Who is Tekashi69?
Daniel Hernandez was born on 8 May 1996, in Bushwick, Brooklyn USA, and is a rapper, best known for performing professionally under the names Tekashi69 or 6ix9ine. He rose to fame thanks to his debut single entitled “Gummo”, which was released in late 2017.
The Wealth of Tekashi69
How rich is Tekashi69? As of mid-2019, sources estimate a net worth that is at $5 million, mostly earned through a short but successful career in the music industry. He’s collaborated with other artists, but has also attracted controversy in recent years. As he continues his musical endeavors, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Tekashi69 is of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent. During 8th grade, he was expelled from school for reasons not disclosed to the public, and he chose not to continue his education. Not much information is known about him for the next few years, until in 2009 when his father was murdered. In order to help the family financial, Tekashi then worked at various jobs, and also sold marijuana on the side so that he could survive.
In 2014, he started getting a strong interest in releasing his own rap songs, as previously he’d only been interested in listening to the genre. Over the next few years, he would start to release musical tracks, which were sometimes accompanied by videos, including “Yokai”, “Scumlife”, and “Hellsing Station”. He slowly gained attention for his aggressive rap style, and the use of anime in his music videos, initially helped by the Slovakian music label FCK THEM. In 2017, he released the song entitled “POLS1469” which featured rapper Trippie Redd, and which gained a lot of attention on YouTube.
Breakthrough
A few months later he posted a video on Instagram, which went viral due to his eccentric appearance which included a rainbow grill, rainbow dyed hair, and numerous number 69s tattooed on his body. He turned in to an internet meme, and then worked on his commercial debut single entitled “Gummo”, which was released later that year. The song would peak in 12th spot on the US Billboard Hot 100. and was eventually certified platinum. He then released a few more singles, including “Keke” which featured Fetty Wap and A Boogie wit da Hoodie.
He then announced that he would be releasing a mixtape entitled “Day69”, which appeared the following year, debuting in fourth spot of the Billboard 200 album chart. According to some critics, the popularity of the mixtape was due to the SoundCloud rap explosion, and how Tekashi was willing to deviate from the norms of hip hop sound.
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Posted by Tekashi 6ix9ine on Monday, January 22, 2018
Legal Issues
In 2015, Tekashi69 pleaded guilty to one felony count, of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance after being in an incident where he had sexual contact with a 13 year old girl in a recording, before distributing the videos online. There are three videos in the criminal complaint against him, which also includes Taquan Anderson who was also charged with indecency. Tekashi defended himself, saying that he did not know she was a minor, and he had no sexual contact with the girl. He also claimed that he was only 17 at the time, but records show that he was 18 at the time of the incident.
Court was good. pic.twitter.com/zskUpOSfDi
— 6ix9ine (@6ix9ine) July 16, 2018
As a part of his plea deal, he is required to obtain his GED, and must refrain from posting violent or explicit images of children or women on social media. The plea deal would give him three years’ probation and he would not be registered as a sex offender, provided that he did not commit another crime in two years Prior to the sexually-related charges, he had already served jail time for the sale of a heroin and assault of a minor. In 2018, he was arrested as he allegedly choked a 16 year-old while at the Houston Galeria Mall – developments are awaited!
Feuds with Other Music Personalities
While Tekashi previously collaborated with rapper Trippie Redd, Redd later posted a video denouncing his association with Tekashi, saying that he doesn’t promote pedophiles. He also posted a photo of Tekashi holding hands with another man in attempt to expose him as a closeted homosexual. Redd was later assaulted while in his hotel by people allegedly connected to Tekashi. They continued to exchange insults online for several months, and in 2018, Tekashi was then accused of having a sexual relationship with the artist Bhad Bhabie, who is a minor – the latter said that they only kissed in the past.
Tekashi has also been investigated by the New York Police Department for possible involvement in the shooting of rapper Chief Keef, despite Tekashi being in Los Angeles at the time of the shooting. The two are known to have been involved in feuds.
