Chino XL facts for kids

Derek Keith Barbosa (April 8, 1974 – July 28, 2024), better known by his stage name Chino XL, was an American rapper and actor. He had released four solo studio albums. Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary (2012), won the 2012 HHUG Album of the Year Award.

Barbosa has acted in numerous films and television, signing with Hollywood talent manager Stacey Castro and subsequently appearing as a guest star on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!, and CBS series CSI: Miami. His feature film credits include a co-starring role opposite Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson in director Rob Reiner's Alex & Emma (Warner Bros. Pictures) and several indie films, including Brandon Sonnier's The Beat, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Barbosa is the nephew of Bernie Worrell of music group Parliament/Funkadelic, and was also a member of MENSA.

Early life

Born in The Bronx, New York, Derek Barbosa grew up in East Orange, New Jersey. His father, who was of Puerto Rican descent, abandoned his African American mother while pregnant, and he was raised by a single mother.

Career

After co-founding the duo Art of Origin with Kerri Chandler, "Chino XL" (as he was now called) was signed at age 16 by music impresario Rick Rubin to his American Recordings label, at the time a member of the Warner Bros. Records family. Barbosa released his debut album Here to Save You All in 1996, to critical acclaim. The lead single "Kreep", which featured an interpolation of the Radiohead song "Creep" received major airplay by radio and MTV. "Kreep" charted on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B Chart for a record 23 weeks, from July 1996 to January 1997.

Chino was released from his American Recordings contract when the label switched distributors from Warner Bros. Records to Columbia Records in 1997. Warner then signed Chino in the fall of 1997. His sophomore album was due to be released during April 1999 but numerous delays prevented the album from being released. Although in early 2001 when the album was about to be released and its lead single "Let 'Em Live" featuring Kool G Rap was nearing early pressing stages Chino was dropped by Warner, as they folded their Black music department, allegedly due to the public legal battle with Prince. The album, titled I Told You So, was eventually released in 2001 by Metro Records.

In 2006, Chino released his long-awaited third album, Poison Pen, featuring appearances by Proof of D-12, Killah Priest and hip hop duo The Beatnuts, all managed at the time by Stacey Castro, who also served as the album's A&R and Executive Producer.

In 2007, Chino signed a contract with the Universal Latino label Machete Music.

In 2009 during an interview, Chino revealed that his fifth studio album The RICANstruction was to be released soon. The album was released via his own joint venture CPR/Universal and featured Immortal Technique, Tech N9ne, and Bun B. The RICANstruction also featured a collaboration with Big Pun. The album featured production from DJ Khalil and Focus served as executive producer.

On August 19, a song titled "N.I.C.E." that was produced by Nick Wiz was released.

On September 25, 2012, the album Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary was released as a double disc through Immortal Technique's Viper Records. It won the 2012 HHUG Album of the Year award

On June 15, 2013, Shanghai :30 Entertainment booked a show with Chino XL for him to play alongside local, on-the-rise hiphop artists.

In 2014, he formed a hip hop supergroup along with rappers Vakill, Copywrite, Tame One and producer Stu Bangas called Verse 48. They started working on an EP.

In 2015, he featured on UK singer/rapper RKZ's single 'They Don't Know Nothing'.

In 2022, it was reported he was working on a new album, which will include a track with R.A. the Rugged Man.

In December 2020, he released a joint extended play "Chino vs. Balt" with Balt Getty, under Purplehaus Records.

In 2023 Chino XL reunited with Stu Bangas to release God’s Carpenter. A 12 song album featuring Vinnie Paz on the single Murder Rhyme Kill. Additional singles included AMBImonsterous, and the titled track God’s Carpenter.

Death

On July 28, 2024, Barbosa's family announced on Barbosa's Instagram account that he had passed away at home.

Discography

Studio albums

• Here to Save You All (1996)
• I Told You So (2001)
• Poison Pen (2006)
• Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary (2012)

Collaboration albums

• Something Sacred (with Playalitical) (2008)
• God's Carpenter (with Stu Bangas) (2023)

Extended plays

• Chino vs. Balt (with Balt Getty) (2020)

Filmography

• El show (TV Series) as Professor xl (2008)
• "Death Pool 100" episode of CSI: Miami as Juan Carlos (2006)
• Gang Warz as Ro Conner (2004)
• Reno 911! (TV Series) as Hymning Perp #3 (2004)
• The Young and the Restless (TV Series) as Buzz (2004)
• Playas Ball as Tico (2003)
• Alex & Emma as Tony / Flamenco Dancer #2 (2003)
• Crime Partners as Finesse (2003)
• The Beat as Crazy 8 (2002)
• Vatos as Vargas (2002)
• Barrio Wars as Osirus (2002)

See also

In Spanish: Chino XL para niños