X1 (rapper)

One day Bruce met some teenagers from his neighborhood and formed a group that included in addition to him, Dez (who later changed his name to Still Livin), Chop, Cyph Certified and Whosane the younger brother of Fredro Starr. That is when he created a nickname "X1". The guys rapping at the intersection of 131st Street and Rockaway Blvd. in front of Kennedy Fried Chicken that is where they were discovered by the popular hip-hop group Onyx which immediately invited them to the studio. The name of the group Gang Green appeared from the lines of Fredro Starr. Onyx signed them to their own label Armee Records which was distributed by Capitol Records and Mercury Records.

X1 was found dead in his home in Las Vegas on July 4, 2007.

X1 was found dead in his home in Las Vegas on July 4, 2007. His friends believe that he was killed and that his death was staged as a suicide during an Independence Day firework display. The cause of death is still unknown. It is known that during his life Bruce always carried a weapon. X1 was found dead by his recently divorced ex-wife fashion designer Angel Brinks, following a short 3 month marriage. X1's ex wife, who was 9 months pregnant at the time said he committed suicide after she said something horrible to him.

Nevada public records show X1 was not married at the time of his death yet Angel lied on record claiming they were married at the time of his death which has been proven false information. Angel says, my son's father committed suicide when I was 9 months pregnant. I found him and I couldn't really enjoy the birth of my son, but mourn a loss of my husband at the time." He was 28 years old. Hip-hop website AllHipHop.com was the first to write about the rapper's death. The article came out with the headline "Sticky Fingaz Brother/Rapper X1 Found Dead In Las Vegas." A few days later, on July 19, 2007 Bruce’s second son was born. As of now X1s both sons have not yet met.

After taking part in the recording of Onyx's album Shut 'Em Down and touring with them, X1 focused on his solo career leaving Onyx but still on good terms with them he later on helped them with there solo projects. In 2000 X1 signed to the label of Mike Tyson Tyson Records. A year after that the label did not quite take off the way X1 expected so he then went and signed a new deal with California record company Ball'R Records which had a roster consisting of three acts: Krayzie Bone, The Relativez and X1. The label ended folded before X1 could release some. Then X1 signed to the label Dynasty Records (based out of Las Vegas, Nevada) where he was due to release his debut album Young, Rich And Gangsta on September 19, 2006.

Over time Gang Green gained more knowledge, connections and experience in the music industry. X1 and Still Livin' together took part in the video for the Onyx's song React, where the then-unknown 50 Cent also took part. The group members also attended the studio while Onyx recorded songs including Evil Streets Remix studio session with Method Man in 1994. Unreleased songs by X1 and his group were released only after many years on Onyx's collections, Cold Case Files: Vol. 1 and Cold Case Files: Vol. 2.

Bruce David Sandlin (March 6, 1979 – July 4, 2007), better known by his stage name X1, was an American rapper best known in the 90s as a member of the Gang Green and affiliated with Onyx.

X1 was born on March 6, 1979 in Brooklyn. His family lived on 1088 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY. A year later he moved to Queens with his parents. When he was 16 he was selling drugs in the corners of Queens trying to get rich quick. But he realized that this was not the way to achieve success. Hip-hop became a part of his life when he began performing freestyles in public and at his school.