Chinx

Lionel Pickens (December 4, 1983 – May 17, 2015), better known by his stage name Chinx (formerly Chinx Drugz), was an American rapper from Queens, New York. He was a member of the Rockaway Riot Squad alongside fellow slain rapper Stack Bundles, Bynoe and Cau2G$. Chinx later joined French Montana's Coke Boys group and record label, which also consists of Zack, MeetSims, Velous, and Lil Durk. He was best known for his appearances on the Coke Boys mixtapes and the Cocaine Riot mixtape series. He died from a fatal gunshot wound after a drive-by shooting in Jamaica, Queens on May 17, 2015.

Musical career

2000–10: Beginnings and Hurry Up & Die series

Chinx was born and raised in Far Rockaway, living in both Redfern Houses and Edgemere Houses, now known as Ocean Bay Apartments. When speaking of how he started rapping Chinx Drugz 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." He said he got the name "Chinx Drugz", "since I used to smoke a lot of weed back in the day, and this older chick used to call me chinkey and it stuck, the drugz well that’s self explanatory, I been slangin on these corners." He first started rapping with his close friend Stack Bundles while he was in high school, who he would later form the group Riot Squad with, along with local rappers Bynoe and Cau2Gs. However, he would be incarcerated shortly after, from 2005-2008 at Arthur Kill Correctional Facility.

French Montana

Karim Kharbouch (born November 9, 1984), better known by his stage name French Montana, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, former videographer, and hip hop socialite. Born in Morocco, his family emigrated to the US when he was 13 years old. He is the founder of Coke Boys Music, and its predecessor Cocaine City Records. In 2012, he signed a joint-venture recording deal with Bad Boy Records and Maybach Music Group. Montana has been known for his frequent collaborations with producer Harry Fraud, and with rapper Max B before his conviction. More recently he is known for his collaborations with Rick Ross, Diddy and his MMG and Bad Boy labelmates along with his Coke Boys which include the late Chinx, Lil Durk, and his brother Zack.

French made his mixtape debut in 2007, and released his debut studio album Excuse My French on May 21, 2013. In 2003, he survived a gunshot to the head. Allegedly blackballed by radio and media in his earlier career stemming from his stint with Max B. In 2010, he had his breakthrough with "Choppa Choppa Down" which became a regional hit in clubs and radio throughout the South. By 2012, his single "Shot Caller" would be one of the most added/played tracks on urban contemporary radio in the country. His most successful commercial single "Pop That" remains a popular hit on club and summertime radio playlists to date. In 2014, French Montana was dating Khloé Kardashian, and the couple would be the frequent subject of tabloids and celebrity gossip. The couple formally broke up in mid-2015; French has also been linked to rapper Trina and actress Sanaa Lathan. Best known for his mixtapes, club hits, and feature collaborations, he has been called titles from "King of Mixtapes" to "King of Features".