Chinx

Chinx
Background information
Birth nameLionel Du Fon Pickens
Also known as
  • Chinx Drugz
Born(1983-12-04)December 4, 1983[1]
Far Rockaway, Queens, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 17, 2015(2015-05-17) (aged 31)
Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1999–2015
Labels
Formerly of

Lionel Du Fon Pickens (December 4, 1983 – May 17, 2015),[2] better known by his stage name Chinx (formerly Chinx Drugz), was an American rapper. He was a member of The Rockaway Riot Squad alongside fellow slain rapper Stack Bundles. Chinx later joined French Montana's Coke Boys Records, gaining recognition for his appearances on the Coke Boys mixtapes and the Cocaine Riot mixtape series. He was killed in a drive-by shooting in Jamaica, Queens on May 17, 2015. Two men have since been arrested in the case.

Early life

[edit]

1983–1999: Beginnings

[edit]

Chinx was born and raised in Far Rockaway, Queens on December 4, 1983, living in both Redfern Houses and Edgemere Houses, now known as Ocean Bay Apartments. He spent time in North Amityville in his teenage years where he briefly attended high school.[3] When speaking of how he started rapping, Chinx said, "I started rapping at the table in junior high school for fun with the homies, and then by 9th grade is when I started taking music seriously. At that point is when I started investing my street money into my studio time and trying to find my sound."[3]

He said he got the name "Chinx Drugz" since he "used to smoke a lot of weed back in the day, and this older chick used to call me chinky and it stuck; the Drugz, well, that's self explanatory — I been slangin' on these corners."[4]

Career

[edit]

2000–2010: Riot Squad and Hurry Up & Die series

[edit]

Chinx first started rapping with his close friend Stack Bundles while he was in high school, whom he would later form the group Riot Squad with, along with local rappers Bynoe and Cau2Gs. The group started to gain a buzz throughout New York but that ended abruptly in early 2005 when Chinx was sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison. He served his time at Arthur Kill Correctional Facility.[5][6] During this time, Bundles formed a friendship with rapper Max B, and together they joined Jim Jones' group Byrd Gang.[6]

While Chinx was incarcerated, on June 11, 2007, fellow rapper and friend Stack Bundles was shot and killed. In late 2008, Chinx was released from prison and through his affiliation with the now deceased Bundles, he met Max B. The following year, Max B introduced Chinx to fellow New York rapper French Montana, who was still relatively unknown at the time. Together, Chinx and Montana formed the hip hop group, Coke Boys.[4] On April 13, 2009, Drugz released his first solo mixtape, Hurry Up & Die Vol. 1: Get Ya Casket On.[7][8]

He followed that with Hurry Up & Die Vol. 2: From The Cage To The Stage on January 7, 2010.[9] Drugz then released the third mixtape in that series, Hurry Up & Die Vol. 3 on April 13, 2010.[8][10]

2011–2012: Coke Boys and Cocaine Riot 1 & 2

[edit]

On March 15, 2011, Drugz released his fourth official mixtape Flight 2011, which was entirely produced by New York producer Harry Fraud.[11]

The mixtape featured a sole guest appearance from Coke Boys-cohort French Montana.[12] On April 19, 2011, he released his fifth solo mixtape Cocaine Riot, featuring guest appearances from the various members of Coke Boys.[13]

On August 20, 2011, Coke Boys released their first official collaboration mixtape Coke Boys 2.[14] The mixtape was primarily produced by Harry Fraud, with additional production from Lex Luger.[15] Coke Boys 2 featured members Drugz, Montana, Cheeze, Flip, and Charlie Rock.[14] Following the Coke Boys 2 release, on September 24, 2011, Drugz and French Montana released a collaboration mixtape named, Coke Boys Run NY.[16]

On April 13, 2012, Coke Boys released their second collaboration mixtape, Coke Boys 3, which significantly featured Montana and Drugz throughout, along with Flip, gianni maggiacomo, and Charlie Rock.[17] Additional guest appearances came from Akon, Mac Miller, Rick Ross, Wale, and Red Cafe among others.[18][19] The mixtape was met with positive reviews from music critics, with the production the focal point of the praise.[20] XXL credited Montana and Drugz as being the stars of the mixtape.[20][21]

