Darrius Barron
Managing Editor
The hip-hop culture has been closely tied to the criminal side of urban communities since it’s inception. From Curtis Blow’s “The Breaks” to the boom of Atlanta’s very own trap music, which took the world by storm in the early 2000’s; rap music has mostly been gospel for gangsters, drug dealers, and hustlers alike.
Daniel Hernandez, also known by his stage name; Tekashi 6ix9ine, a New York born rapper who was endorsed by the street gang Nine Trey Bloods of New York (also known as TreWay) was indicted by the FBI on Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations charges.
Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, a charge mostly known as the RICO Act, is a charge that is mostly associated with mob members has not previously been known to reach the world of hip-hop.
Just days before his last Breakfast Club interview, rapper Fat Joe held a conversation with 6ix9ine on Jay Z’s streaming service; Tidal. During the long talk, Fat Joe warned 6ix9ine of the things that would eventually come when dealing with gangs like the Nine Trey Bloods.
During the Breakfast Club interview on Nov. 16, 2018, 6ix9ine spoke on how he was no longer tied to the gang, and how the FBI was looking into his involvement with them.
On Nov. 19, 2018, 6ix9ine and the rest of his “TreWay” crew were indicted on the RICO Act.
As a music artist, he was paid to make songs, but since his arrest 6ix9ine has been a caged bird singing for his freedom.
Before his arrest, 6ix9ine was the undisputed king of controversy in rap. His biggest stunts involving a beef with Chicago rapper Chief Keef which led to a shooting outside of Chief Keef’s hotel in New York, and an alleged assault involving Ohio rapper Trippie Red.
Because his name was so big in the hip-hop culture, the community was divided on feelings for 6ix9ine. Half of the community called him a culture vulture who perpetuated negative black stereotypes for financial gain, and others claimed that he was really the Nine Trey Blood he claimed to be.
Once he opened up to DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne Tha God on the Breakfast Club about how his life as a member of the Nine Trey Bloods was everything but peaceful, more people began to feel sorry for 6ix9ine.
6ix9ine claimed that the Nine Trey Bloods would threaten to harm his mother if he did not perform among other atrocious things.
During his first court appearances, 6ix9ine proved the suspicion of a great deal of the hip-hop community by admitting that he only claimed TreWay so that he could sell music.
Since the trials began, 6ix9ine has not only informed authorities of the crimes he has witnessed TreWay gangsters commit, but also what other rappers are part of the Nine Trey Bloods. Rappers like Jim Jones and Cardi B has been named by 6ix9ine as active members of the notorious street gang.
Although this may be the first time a superstar rapper has openly told on his codefendants, some people argue that it has subliminally been done in the past.
Tupac Shakur’s “Against All Odds” name drops notorious gangsters like Haitian Jack, and Jimmy Henchmen.
On 50 Cent’s “Ghetto Qu’ran (Forgive Me),” he specifically named gangsters from Queens, New York. It is believed that this track was a cause of 50 Cent getting shot nine times outside of his grandmother’s home.
Since the hip-hop community is closely tied to the criminal aspect of urban communities, telling is forbidden within rap, just as it is on the streets.
An abundance of rappers and fans alike have taken to social media to express their frustration with 6ix9ine. Most people are in agreeance that he asked for all of this by trying to be a thug, and that he should not tell on anyone for a reduced sentence.
6ix9ine is currently facing 75 years imprisonment for his involvement with the Nine Trey Bloods.
Be First to Comment