Chino XL
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| Chino XL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Derek Barbosa | |
| Born | April 8, 1971 | |
| Origin | East Orange, New Jersey | |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop | |
| Years active | 1992–present | |
| Label(s) | American Recordings/Warner Bros. Metro Records Activate Records Bungalo Records |
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Chino XL (born Derek Barbosa, April 8, 1971, in The Bronx, New York) is a New Jersey rapper well respected among hip-hop enthusiasts for his technically accomplished style and battling abilities. He is notorious for his usage of self-consciously over-the-top punchlines[citation needed] (which usually take the form of puns or similes) and for his exaggerated egotism. He is also well known to many for a brief feud with Tupac Shakur.
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[edit] Career
After a spell with the group Art Of Origin, The half African-American / Puerto Rican Rapper released his debut album Here To Save You All in 1996 (see 1996 in music), a diverse work which included more conventional battle rap tracks (featuring Kool Keith and Ras Kass) alongside autobiographical tracks such as What Am I (which dealt with his heritage). It is regarded by some underground hip-hop fans as one of the better underground hip-hop albums of the nineties.
While building his reputation further by making several famous appearances freestyling on the Wake Up Show radio show, Chino incurred the wrath of Tupac Shakur in Shakur's track "Hit 'Em Up". The ambiguity over where the simile begins possibly caused confusion, but nevertheless Chino soon responded in a radio freestyle. Chino XL has since explained that he greatly respected Shakur and settled his dispute with Shakur.
Following a long period of inactivity, Chino's second album I Told You So was released in 2001 (see 2001 in music). It was decidedly more battle rap-oriented than his debut, and featured a slightly more commercial production style. It received reasonably positive reviews but little promotion and did not sell particularly well. Despite the positive underground reaction to I Told You So, another period of relative inactivity followed the album's release, during which Chino moved to California and proclaimed himself officially a West Coast artist. His highly anticipated third album, entitled Poison Pen, was eventually released in March 2006.
Chino XL is currently signed to Sway & Tech's Bolo Entertainment and is working on a new album entitled Confirmation. His latest single is called "Don't Run From Me" featuring Snoop Dogg.
Aside from music, Chino has also recently forged a career in acting, appearing in several films and making guest appearances on the Comedy Central series Reno 911! and the CBS series CSI: Miami.
[edit] Trivia
- He cites his biggest influence as LL Cool J.
- Bernie Worrell of Parliament/Funkadelic is his uncle.
- He has worked with artists such as Ras Kass, Kool G Rap, Royce Da 5'9, Canibus, Proof, Beatnuts, Killah Priest, Common, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Crooked I, Slept On Fam and more.
- He currently resides in Reno, NV.
- Is also affiliated with the rap group The HRSMN. Although not a member of the group (there are only four real members), he is constantly linked to someday join the group when/if they ever expand.
- After Chino XL recorded the track '3 To The Dome' for Sway and Tech featuring himself, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap threw away his rhymes, Chino went into the trash and took the crumpled paper out and kept it because he was such a big fan of Kool G.
[edit] Discography
[edit] External links
- http://www.ChinoXLPoisonPen.com/
- Chino XL at the Internet Movie Database
- http://www.ChinoXL-Central.com (Fan Message Board)
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
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Here to Save You All |
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I Told You So |
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Poison Pen |
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Confirmation
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Chino XL & Playalitical "Something Sacred" |
