The hip-hop community has lost one of its own today. Rapper Chinx, formerly known as Chinx Drugz, was murdered in Queens, N.Y. early this morning (May 17).

The Far Rockaway, N.Y. native, born Lionel Pickens, was shot and killed inside a vehicle while driving on Queens Boulevard at around 4 a.m. According to police, the "Feelings" rapper was driving a Porsche Panamera 4 at 84th Drive in Briarwood when a second vehicle being driven by an unidentified person approached him and another man and began to open fire.

Both Chinx and the other man were shot after the assailant sprayed bullets multiple times in their direction. At least seven bullets were seen piercing through the side of the MC's Porsche.

Unfortunately, Chinx, 31, was the target in the fatal shooting, his management states. REVOLT reports that a New York Police Department spokesperson revealed a 32-year-old man is deceased and a second man, 27, is in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital. However, it appears the NYPD initially got his age wrong.

Before his untimely death, which has sent shock waves throughout the entertainment industry, Chinx was doing a hosting gig at Red Wolf nightclub in Brooklyn. He shared an image of himself and friends at the venue on Instagram hours before his passing.

A member of French Montana's Coke Boys team, Chinx was a dear friend of French and came up under his wing after meeting him years ago at Max B's home in Yonkers before he got sentenced to prison.

Before linking with French, Chinx got his start rapping in the 8th grade and joined forces with the late Stack Bundles, who was also from his Edgemere Projects neighborhood. The rapper later formed the Riot Squad and made a name for himself in the New York City rap game through songs like "I'm a Coke Boy" and "Feelings." He even dropped the "Drugz" from his moniker to expand his horizons beyond street rap.

Rest in peace, Chinx.

 

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