Daniel Hernandez, aka rainbow-haired rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, is best known for his hit single FEFE with Nicki Minaj. (You've heard it, trust me.) However, the 22-year-old MC has made more headlines for his legal problems.
In 2015, Tekashi pleaded guilty to use of a child in a sexual performance. In videos shared on Instagram, another man engaged in sex acts with a 13-year-old girl. According to court documents published by Jezebel, "the child is sitting on the lap of the defendant [Tekashi] and the defendant has his arms around the child." The complaint also describes footage of the victim giving oral sex to the other man, while Tekashi "stands behind the child making a thrusting motion with his pelvis and smacking her on her buttocks." And in case you're not creeped out enough, "The child is nude in the video."
At the time, 6ix9ine was 18, and he claimed he didn't know the girl was underage. "When she came in, she asked me how old I was, and I told her I was 18, and I assumed she was older," he told DJ Akademiks. In order to avoid prison time, and registering as a sex offender, Tekashi agreed to a plea deal, with several conditions for good behavior.
After the violating the terms of that plea agreement, the face-tattooed hip-hop artist narrowly avoided jail time. Last October, he was sentenced to four years probation, given 1,000 hours of community service and told to avoid all gang activity. Following the sentencing, Tekashi told the judge, "I have millions of youth that look at me as a role model and the last place I want to be is incarcerated, they don’t deserve it. Thank you."
Well, now the BEBE rapper might be going to jail for violating the terms of his parole. On Sunday night, Tekashi was arrested in New York City on firearms charges, plus suspicion of racketeering (dishonest and fraudulent business dealings). The feds also arrested Tekashi's ex-manager, Kifa Kifano 'Shotti' Jordan, along with associates Jensel 'Ish' Butler, and Faheem 'Crippy' Walter. The investigation was a joint effort from Homeland Security, the NYPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Last week, the rising hip-hop star announced that he fired his entire team cancelled all the shows on his American tour. On Instagram, he warned fans not to purchase tickets: "I am letting everybody know I cancelled my whole tour... I fired everybody in my team, I fired my manager, booking agent, PR, publicist. Whoever is booking shows for Tekashi69 is stealing your f**king money. If you are not on the phone with me do not book that show, it’s not me."
Tekashi's new album, DUMMA BOY, drops in Friday, November 23rd. The 13-song project features Kanye West (twice) and Nicki Minaj (twice), plus Gunna and Lil' Baby. Recently he appeared on Power 105's The Breakfast Club to promote the project, and said he only feared two things: God and the FBI. If he kept up his good behavior, he'd having nothing to fear.
UPDATE: 6ix9ine is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 32 years in prison, according to the prosecuting U.S. attorney.
