Chino XL – “Map of Bones” review

Right in front of us is the 7th full-length studio LP albeit 2nd posthumous offering from East Orange, New Jersey emcee Chino XL. Breaking out in the mid-90s after signing to American Recordings & releasing the classic full-length debut Here to Save You All, he eventually went on to beef with 2Pac & I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who writes him off because of that. Especially since that I Told You So, Poison Pen & the Viper Records-backed RICANstruction: The Black Rosary all contain some of the best songs in his whole discography. Stu Bangas was brought in to produce God’s Carpenter couple summers & that became a near-flawless comeback, with Darkness & Other Colors recorded back in 2020 foreshadowing his own death from beyond the grave. Continuing to warm up for God’s Carpenter 2, what would’ve been Chino’s 51st birthday is being commemorated with Map of Bones recorded between 2008-2012.

“Hard to Kill” opens up by ruggedly suggesting that you should come heavy if you ever making threats & getting at his best when things get intense whereas “Die 4” angrily asks if anyone wants war with him. “Not Ok” works in these prominent horns so he can tackle the theme of mental health from beyond the grave leading into the heinous “Monster” talks about his beast status.

As for “I’ve Seen”, we have Chino over heavy sampling telling us everything he’s experienced during his time in the music industry just before “‘Til Death Do Us Part” shows his affection towards his wife-now-widow. “Capable” talks about people casting doubt over what he’s competent of doing, but then the chaotic boom bap hybrid “Keep Diggin’” speaks of staying loyal to the code o until the streets phase.

“The Search” becomes 1 with the ocean Jesus once walked on while “Numb” featuring Roc C triumphantly sees the pair back on the block. “You First” gets split into 2-parts with an EDM flare during the 1st half & boom bap for the other getting bloodthirsty while “Still Sailing” refers to every word he wrote as a symphony. The title track hauntingly rounds it out by talking about the suicidal thoughts that sadly took him.

Word’s been going around since last fall regarding Chino XL having a collaborative effort with Dheezy called The Mantis coming out at the end of 2025 & we’ll have to cross that bridge until we get there to see if that actually happens, all I know is that I appreciate Map of Bones for feeling as complete of a product as Darkness & Other Colors was. Even if I find myself preferring Body Bag Ben’s production on the latter, DJ Fokus’ left-of-center style is a bit refreshing & hearing Chino continuing to foreshadow him taking is life over a decade ago hits differently.

Score: 3.5/5

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Chino XL – “Darkness & Other Colors” review

This is the 6th full-length studio LP albeit posthumous debut from East Orange, New Jersey emcee Chino XL. Breaking out in the mid-90s after signing to American Recordings & releasing the classic full-length debut Here to Save You All, he eventually went on to beef with 2Pac & I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who writes him off to this day because of that. Especially since that I Told You So, Poison Pen & the Viper Records-backed RICANstruction: The Black Rosary all contain some of the best songs in his whole discography. Stu Bangas was brought in to produce God’s Carpenter last summer & that became a near-flawless comeback, so I was interested in hearing Darkness & Other Colors recorded back in 2020 ahead of God’s Carpenter 2 following Chino’s passing this summer.

The self-produced “Words in the Color of Death” sets the tone of the album perfectly morbidly acknowledging his departure from beyond the grave whereas “Sermon in Crimson” works in a drumlessly symphonic loop talking about putting bars over bullshit. “Sepia Files from the Last Supper” hooks up a boom bap instrumental so he can take selfies at the final meal Jesus shared with his apostles in Jerusalem prior to “The Red You Deserve” finding Body Bag Ben keeping things in the basement flexing he’s iller than anyone who’s still alive.

After the organ heavy “Saged Sleep” interlude, “Byzantium Darkness” mixes this eerie backdrop with kicks & snares addressing the darkness that was following him at that point in time leading into “Blue Obsidian (Been Telling You)” strips the drums once again telling anyone who’s listening to this that he’s in the darkness with all of them. “Burn in Ivory” returns to the boom bap airing out those who ain’t ever stand beside him just before the somber, guitar-driven “Black Room” talks about getting back to people from the titular room.

“Lumps of Silver” samples soul & rock declaring that absolutely nothing can break him regardless of him suffering greatly while “Grey Discipline” featuring Eto after the “Chardikala (Chardi Color)” interlude grittily talks about others only respecting the bickering instead of the discipline. The spine-tingling “Lifted Gods Auburn” featuring Sauce Money shows off the wild style both MCs are known for & “Vanilla Sky” ends the LP soulfully reassures listeners he’s still alive within lucid dreams.

I’m well aware of the drama between Chino’s estate & Holy Toledo Productions founder/A&R extraordinaire M80 surrounding the release of this album but I gotta admit as someone who admires Chino’s art, I can see why M80 wanted to drop Darkness & Other Colors since it very much offers explanation that he was clearly adamant of perfecting it back in 2020 when he was still here with us during the COVID lockdowns.

Score: 4/5

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Chino XL – “God’s Carpenter” review

Chino XL is a 49 year old MC from East Orange, New Jersey who broke out in the mid-90s after signing to American Recordings & releasing the classic full-length debut Here to Save You All. He eventually went on to beef with 2Pac & I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who writes him off to this day because of that. Especially since that I Told You So, Poison Pen & the Viper Records-backed RICANstruction: The Black Rosary all contain some of the best songs in his whole discography. However when Boston producer Stu Bangas was brought in to produce Chino’s 5th & subsequently final full-length album of his lifetime & putting it out through Brutal Music, my anticipation for God’s Carpenter was VERY high.

The title track is a grimy boom bap opener about being in the dark with only his pen & pad asking God to not let him die tonight whereas the next cut “AMBImonsterous” gives off a more tensioning approach instrumentally continuing to rock the mic. “Who Told You” blends some morbid synth melodies with kicks & snares vividly describing those filled with hatred until “Mir8cles Opposite” aggressively goes into detail talking about the apocalypse.

“Murder Rhyme Kill” featuring Vinnie Paz couldn’t have been a perfect choice for the lead single from the frightening boom bap beat the murderous lyricism just before “Remind You” has a more serious attitude fusing pianos with more kicks & snares talking about how unfair it is that he has to hide his face & the scars that was left by this individual won’t go away. “Don’t Care” is an organ-boom bap hybrid declaring the only way to stop him is death, but then “D.X.P.S. (Double X Posse Shit)” pays homage to one of his favorite crews around his neck of the woods.

Meanwhile, “Art Apothecary” starts the last leg of the album with a horror-inspired boom bap instrumental pleading to be saved while the song “Sinister” immaculately lives up to it’s name by hopping on top of a dusty yet amping instrumental talking about being monstrous. The penultimate track “Scribbled Sorcery” has a more atmospheric vibe with kicks & snares of course dropping battle bars prior to “Night Drive” sending off God’s Carpenter by wickedly describes another typical evening for him.

It’s been over a decade since we’ve heard from Chino in a full-length capacity & I gotta say: God’s Carpenter is a near-perfect comeback & already one of the strongest offerings in his catalog. He’s focused, hasn’t lost a step with the pen whatsoever & Stu Bangas’ production is consistently raw top to bottom which is noteworthy considering that a few beats on both Poison Pen & RICANstruction were lacking.

Score: 4.5/5

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