Chino XL
Background information
	Derek Keith Barbosa
Born	(1974-04-08) April 8, 1974 (age 44) The Bronx, New York, United States
Origin	New Jersey
Genres	Hip hop
	Rapper, lyricist, actor
	1992-present
Labels	American Recordings Warner Bros. Records Metro Records Activate Records Bungalo Records Machete Music/Universal Records Viper Records
	Ghostface Killah, Ras Kass, Immortal Technique, Kool G Rap, Kool Keith, Killah Priest, Psycho Les & JuJu of The Beatnuts, Proof, J Dilla, Adrian Younge, Tech N9ne, Roc Marciano, Playalitical, Canibus, Saeed Majazi

Derek Keith Barbosa (born April 8, 1974), better known by his stage name Chino XL, is an American rapper and actor, known for his "technically" accomplished style, consisting of exaggerated egotism, and use of multiple similes, puns, metaphors, and word play. He has collaborated on various projects with some of the most well known in Hip Hop. Chino is also an avid bodybuilder. Chino started rhyming in 1986, as said in his song "Don't Say A Word". He has released four solo studio albums, in which his most recent - Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary - won the 2012 HHUG Album of the Year award ^[1]

Chino also forged a career in acting, signing with Hollywood talent manager Stacey Castro and subsequently appearing in several films and episodes of television. He was a series regular on Cinemax series Sex Chronicles and appeared in several guest star roles, including Comedy Central series Reno 911! and CBS series CSI: Miami. His feature film credits include a co-starring role opposite Kate Hudson, Luke Wilson in director Rob Reiner's Alex & Emma and Brandon Sonnier's directing debut, "The Beat", which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.^[2]

He is the nephew of Bernie Worrell of music group Parliament/Funkadelic.^[3] Barbosa is also a member of Mensa.^[4]

Early life

Chino XL was born in The Bronx, New York, United States, and is of Puerto Rican and African American ancestry.

Career

After co-founding the duo Art of Origin, the emcee was signed at age 16 by music impresario Rick Rubin to Rubin's American Recordings label, which was once part of the Warner Bros. Records family. He released his debut album Here to Save You All in 1996, which was released to critical acclaim. The lead single "Kreep" which featured an interpolation of the Radiohead song "Creep" experienced 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 American Recordings switched distributors from Warner to Columbia in 1997. Warner Bros. Records 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.^[5] 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, supposedly due to the public legal battle with Prince. Although the album titled, I Told You So, was eventually released in 2001 by Metro Records.^[6]

In 2006, Chino released his long-awaited third album, Poison Pen. The now-iconic release, featured appearances by Proof of D-12, Killah Priest and legendary hip hop duo The Beatnuts.

In 2007, Chino signed a contract with the Universal Latino label Machete Music.^[7]

In 2009 during a controversial interview with Allhiphop.com writer Han O'Connor, Chino revealed that his fifth studio album The RICANstruction was to be released soon.^{[needs update]} 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.^[8]

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 ^[1]

On June 15, 2013, Shanghai :30 Entertainment booked a show with Chino XL for him to play alongside local, on-the-rise hiphop artists.^[9]

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.^[10]

In 2015, he featured on UK singer/rapper RKZ's single 'They Don't Know Nothing'.^[11]

He is currently working on his new album, which will include a track with R.A. the Rugged Man.^[12]

Discography

Studio albums

• Here to Save You All (1996)
• I Told You So (2001)
• Poison Pen (2006)
• Something Sacred (2008) (with Playalitical)
• Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary (2012)

EPs

• Here to Save You All in '96 (1996)
• Wake Up Show Exclusives! (1998)

Mixtapes

• Warning (2006)

Singles

• "No Slow Rollin'" (1992) (with Kaoz, as Art of Origin)
• "Un-Rational" (1993) (with Kaoz, as Art of Origin)
• "Purple Hands in the Air / Dark Night of the Bloodspiller" (1994)
• "Kreep" (1996)
• "No Complex / Waiting to Exhale" (1996)
• "Thousands / Freestyle Rhymes" (1996)
• "Deliver" (1996)
• "Rise / Jesus" (1997)
• "Let 'Em Live" (2000)
• "Last Laugh" (2001)
• "What You Got / Let 'Em Live" (2001)
• "Don't Run from Me / Warning" (2006)
• "Poison Pen" (2006)
• "Messiah" (2006)
• "Jump Back" (2007)
• "Lick Shots" (2008) (with Immortal Technique, Crooked I)
• "Chow Down" (2008) (with Playalitical)
• "N.I.C.E." (2012)
• "Arm Yourself" (2012) (with DV Alias Khrist, Sick Jacken & Immortal Technique)
• "Kings" (2012) (with Big Pun)
• "They Don't Know Nothing" (2015) (with RKZ)
• "March of the Imperial" (2016) (with D.CrazE the Destroyer)

Filmography

• Zane's Sex Chronicles (TV Series) as Syndicator 2010
• 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

References

External links

• Chino XL on Discogs
• Chino XL on ITunes
• Chino XL on IMDb
• Chino XL: 'I'd S**t On Shakespeare by Han O'Connor (Allhiphop)