Rapper Chino XL Died by Suicide, His Family Confirms in Statement: 'Our Rock and Our Best Friend'

Mar. 15, 2025

Chino XL arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles premiere of “Stan Helsing”.Photo:Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

“It’s been the most painful and personal experience of our lives but in honor of Suicide Awareness Month, we decided to share this truth," his family said in a statement to PEOPLE about the death of the New York rapper — born Derek Keith Barbosa — who was found unresponsive athis home on July 28 at age 50.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s office lists his official cause of death as asphyxia as a result of ligature hanging, the statement added.

It also stated that Chino had been diagnosed with congenital heart failure in 2020 and stage 4 prostate cancer earlier this year. He struggled with life-long depression, continued the statement.

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Mark Sullivan/WireImage

“Our father was our rock and our best friend," his daughters said in the release. “Papa Bear loved us and taught us so much.”

Chino XL at the 2004 Los Angeles premiere of “Before Sunset”.Alex Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock

Alex Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock

“An unscrupulous individual illegally leaked Dad’s new album, online,” the family added in the statement. “To add to this excruciating time, this man’s contemptuous actions, have hurt what was originally Dad’s intended December album release, where a considerable portion of the proceeds were to be donated to charitable organizations.”

The family has retained litigation counsel and initiated legal action against this individual, per the statement.

The family wrote that Chino had died in his home on the morning of Sunday, July 28.

Chino XL.Barry King/WireImage

Barry King/WireImage

“Our father had many titles — King of Punchlines, Puerto Rican Superhero — but the most important one was Girl Dad,”  his daughters wrote in a joint tribute. “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,” they added.

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“The family asks for privacy.  A private memorial service will be arranged,” the family wrote on Instagram on Aug.13.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.

source: people.com