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| Dropping the Facade, Tekashi 69 Is Just Daniel Hernandez in Court | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| [Update: Tekashi 69, on his third day of testimony, accused rapper Jim Jones of being a Nine Trey gang member.] | [Update: Tekashi 69, on his third day of testimony, accused rapper Jim Jones of being a Nine Trey gang member.] |
| For the entirety of his brief, meteoric career, the rapper known as Tekashi 69 (or 6ix9ine) fashioned himself as a recalcitrant hellion, intent on instigating conflict for its own sake. He baited law enforcement on social media with guns and money. He live-streamed himself in bed with other rappers’ girlfriends. | For the entirety of his brief, meteoric career, the rapper known as Tekashi 69 (or 6ix9ine) fashioned himself as a recalcitrant hellion, intent on instigating conflict for its own sake. He baited law enforcement on social media with guns and money. He live-streamed himself in bed with other rappers’ girlfriends. |
| But on Wednesday, in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, the 6ix9ine persona vanished. In its place was considerate, cordial Daniel Hernandez, the Dr. Jekyll to 6ix9ine’s Mr. Hyde. He was there for a purpose his alter ego probably never foresaw: to testify against his former crew, the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. | But on Wednesday, in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, the 6ix9ine persona vanished. In its place was considerate, cordial Daniel Hernandez, the Dr. Jekyll to 6ix9ine’s Mr. Hyde. He was there for a purpose his alter ego probably never foresaw: to testify against his former crew, the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. |
| On trial are two of Mr. Hernandez’s former confidantes, including Anthony Ellison, an alleged high-ranking member of the Nine Trey gang who once served as Mr. Hernandez’s bodyguard. | On trial are two of Mr. Hernandez’s former confidantes, including Anthony Ellison, an alleged high-ranking member of the Nine Trey gang who once served as Mr. Hernandez’s bodyguard. |
| Mr. Hernandez’s turn as a star witness for the federal government is a stunning twist in his career. For hours on Wednesday, the Instagram star sat on the witness stand and eagerly detailed the inner workings of the notoriously insular Nine Trey gang. | Mr. Hernandez’s turn as a star witness for the federal government is a stunning twist in his career. For hours on Wednesday, the Instagram star sat on the witness stand and eagerly detailed the inner workings of the notoriously insular Nine Trey gang. |
| The contrast between the boisterous rapper seen on social media and the man on the stand was stark. Mr. Hernandez was relaxed, sometimes leaning against the judge’s dais as he walked the jury through gang life. | The contrast between the boisterous rapper seen on social media and the man on the stand was stark. Mr. Hernandez was relaxed, sometimes leaning against the judge’s dais as he walked the jury through gang life. |
| He embraced Nine Trey in 2017, he said, after the gang helped propel his multiplatinum breakout single, “GUMMO.” The music video for that track — which featured members of Nine Trey — went viral instantly. | He embraced Nine Trey in 2017, he said, after the gang helped propel his multiplatinum breakout single, “GUMMO.” The music video for that track — which featured members of Nine Trey — went viral instantly. |
| “I knew the formula was to repeat it,” Mr. Hernandez said. “The gang image, like promote it.” | “I knew the formula was to repeat it,” Mr. Hernandez said. “The gang image, like promote it.” |
| He sketched out Nine Trey’s hierarchy in detail in court, listing its leadership by name. He paused frequently to translate street slang for the jury and described several of the gang’s attacks at length, including one instance in which they stalked and assaulted another rapper, Trippie Redd. | He sketched out Nine Trey’s hierarchy in detail in court, listing its leadership by name. He paused frequently to translate street slang for the jury and described several of the gang’s attacks at length, including one instance in which they stalked and assaulted another rapper, Trippie Redd. |
| At one point, Mr. Hernandez listed the gang affiliations of other rappers. | At one point, Mr. Hernandez listed the gang affiliations of other rappers. |