On July 3, 2012, Drugz released his sixth solo mixtape, Cocaine Riot 2, to positive critical reception with AllHipHop calling it a "classic".[22] Cocaine Riot 2 featured guest appearances from rappers Action Bronson and Chevy Woods, among others.[23][24] Cocaine Riot 2 featured the significant Montana and Drugz collaboration "I'm A Coke Boy".[25] In 2012, he was featured on Wale's "Let a Nigga Know" and Vado's "You Ain't Good".[21]

2013: Cocaine Riot 3

[edit]

On January 4, 2013, Drugz released the official remix to "I'm a Coke Boy" featuring rappers Rick Ross and Diddy, along with French Montana.[26] The remix would end up being ranked number 43 on Complex's list of the 50 best songs of 2013.[27] Then on April 15, 2013, Drugz released his seventh solo mixtape Cocaine Riot 3, which featured the previously released remix of "I'm a Coke Boy".[28][29] Cocaine Riot 3 featured additional guest appearances from Ace Hood, Juicy J, Yo Gotti, DJ Khaled, Roscoe Dash and others.[30]

Drugz told MTV that, "When I was making this mixtape, I was just trying to give the people something a little different from my normal. I basically started messing with a couple of different beats, but I kept it real New York. But I just really wanted to give 'em the other side of Chinx that they ain't been hearing in a while."[25] The mixtape closes with "Maybe", a tribute to his deceased childhood friend Stack Bundles.[31]

In a positive review XXL stated, "For all its signs of promise, Cocaine Riot 3 also has some rookie mistakes. There's also an over-reliance on features here that the mixtape could do without. The heavy guest list prevents Cocaine Riot 3 from being a landmark release, and so this mixtape ends up being more of a continuation of what we've already heard from Chinx Drug, rather than a step to the next level. Time will tell if he's up for that challenge."[21]

Less than a week after the release of Cocaine Riot 3, Drugz released the music video for the remix to "I'm a Coke Boy".[32] On May 14, 2013, Drugz released his four previous major solo mixtapes, Flight 2011, and the Cocaine Riot series for retail sale on iTunes.[33][34][35][36] He was featured on Montana's debut studio album, Excuse My French on the deluxe edition track "Throw It in the Bag".

On May 22, 2013, "Right There" featuring Juicy J and French Montana was released as the first single from Cocaine Riot 3.[37] "Up In Here" featuring Ace Hood would be released as the mixtape's second single on June 11, 2013.[38] On August 12, 2013, Drugz released the music video for "Up In Here" featuring Ace Hood from Cocaine Riot 3, which was shot in Miami, Florida.[39] That same day, French Montana announced that Coke Boys were working on their debut studio album as a group, along with a third mixtape to be released prior to the album.[40]

2013–15: I'll Take It From Here, Cocaine Riot 4 & 5, and Welcome To JFK

[edit]

On October 4, 2013, Chinx Drugz, now just going by "Chinx", announced he would release an EP via NuSense Music Group and Coke Boys Records, executive produced by Rick Steel[41] titled I'll Take It From Here, in November 2013.[42] On October 28, 2013, Chinx released "Feelings" featuring French Montana, the first single from the EP.[43] On November 26, 2013, it was revealed that Coke Boys would release their fourth mixtape in December 2013.[44] That same day, Chinx released his debut retail project, the previously announced EP I'll Take It from Here.[6]

He featured prominently on Coke Boys fourth mixtape, Coke Boys 4, released on January 1, 2014. On February 1, 2014, Chinx released the music video for "Feelings".[45] In April 2014, Chinx revealed that his next mixtape would be titled Cocaine Riot 4 and released on May 15, 2014. He released Cocaine Riot 5 on December 25, 2014.[46] He told XXL that his debut studio album would be titled Welcome To JFK.[47] He was being considered for the 2015 XXL Freshman Class.[48]

On June 2, 2015, Chinx's first official single for his posthumous album Welcome to JFK was released through eOne Music. The track is titled "On Your Body".[49]

Death

[edit]

On May 17, 2015, NYPD officers responded to a 911 call in Briarwood, Queens around 4:00 a.m. There, they found Chinx and another victim in a car at Queens Boulevard and 84th Drive. Chinx was transported to Jamaica Medical Center in Queens with gunshot wounds to his torso, where he was pronounced dead, at age 31.[50] Two men who were already incarcerated on other charges have been re-arrested in connection with the murder.

