New York rapper Chino XL has died aged 50.
His family confirmed today (July 30) that he passed away in his home last Sunday morning (28). No cause of death has been given.
A statement shared by his daughters on social media read: “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 have asked for privacy and said that details of a memorial will be announced shortly.
Chino XL was born in the Bronx, New York, and rose to prominence in the 90s as a teenager in the borough’s burgeoning rap scene.
Throughout his career, he released four studio albums, two collaborative albums and one EP. He also acted in film and television, including guest star roles in the Comedy Central series Reno 911! and the CBS show CSI: Miami, as well as a co-starring role alongside Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson in 2003’s Rob Reiner-directed Alex & Emma. He also performed in many indie films, including Brandon Sonnier’s The Beat, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003.
Among his biggest hits were ‘No Complex’, ‘Sickology 101’ featuring Tech N9ne, and ‘The Anthem’ featuring Sway and King Tech.
Early on, Chino XL signed to Rick Rubin‘s American Recordings label and at 22 years old he released his debut album ‘Here to Save You All’. It was met with widespread acclaim, and a year later he signed to Warner Bros. Records. However, his second album was subject to delays and he was eventually dropped by the label when their Black music department closed.
‘I Told You So’, his long-awaited follow-up was eventually released in 2001, followed by ‘Poison Pen’ in 2006. His final album ‘Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary’ was released in 2012, and was widely considered to be his best work.
At the time of the record’s release, he told HIPHOP DX that it had come from a place of vulnerability, saying: “I just kind of felt like the pen was just kind of like going in its own direction and it was just kind of what I wanted to get out of my system like for good.”
He continued: “When you connect with an artist on a level that you feel it’s your own personal reference, your own guide or your own inspiration and it feels like it helps you get you through your day without screaming, it’s magnanimous to you.”
Many in the hip-hop community have shared tributes today, including Public Enemy‘s Chuck D who tweeted a sketch of the rapper and called him “my brother in rhyme and art”. “He encouraged my graphics forward. We exchanged art books. He looked out to protect my lyric books better. He supported my events. We supported his music,” he wrote.
Andrew Laidlaw, a producer who worked with Chino XL for 20 years also shared a tribute, referring to the rapper as “one of the greatest to ever touch a mic.”
This ones a tough one. I admired Dj Polo as a @hiphopgods PEer. @CHINOXL was my brother in rhyme & Art. He encouraged my graphics forward. We exchanged art books. He looked out to protect my lyric books better. He supported my events. We supported his music &
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— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 30, 2024
Damn… RIP to the legend Chino XL
— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) July 29, 2024
hurts to write, RIP Chino XL.
— Evidence (@Evidence) July 29, 2024
We spoke on the phone the other day and laughed. Our careers have been tied together since the Wake Up Show freestyles decades ago. I’m fucked up. Rest in Peace my brother Chino XL
— Crook
(@CrookedIntriago) July 30, 2024
Last year, Chino XL released ‘God’s Carpenter’, a 12-song collaborative album with Stu Bangas, which also featured Vinnie Paz on the single ‘Murder Rhyme Kill’.
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