod to Radiohead’s “Creep” in title and composition, and earned continuously airplay on MTV—made Chino XL a rapper to observe nationwide. Whereas the LP garnered vital acclaim, it additionally prompted controversy with daring lyrics about sexual bravado and eye-rolls over mainstream industrial rap. “Riiiot,” particularly, caught warmth for a infamous line in its first verse (“I’m attempting to not get fucked like 2Pac in jail”) that spawned an alleged feud with Tupac Shakur. (That following 12 months, 2Pac took photographs at Infamous B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Mobb Deep, amongst others, on the diss monitor “Hit ’Em Up.”)
In 1997, Chino XL signed to Warner Bros. to launch his sophomore album, however quite a few delays pushed its launch again till, finally, he was dropped by the label through the shuttering of its Black music division. I Informed You So got here out years later, in 2001, by way of Metro Information, and Chino XL adopted it up with 2006’s Poison Pen and 2012’s Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary, the latter of which boasted collaborations with Immortal Method, Tech N9ne, and Bun B.
“I by no means received into this music to get wealthy. After I first began, the music that I used to be influenced by, the individuals weren’t wealthy,” Chino XL as soon as advised Truth505. “I form of get pleasure from being an artist that, you’re not my fan or my supporter accidentally. You may’t discover my information in half of the locations.… So, I’m kinda blissful to have the ability to say what I need and do what I need. It feels good.”