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US US R&B US
Rap
Welcome to JFK 21 2 2
Legends Never Die
  • Release date: September 16, 2016
  • Label: Riot Squad, NuSense Music Group, Coke Boys, eOne Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 121 8 5
CR6
  • Release date: December 2, 2022
  • Label: Riot Squad, NuSense Music Group, Coke Boys, eOne Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — —
Cocaine Riot 7
  • Release date: May 12, 2023
  • Label: TRMG Inc.[52]
  • Format: Digital download
 — — —
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

[edit]
Extended play
Title Album details
I'll Take It from Here
  • Released: November 26, 2013
  • Label: Riot Squad, NuSense Music Group, Coke Boys
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes

[edit]
  • 2009: Hurry Up & Die Vol. 1 (Get Ya Casket On)
  • 2010: Hurry Up & Die Vol. 2 (From The Cage To The Stage)
  • 2010: Hurry Up & Die Vol. 3
  • 2010: Coke Boys (with Coke Boys)
  • 2011: Flight 2011 (with Harry Fraud)
  • 2011: Cocaine Riot
  • 2011: Coke Boys 2 (with Coke Boys)
  • 2011: Coke Boys Run NY (with French Montana)
  • 2012: Coke Boys 3 (with Coke Boys)
  • 2012: Cocaine Riot 2
  • 2013: Cocaine Riot 3
  • 2014: Coke Boys 4 (with Coke Boys)
  • 2014: CR4: Woulda Been Here Sooner
  • 2014: CR5

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
List of singles as lead performer, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"I'm a Coke Boy"
(featuring French Montana)(prod. by Dilligang) 		2012 Cocaine Riot 2
"Right There"
(featuring Juicy J and French Montana) 		2013 Cocaine Riot 3
"We Up in Here"
(featuring Ace Hood)
"Feelings"
(featuring French Montana) 		2014 I'll Take It from Here
"Couple Niggas" Cocaine Riot 4
"On Your Body" [53]
(featuring Meet Sims) 		2015 Welcome to JFK
"How to Get Rich"
"For the Love"
(featuring Meet Sims) 		2016 Legends Never Die
[edit]
List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Bricksquad Cokeboy"[54]
(Frenchie featuring Chinx Drugz) 		2012 —
"Squeeze"
(Big Lean featuring Chinx Drugz) 		2013 Can't Stop Now
"Don't Waste My Time"
(Krept & Konan featuring Chinx, French Montana, Chip, Wretch 32) 		2014
"Off the Rip"
(French Montana featuring Chinx & N.O.R.E.) 		2015 non-album single
"F**k A Real N***a"
(DJ Clue featuring Plies, Lil Wayne, Chris Echols & Chinx) 		2018 TBA