| Several times, Mr. Hernandez imitated voices of Nine Trey members and acted out conversations he had previously had with them. He launched into unprompted asides so specific — his choice of jacket during one particular gang episode, for example — that prosecutors had to refocus him. | Several times, Mr. Hernandez imitated voices of Nine Trey members and acted out conversations he had previously had with them. He launched into unprompted asides so specific — his choice of jacket during one particular gang episode, for example — that prosecutors had to refocus him. |
| His resolve appeared to falter briefly when he recounted his alleged kidnapping last July by Mr. Ellison, an incident that Mr. Hernandez said stemmed from infighting within Nine Trey over who in the gang’s hierarchy would control his music career. | His resolve appeared to falter briefly when he recounted his alleged kidnapping last July by Mr. Ellison, an incident that Mr. Hernandez said stemmed from infighting within Nine Trey over who in the gang’s hierarchy would control his music career. |
| “I had mad thoughts running through my head,” he said Wednesday, his voice growing quiet as he described being held hostage inside a vehicle in Brooklyn. | “I had mad thoughts running through my head,” he said Wednesday, his voice growing quiet as he described being held hostage inside a vehicle in Brooklyn. |
| The incident, which was widely publicized at the time, was the beginning of Mr. Hernandez’s uncoupling with Nine Trey. | The incident, which was widely publicized at the time, was the beginning of Mr. Hernandez’s uncoupling with Nine Trey. |
| “I was tired of being extorted,” he said on Wednesday. | “I was tired of being extorted,” he said on Wednesday. |
| Four months later, Mr. Hernandez publicly renounced his former manager, Kifano Jordan, Mr. Ellison and the Nine Trey gang. A few days later, law enforcement officials arrested them and a host of others suspected of being Nine Trey members. | Four months later, Mr. Hernandez publicly renounced his former manager, Kifano Jordan, Mr. Ellison and the Nine Trey gang. A few days later, law enforcement officials arrested them and a host of others suspected of being Nine Trey members. |
| Within 24 hours, Mr. Hernandez had cut a deal with prosecutors, who in return for his cooperation agreed to lobby the judge to reduce his sentence. | Within 24 hours, Mr. Hernandez had cut a deal with prosecutors, who in return for his cooperation agreed to lobby the judge to reduce his sentence. |
| Wednesday’s trial is one part of a sweeping racketeering and firearms case that prosecutors brought against the Nine Trey gang last November. | Wednesday’s trial is one part of a sweeping racketeering and firearms case that prosecutors brought against the Nine Trey gang last November. |
| Mr. Hernandez’s testimony has provided a rare window into the intersection of street gangs and rap, two notoriously guarded worlds that have all but explicitly disowned Mr. Hernandez in the midst of his reinvention. | Mr. Hernandez’s testimony has provided a rare window into the intersection of street gangs and rap, two notoriously guarded worlds that have all but explicitly disowned Mr. Hernandez in the midst of his reinvention. |
| On Wednesday, the rapper Meek Mill tweeted that Mr. Hernandez was an “Internet gangsta.” The rapper Snoop Dogg called him a “rat.” | On Wednesday, the rapper Meek Mill tweeted that Mr. Hernandez was an “Internet gangsta.” The rapper Snoop Dogg called him a “rat.” |
| Whether Mr. Hernandez can salvage any of 6ix9ine, the rebellious character he built, remains unclear. | Whether Mr. Hernandez can salvage any of 6ix9ine, the rebellious character he built, remains unclear. |
| Prosecutors have said previously that he may need to enter the witness protection program. His lawyer has argued that the 6ix9ine character was an act, and that his embrace of gang life was only meant to bolster his career. | Prosecutors have said previously that he may need to enter the witness protection program. His lawyer has argued that the 6ix9ine character was an act, and that his embrace of gang life was only meant to bolster his career. |
| In court this week, Mr. Hernandez was asked to decode what seemed to be threatening lyrics from “GUMMO” aimed at Trippie Redd, a rival. | In court this week, Mr. Hernandez was asked to decode what seemed to be threatening lyrics from “GUMMO” aimed at Trippie Redd, a rival. |
| “It’s a song towards, like, somebody who I didn’t get along with,” he said. “I don’t know. I thought it was cool at the time.” | “It’s a song towards, like, somebody who I didn’t get along with,” he said. “I don’t know. I thought it was cool at the time.” |