Chino Xl

Chino XL, born Anthony M. Brady, came up in Brooklyn. His debut album 'Here to Save You All' arrived in 1996, anchored by the single 'A Real Gangster and Me.' That track's unflinching look at street life, delivered with a sharp flow, caught attention and set a tone.

He kept putting out records like 'I Told You So' in 1998 and 'Poison Pen' in 2015. Songs such as 'No Complex' and 'Asshole' continued his style of dense, introspective writing. He worked with other lyricists like RZA and Talib Kweli at times, but his voice remained distinctly his own.

His career wasn't a straight line. He was known for being outspoken, and some of his more provocative material stirred things up. The music itself, though, from 'Heavenly father' to later work, stayed grounded in a particular kind of verbal craft that his listeners came for.