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Join us to Celebrate the life of Lionel 'Chinx' Pickens (December 4, 1983 - May 17, 2015)". Twitter. May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  2. ^ "ACE Repertory".
  3. ^ a b "The Break Presents: Chinx Drugz". Xxlmag.com. 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  4. ^ a b "Chinx Drugz: UrbFeed Interview | Urb Feed - Entertainment Music Interviews and More". Urb Feed. Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  5. ^ Diep, Eric (2014-05-26). "Chinx Lists His Five Essential Mixtapes You Should Check Out - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  6. ^ a b c "Chinx Steps Out Of French Montana's Shadow - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  7. ^ "[Mixtape] Chinx Drugz – Hurry Up & Die (Get Ya Casket On)". Xclusives Zone. 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  8. ^ a b "Chinx Drugz — 15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW". Complex.com. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  9. ^ "Chinx Drugz - From The Cage To The Stage (Hurry Up & Die 2) - Its Bizkit". Indy.livemixtapes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  10. ^ Fuller, James (2009-04-13). "Chinx Drugz – Hurry Up And Die Riot Regime Vol. 3". Global Grind. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  11. ^ "Chinx Drugz x Harry Fraud – Flight 2011 [Mixtape] | OnSMASH". Freeonsmash.com. 2011-03-15. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  12. ^ "Chinx Drugz - Flight 2011 Hosted by Riot Music Group & Cocaine City". Datpiff.com. 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  13. ^ "Chinx Drugz - Cocaine Riot Hosted by Evil Empire, Big Mike & Bizkit". Datpiff.com. 2011-04-19. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  14. ^ a b Homie, Big (2011-08-20). "New Mixtape: French Montana Coke Boys 2". Rap Radar. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  15. ^ "Coke Boys 2 (2011) — A Guide to French Montana's Mixtapes". Complex. 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  16. ^ "French Montana & Chinx Drugz". Datpiff.com. 2011-09-24. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  17. ^ "Download French Montana's Coke Boys 3 Mixtape". The Fader. 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  18. ^ "Mixtape: French Montana "Coke Boys 3"". Complex. 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  19. ^ Kujundzic, Petar. "French Montana & Coke Boys – Coke Boys 3 (Mixtape)". Hypetrak. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  20. ^ a b "French Montana & The Coke Boys, Coke Boys 3 - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  21. ^ a b c "Mixtape Review: Chinx Drugz, Cocaine Riot 3 - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  22. ^ Steve Raze (@SteveRaze) (2012-07-06). "MIXTAPE DOWNLOAD: Chinx Drugz: Cocaine Riot 2". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  23. ^ "Chinx Drugz Drops New Mixtape, Cocaine Riot 2". Xxlmag.com. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  24. ^ "Cocaine Riot 2 - Chinx Drugz profile". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  25. ^ a b Staff (2013-04-15). "Chinx Drugz Stages Another Cocaine Riot With Third Mixtape". MTV.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  26. ^ "I'm a Coke Boy (Remix)". Complex. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  27. ^ Ahmed, Insanul (2013-12-02). "The 50 Best Songs of 2013". Complex.com. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  28. ^ Homie, Big (2013-04-15). "New Mixtape: Chinx Drugz Cocaine Riot 3". Rap Radar. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  29. ^ "Mixtape: Chinx Drugz "Cocaine Riot 3"". Complex. 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  30. ^ "Chinx Drugz Releases "Cocaine Riot 3" Mixtape [Download Now] - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  31. ^ "Mixtape Review: Chinx Drugz, Cocaine Riot 3 - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  32. ^ "Video: Chinx Drugz f/ French Montana, Rick Ross, & Diddy "I'm a Coke Boy (Remix)"". Complex. 2013-04-21. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  33. ^ "iTunes - Music - Cocaine Riot 3 by Chinx Drugz". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  34. ^ "iTunes - Music - Cocaine Riot 2 by Chinx Drugz". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  35. ^ "iTunes - Music - Cocaine Riot by Chinx Drugz". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  36. ^ "iTunes - Music - Flight 2011 by Chinx Drugz". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  37. ^ "iTunes - Music - Right There (feat. Juicy J & French Montana) - Single by Chinx Drugz". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  38. ^ "iTunes: "Up In Here"". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  39. ^ Homie, Big (2013-08-12). "New Video: Chinx Drugz x Ace Hood "Up In Here"". Rap Radar. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  40. ^ Yohance Kyles (2013-08-12). "French Montana Says Coke Boys Crew Working On Studio Album". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  41. ^ "Chinx: Electronic Press Kit" (PDF). Chinxmusic.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  42. ^ "Chinx Reveals Artwork For 'I'll Take It From Here' Coming In November". Xxlmag.com. 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  43. ^ "iTunes - Music - Feelings (feat. French Montana) - Single by Chinx". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-10-28. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  44. ^ "French Montana & The Coke Boys To Drop A New Mixtape Soon - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  45. ^ C. Vernon Coleman (2014-02-01). "Chinx & French Montana Give Zero F#cks About Your "Feelings" - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  46. ^ "Chinx - Cocaine Riot 5 (Tracklist) - RapXclusive". Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-26. cocaine riot5
  47. ^ "Here's Chinx's New Mixtape Cover Art And Album Title". Xxlmag.com. 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  48. ^ "Chinx - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  49. ^ Chinx's "On Your Body", "Welcome to JFK" to be released posthumously, mtv.com; accessed June 29, 2015.
  50. ^ Hanks, Henry (May 17, 2015). "Up-and-coming rapper Chinx shot and killed". CNN. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  51. ^ "Release Date Set For Chinx's Posthumous Album "Welcome To JFK"". HNHH. 2 June 2015.
  52. ^ "Cocaine Riot 7 by Chinx". May 12, 2023 – via music.apple.com.
  53. ^ "On Your Body (feat. Meet Sims) - Single by Chinx on Apple Music". iTunes. 2 June 2015.
  54. ^ "iTunes - Music - Bricksquad Cokeboy (feat. Chinx Drugz) - Single by Frenchie". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
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