While Teka$hi69 – also called Tekashi or simply, Six Nine – might not be a household name just yet, his debut songs have quickly topped the charts and earned him collaborations with some of today’s biggest hip-hop artists.
Read ahead to learn 25 things you didn’t know about this rainbow-haired rap star.
His Real Name
The up and coming rapper goes by both Teka$hi69, Tekashi69, and 6ix9ine. However, his real name is actually Daniel Hernandez.
A Colorful Appearance
Tekashi sports bright, rainbow-colored hair. His body and face are also covered in tattoos. His most famous tattoos include the numbers ‘69’ that are inked all over his body and his face. He also has the ‘Jigsaw’ character from the Saw movies tattooed on his cheek.
Before The Fame
Before becoming a rapper, Tekashi had brown hair, which was cut short, and didn’t have many tattoos. To make himself stand out, however, he drastically changed his look.
The Nickname
While the number 69 represents his gang, Tekashi had another reason to use it as his stage name. Regarding this moniker, Tekashi wrote a post on Instagram: “I never lost sense of where I came from. That’s what makes me 69. The true meaning of 69 is just because you’re right doesn’t mean I’m wrong YOU JUST HAVEN’T SEEN LIFE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. Turn the 6 upside down it’s 9 but remains the same in a different perspective. Open your mind and heart.”
Tekashi’s Age
The rapper was born on May 8, 1996, which makes him a very young and successful 22 years old.
A Native New Yorker
Tekashi was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, however, are both immigrants. His mother is from Mexico and his father is from Puerto Rico.
A Drop Out
The rapper was expelled from school when he was in the eighth grade. However, he never went back to school after that as his father was murdered in 2009.
Man of The House
Tekashi was 13 years old at the time of his father’s death. Despite his age, however, he started working odd jobs and selling marijuana to help his mom.
A Young Father
Before his rise to fame, Tekashi had a baby with his former girlfriend. He occasionally shares photos of his daughter on his Instagram account.
Early Career
Tekashi started rapping in 2014. Over the next three years, he started releasing songs and became known for his aggressive rapping style as well as his anime-style cartoon music videos.
Fame From a Meme
The rappers big break came thanks to an internet meme of him that went viral on Reddit and Twitter, thanks to his eccentric appearance.
Rise to The Top
On November 10, 2017, Tekashi released his debut single, “Gummo.” The song climbed the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 12. The song went platinum on March 5, 2018.
Another Hit
Tekashi went on to release another song, “Kooda.” His second single hit the charts in December of 2017 and peaked at number 61 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
An Internet Sensation
Tekashi has amassed an impressive following online. The video for his first hit, “Gummo,” currently has more than 280 million views on YouTube.
The Debut Mixtape
After his early success, Tekashi released his debut mixtape, “Day69,” on February 23, 2018. It came in at number four on the Billboard 200 chart.
A Dangerous Feud
Tekashi’s rise to the top hasn’t been without controversy. He has been involved with several feuds with other rappers including Chief Keef. In May 2018, Chief Keef was shot at while in New York. Tekashi was rumored to be involved in the shooting despite being in Los Angeles at the time.
A Costly Mistake
As a result of the controversy surrounding the failed shooting, Tekashi lost a $5 million headphone deal. He was also banned from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Tekashi would later claim that the deal was a falsification, and that he didn’t lose any money.
A Massive Collaboration
In July of 2018, the rapper released his most famous song, “Fefe,” which features Murda Beatz and Nicki Minaj. At its peak, the song reached the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
Threatening to Quit
In April 2018, Tekashi claimed he wanted to quit rapping. “Ima quit rapping this year. I accomplished everything I dreamed of in 5 months,” the 22-year-old shared on Instagram.
A Kidnapping Victim
On July 22, 2018, three armed men grabbed Tekashi outside his home in Brooklyn. He was beaten and robbed of over $750,000 in custom jewelry and $35,000 in cash. Tekashi managed to escape the vehicle and was helped by a stranger.
Controversial Charges
Tekashi was charged with three counts of use of a child in a sexual performance after he had sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl and shared videos of it online. In October 2015, he pled guilty to one charge.
An Ongoing Case
Because of legal issues with his plea bargain from the 2015 case involving sexual contact with a minor, the Manhattan district attorney’s office explained Tekashi is now facing jail time. He faces three years in prison and may have to register as a sex offender. The sentencing is scheduled for late October.
A Former Inmate
Tekashi has previously served time in jail as a minor for charges relating to assault and selling heroin.
More Legal Trouble
Tekashi was arrested in New York on July 12, 2018, as a result of an outstanding warrant from an incident in January 2018. Tekashi allegedly choked a 16-year-old while in Houston.
Future Collaborations
Despite the controversies surrounding Tekashi, Kanye West has been an outspoken supporter. During a radio interview, West told fans to overlook Tekashi’s past. Recently, West also announced Tekashi will be featured on his upcoming album, “Yandhi.”
25 Things You Didn’t Know About Up and Coming Rapper Teka$hi69 is an article from: LifeDaily