It’s been nearly a decade since the rap world lost Chinx.
On May 17, 2015, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Lionel “Chinx” Pickens was shot and killed in Briarwood, Queens, New York. The co-founder of Coke Boys in Canada was found with another victim, Yemen Cheese. Cheese survived the shooting, but Pickens was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. He is only 31 years old.
“Who would have thought I would get that call!” French wrote on Instagram at the time. “The devil comes in all shapes and sizes, and he is merciless. Life here is temporary. They will kill you for this lifestyle, and if they can’t afford it, jealousy is ****** * ***. Protect yourself, protect the ones you love. I am sad to see my brother out like this, he is one of the truest people I have ever met. This is not right for us. Praying for his children and family that we will finish what we started.
Chinx, formerly known as Chinx Drugz, began his music career as an MC in the Rockaway Riot Squad with his friend Stack Bundles. In 2005, Chinx was sentenced to five years in prison. While incarcerated, Stark met the wave god Max B and joined Jim Jones’ Byrd Gang. Unfortunately, Stack was shot and killed a year before Chinx was released from prison in 2008. All three artists have joined French’s Coke Boys team.
Chinx went on to release a number of mixtapes, including his Hurry Up & Die and Cocaine Riot series. After Chinx’s death in 2015, his estate released his debut studio album, Welcome to JFK, through Coke Boys/eOne Music. The album features songs such as Stack Bundles’ “Far Rock” as well as Lil Durk’s “Pray,” Nipsey Hussle’s “Hey Fool” and French, Zack and Meet Sims’ “Die Young.” His family has also released other posthumous titles such as Legends Never Die (2016), CR6 (2022), and Cocaine Riot 7, which dropped last year.
Rest in peace, Chinks. Listen to his latest LP Cocaine Riot 7 below.
Warning: explicit language
