Rapper-actor Chino XL died Sunday at his home, according to a statement from his family. No cause of death had been announced at the time of this article’s publication; he was 50.
The Bronx-born rapper, whose real name was Derek Keith Barbosa, is survived by his children, Chynna, Bella, Lyric and Kiyana; stepson Shawn; five grandchildren; his mother and his longtime partner Stephanie.
In a joint statement, his daughters wrote: “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.”
Born in 1974, Barbosa grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, where he became a rapper in school and took on “Chino” based on his childhood nickname. In the late 1980s, he joined forces with producer Kerri Chandler to form the duo the Art of Origin. They signed with Rick Rubin’s Def American Recordings via Warner Bros. in 1991 and after releasing singles, Chino XL embarked on a solo career.
He released his debut album, “Here to Save You All,” in 1996, and followed with “I Told You So,” which featured collaborations with Cypress Hill’s B-Real, Kool G Rap, and J Dilla, among others; he later gained the rights to the album and re-released it independently. A series of albums followed over the next 20 years: “Poison Pen” (2006), “Something Sacred,” a collaboration with Playalitical (2008), “Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary” (2012), “Chino vs. Balt” with Balthazar Getty (2020), and “God’s Carpenter,” a collaboration with Stu Bangas (2023). His most recent release was the song “Pendulum Swing,” a collaboration with Rakim.
He worked as an actor in the early 2000s and appeared in the film “Alex & Emma” as well as television series including “The Young and the Restless,” “Reno 911!” and “CSI: Miami.”
More recently, he branched out as an author of graphic novels, including “Black Mass,” “Lucy” and “Skin and Bones: The Descent of the Holy.”