20 of the Best Chinx Songs

There's few greater things as a rap fan than witnessing an artist making the leap from being a buzzworthy prospect to fully breaking through and becoming a household name within the hip-hop community. This is a trajectory that New York rapper Chinx was definitely on before his untimely death.

However, those dreams of him fully realizing his potential and making good on the promise that many saw in him would be shattered on May 17, 2015, when Chinx was murdered in a drive-by shooting in the Briarwood section of Queens in the wee hours of the morning. The rapper was 31 at the time of his death. Chinx's death would be shocking news to those close to him, as well as the hip-hop community, with many speaking to his good-natured personality and even-keeled demeanor in addition to his skills as an MC and entertainer, a testament to the reputation he had built prior to his death.

Although a suspect has not been charged in the case and the investigation into his death is still ongoing—news that brings to mind law enforcement's track record of solving rap-related murders—and his family continues to grieve, Chinx's name continues to live in, with figures like his mentor and fellow Coke Boy French Montana and others waving the flag for their fallen comrade.

Welcome to JFK, Chinx's posthumous debut album, which was released less than three months after his death, has also kept the rapper's voice in rotation and his legacy alive, as has his additional posthumous release, Legends Never Die, and his catalog of mixtapes alike. While he may not have fully blown up on the mainstream as many had predicted at the time of his passing, Chinx remains a noteworthy figure in the New York City rap community and beyond, and continues to gain fans through his artistry, even in spirit.

With two years having passed since his tragic death, XXL celebrates the life of Chinx by sharing 20 of his most essential songs. Long live Chinx.