It is with deep sorrow that the family of Derek Keith Barbosa, widely known as Chino XL, announces his passing.
Chino departed this life on the morning of Sunday, July 28, 2024, at his home. He was 50 years old.
Chino leaves behind a legacy cherished 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 longtime partner, Stephanie.
Reflecting on their father, his daughters shared in a joint statement:
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.
The family requests privacy during this difficult time and will share details about a memorial service in due course.
Chino XL’s illustrious career, spanning over three decades, showcased his talent as a multifaceted artist.
Known for his intricate and acerbic rhymes, he earned the admiration of peers and legends like LL Cool J, Kool G Rap, and Ice-T.
Chino’s impact on hip-hop was profound, as noted by his longtime friend and renowned hip-hop journalist, Cheo Hodari Coker: “Metaphors, breath control, diction, delivery. Everything I know about hip-hop — the stuff I played forward in my writing, I learned because he gave me a chance to see things up close.”
Born on April 8, 1974, in The Bronx, New York, to Manuel Barbosa and Carole Brown, Derek Keith Barbosa spent his formative years in East Orange, New Jersey.
It was during his middle and high school years that he adopted the moniker “Chino,” based on his childhood nickname, and began his journey as a rapper-performer.
In the late 1980s, Chino teamed up with DJ and producer Kerri Chandler to form The Art of Origin.
Their professional career took off when they signed with Rick Rubin’s Def American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records in 1991.
After several singles, Chino XL embarked on a solo career.
His debut album, Here To Save You All (1996), was critically acclaimed and beloved by fans, establishing him as one of hip-hop’s most powerful and respected lyricists.
The album’s success paved the way for his second album, I Told You So, featuring collaborations with B-Real, Kool G Rap, and J Dilla.
Despite Warner Bros. facing corporate turmoil in the early 2000s, Chino took control of the album and released it through Metro Records, solidifying his independent path with subsequent albums like Poison Pen (2006), Something Sacred (2008), Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary (2012), Chino vs. Balt (2020), and God’s Carpenter (2023).
His most recent collaboration was with Rakim on the song “Pendulum Swing” from Rakim’s album G.O.D.’S Network-REB7RTH (2024).
Chino’s talents extended beyond music to acting, with roles in films like Alex & Emma and TV series such as “The Young and the Restless,” “Reno 911!“, and “CSI: Miami“.
Over the past two decades, Chino XL built a global audience, performing solo and with the collective Rebel Army, emphasizing community building, activism, and public service.
Immortal Technique, a longtime collaborator, remarked, “We traveled the globe together and there was nowhere on the Earth that he was not revered.”
Chino XL’s evolution into an author of graphic novels, including “In A Black Mass”, “Lucy“, and Skin and Bones: The Descent of the Holy, was a source of immense pride.
Bella Barbosa noted, “He found a partner that he trusted and worked with on every single detail. Those books are so fully him. Everything in there is him.”
Fans will remember Chino XL as a brilliant, quick-witted, and dexterous performer, a sculptor of language who never compromised his art.
His longtime DJ, road manager, and friend, Bobby Bout-It, shared, “Chino always pushed for lyricism. He said ‘lyrics are the revolution.
Lyrics will inspire the next revolutionary.’ But what people don’t understand is that his lyrics — whether about dealing with a child’s illness or abuse or struggles with relationships — were like therapy to his fans. His shows were as much therapy sessions as they were concerts. They were like church, giving people comfort and relief from their pain. And he got comfort from his soldier-supporters, they were like therapy to him.”
For his friends and family, Chino XL will be remembered as loyal, protective, and loving, a voice that buoyed them in life and remains eternal.
My sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
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