Tekashi 6ix9ine won’t live down his crimes anytime soon — judging by recent events.
The embattled rapper and notorious criminal informant made headlines again on Tuesday after enduring a brutal beating in the bathroom of a Miami gym.
The “Stoopid” singer was ostensibly targeted by a group of men who, fans and critics have assumed, took umbrage with his decision to provide federal prosecutors with key information that would help them convict his former gang associates — a k a “snitching.”
In 2019, 6ix9ine plead guilty to firearms and racketeering charges on the basis of a plea agreement, which guaranteed a lesser sentence if he agreed to testify against his crew.
Read on to learn more about how 6ix9ine became one of hip-hop’s most contentious figures.
Who is Tekashi 6ix9ine?
Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, hails from Brooklyn, New York. To fans, the 26-year-old musician is known for his aggressive rapping style, but to those outside the rap sphere he’s best recognized by his rainbow-colored hair and face tattoos.
He rose to fame on social media with his 2017 viral hit, “Gummo.”
Now, the rapper boasts nearly 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify and held the top spot on the Billboards chart for one week with the song “Trollz” featuring Nicki Minaj.
In spite of his music’s popularity, he’s also occasionally found himself in feuds with celebrities, or getting kicked out of places for rowdy and inappropriate behavior. Indeed, just a few days before Tuesday’s attack, 6ix9ine was booted from a World Baseball Classic game at LoanDepot Park on Friday after causing a drunken ruckus and disturbing other fans. In January, he was also thrown out of Miami restaurant for attempting to give free booze to patrons.
Why does Tekashi 6ix9ine have enemies?
6ix9ine was sentenced to two years in prison in 2019 for his role in the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods gang.
He was facing decades in prison on racketeering and other charges, but took a plea deal that would truncate his time behind bars in exchange for helping the Feds take down his former Bloods associates.
The assistant US attorney declared at the time that 6ix9ine “will forever have to look over his shoulder.”
Tekashi 6ix9ine has been sued several times, including by a 13-year-old girl for the alleged dissemination of child porn; a Brooklyn tattoo artist who claimed the rapper stole his name; and by a security firm for stiffing his armed guards of $75,000.
Karam Gill, director of the “Supervillain” docuseries on the rise and fall of 6ix9ine, has reportedly stated that the rapper is “truly a horrible human being,” devoid of morals or talent — but also a “social media mastermind” with an uncanny ability to “spark a reaction.”
Why was Tekashi 6ix9ine jumped in Miami?
Tekashi 6ix9ine was clobbered by a group of men inside the bathroom of an LA Fitness in Miami, Florida on Tuesday, according to footage of the attack which was posted online by OnlyInDade.
The video shows two men towering over 6ix9ine as he takes the fetal position on the tiled floor, protecting his head from the blows.
The men yell at him to “shut the f–k up” as one kicks his stomach and the other punches his head, per footage of the attack. The battered rapper is next seen walking out of the restroom as the person behind the camera claims they’re a “fan” of 6ix9ine.
His bloodied face is in full view at the end of the clip as he hobbles toward the exit of the workout studio.
It is yet unclear why then men targeted 6ix9ine, although it is widely believed they were motivated by the rapper’s reputation as a “snitch.”
Was Tekashi 6ix9ine hospitalized after the attack?
6ix9ine’s attorney told TMZ that the musician was inside the sauna when he was randomly jumped by several men, and did not have a security detail with him at the time.
Police and EMS were reportedly called and the rapper was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. He also suffered injuries to his jaw, ribs and back, according to the outlet.