Chino XL, the New York rapper known for 1990s hits like "No Complex" and "Kreep," has died. He was 50.
The family of the rapper, born Derek Emmanuel Barbosa, announced that he passed away at his home Sunday in a joint statement released via Instagram Tuesday. No cause of death was announced.
"Our father had many titles -- King of Punchlines, Puerto Rican Superhero -- but the most important one was Girl Dad," his daughters wrote. "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."
Chino's longtime collaborator, producer Andrew Laidlaw, also honored the late rapper in a post on Instagram.
"I have known him, worked with him and built with him over the last 20 years (and have been a fan for the last 30 years)," Laidlaw wrote. "I'm just glad that we got to collaborate on some AMAZING music - the last time being only 3 years ago... One of the GREATEST to ever touch a mic (and I told him this personally many times too)."
The Bronx-born rapper is survived by his children, Chynna, Bella, Lyric, and Kiyana; stepson Shawn; five grandchildren; his mother Carole, and his former partner, Stephanie.
Barbosa, born in 1974, was raised in East Orange, New Jersey, where he learned rapping in school and adopted the moniker "Chino" from his childhood.
Chino formed the duo Art of Origin in the late 1980s with producer Kerri Chandler. He signed to Warner Bros. and Rick Rubin's Def American Recordings in 1991. The rapper started a solo career after the duo released just two singles.
Chino's first album, "Here to Save You All," was released in 1996. He then dropped "I Told You So," which had collaborations with B-Real of Cypress Hill, Kool G Rap, and J Dilla, among others. Later, he re-released the album on his own after obtaining the rights.
Over the next 20 years, Chino dropped several more albums, including "Poison Pen" (2006), "Something Sacred" (2008), "Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary" (2012), "Chino vs. Balt" (2020) with Balthazar Getty, and "God's Carpenter" (2023) in partnership with Stu Bangas. His latest single, "Pendulum Swing," was a collaboration with Rakim.
Chino also dabbled in acting, appearing in shows such as "The Young and the Restless," "Reno 911," and "CSI: Miami."
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