Chinx will have been gone for eight years this month, and his estate is commemorating the anniversary of his death with a surprise posthumous album.
Set to arrive on Friday (May 12), Cocaine Riot 7 will land just five days ahead of the May 17 anniversary of the Queens rapper’s passing. In an Instagram post, Chinx’s estate reflected on the loss and the strong output of posthumous music since then.
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“As we approach the 8th anniversary of the passing of slain rapper Chinx, his estate and management team have been hard at work to release a surprise new installment titled Cocaine Riot 7,” they wrote. “The 12 track album follows the previous CR6 effort released in December 2021, on the anniversary of the rapper’s birthday.
“There has been no shortage of street heat from The #1 Coke Boy as these projects follow up the previous release of the rapper’s debut album Welcome to JFK in 2015, and Legends Never Die in 2016. Each track has been crafted to stand the test of time and proves Chinx had a timeless flow, machine-like work ethic, and is still an absolute force to be reckoned with.”
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They continued: “While the family awaits a conviction on individuals involved in his murder, they have proven his efforts were not in vain, and there is no better way to honor his legacy than to continue to feed the streets with his prolific presence.”
His manager Douglas “Biggs” Ellison also released a statement, writing: “Each time we sit down to do a project, I can’t believe how much work was put in to achieve his ultimate goal of releasing the first album. After eight years we have not only released the first album but keep delivering current timeless gems to the people.”
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“CR7 is no different,” he added. “It’s pure and unadulterated Chinx speaking to the fans! I’m so glad that he can continue to live through the music. Cutting through the noise. What an accomplishment!”
Fans can pre-order the album now here. Check out the cover art below.
Chinx (real name Lionel Pickens) was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Queens, New York, in 2015. He was 31. In an episode of WE tv’s Hip Hop Homicides, which aired on Thanksgiving Day last year, his longtime friend and collaborator French Montana shared how he believes he would be a Top 5 MC if he was still alive today.
Praising his work ethic, French said Chinx “knew what it took” while explaining that he was very good at “switching his flows” and he “knew how to adapt.”
French then said he feels Chinx was actually a better rapper than him, before putting his friend among Hip Hop’s best. “He was 10x better than me,” he said. “Because he seen all my mistakes. He was like a better version. Man, if Chinx was alive, Chinx would be Top 5.”
Two gunmen were arrested in the 2015 murder of Chinx. According to New York Police lieutenant Richard Rudolph, Quincy Homere and Jamar Hill allegedly killed Chinx over a dispute that arose while Chinx and Homere were both incarcerated at Rikers Island in 2009.
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In December 2017, well over two years after Chinx’s death, Homere and Hill were arrested and charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
