- published: 14 May 2010
- views: 231639
Derek Keith Barbosa, better known by his stage name Chino XL, is an American hip hop lyricist, battle rapper, and actor of Puerto Rican and African American descent. Chino is known for his technically accomplished style, consisting of self-consciously over-the-top punchlines, exaggerated egotism, complex rhyme schemes, and use of multiple similes, puns, metaphors, and word play. He is a member of the intellectual collective MENSA and 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".
Aside from music, under the guidance of Hollywood talent manager Stacey Castro, Chino also 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. He has starred in films alongside Kate Hudson, Luke Wilson, and Rob Reiner and had a solo project debut at Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival.
Actors: Adam Hutson (miscellaneous crew), Gloria Estefan (actress), Gloria Estefan (actress), John Legend (actor), Antonio Guzman (editor), Steve Llamas (miscellaneous crew), Antonio Guzman (producer), Carlos Santana (actor), Juanes (actor), Rosario Flores (actress), Juanes (actor), Cristián de la Fuente (actor), Antonio Borjas (writer), Julieta Venegas (actress), Julieta Venegas (actress),
Genres: Musical,(We made a choice...)
[Intro: Chino XL]
Yo we made a choice
Yo, that uh, our music is worth much more than you know
We hold it very dear to us (that's right)
And as time moves on and we see it slippin away
and y'all try to, pump, that same radio bullshit down our ears
500 thousand times a day (all day)
It just makes us hold on to that underground shit that much stronger
[Chino XL]
Yeah (is it like gold?) Yes!
(Is it like silver?) Yes! (Is it like diamond?) Yes yes yes!
It's like a precious medal when we hear a verbal rebel
murderin 56 bars or more and we hangin on every syllable
And when it's pure (is it like gold?) Yes!
(Is it like silver?) Yes! (Is it like diamond?) Yes yes yes!
It still raises hairs on the back of our neck when I hear a rapper rip
straight from his heart for the respect, not the size of a check
And when it's pure (is it like gold?) Yes!
(Is it like silver?) Yes! (Is it like diamond?) Yes yes yes!
When a beat bangs and reflects what hip-hop was built for
That wack shit y'all spittin back in the day y'all would get killed for
But when it's pure (is it like gold?) Yes!
(Is it like silver?) Yes! (Is it like diamond?)