For the past few months, you've probably heard about Tekashi 6ix9ine. His rainbow colored hair and matching grillz as well as the number 69 tatted across his body and face make him hard to miss or forget. However, his song "Gummo" has really launched his career. It received co-signs from the likes of Chance the Rapper and Swizz Beatz and landed him a climbing position on the Billboard Hot 100 (currently at No. 13 on the week of Dec. 23rd).
However, with all this success comes controversy. It has come to light that the rapper pleaded guilty to "the use of a child in a sexual performance." This charge is defined as (via Jezebel), A person is guilty of the use of a child in a sexual performance if knowing the character and content thereof he employs, authorizes or induces a child less than seventeen years of age to engage in a sexual performance or being a parent, legal guardian or custodian of such child, he consents to the participation by such child in a sexual performance.
This information was first unpacked by former collaborators/current beef partners, Trippie Redd and Zillakami ("1400 don’t promote pedophiles," Trippie said). He's since responded to the beef with both artists and on multiple occasions, he and his lawyer have continue to claim his innocence. More on that below, though.
Despite all of this, his career is still budding. Prior to the beef and the release of his viral, "GUMMO," he was working with Trippie Redd, Zillakami and Famous Dex, which helped make his serious wave on the Internet. And with the new wave of attention he's received, he's been spotted in the studio with the likes of Swizz Beatz and Fetty Wap.
Here's everything you need to know about Tekashi 6ix9ine.
He kicked his career off as a viral internet figure
Prior to becoming a rapper, Tekashi would wear t-shirts that said "Pussy" and "HIV" to garner attention on platforms such as Instagram for "shock value." That aspect would eventually launch his "SCUMGANG69" campaign. He says "scum" stands for Society Can't Understand Me.
After people started noticing his unique style, he'd eventually start rapping because of it.
He doesn't have his own YouTube account
Despite the fact that he's amassed over 69M views off of both "GUMMO" and "KOODA," he doesn't have his own YouTube account. Since jumping on the scene in 2015, he's dropped off a handful of music videos through the YouTube channel FCK THEM. The only video he hasn't dropped through the channel is his most recent, "KOODA" which was released through WorldStarHipHop.
He's been involved in several beefs over the past few months
Between Zillakami, Trippie Redd and most recently, Pi'erre Bourne, Tekashi 6ix9ine has found himself in the midst of beefing each one of them. The most notable ones are Trippie Redd and Zillakami.
Zillakami originally exposed Tekashi6ix9ine on an Instagram post for allegations of pedophilia with 6ix9ine's arm around a 13 year old girl in just a bra. He later sarcastically responded in a Snapchat video to Kami's remarks in with an admission of sorts. Trippie Redd later denounced 69 because of it. He said, "I'm sorry brozay, 1400 don't promote pedophiles... If we give n*ggas clout, we give n*ggas clout. It was an accident."
It spawned into violence after Redd claimed one of Tekashi's people punched him in the head in his New York City hotel lobby.
His beef with Pi'erre Bourne stems from the release of "GUMMO" which allegedly involves Trippie. Bourne wasn't aware that 6ix9ine had the beat for "GUMMO" until it actually dropped and he wasn't happy that he used it. Pi'erre later referred to Trippie and 6ix9ine as "opps" on a since-deleted Twitter post but later reiterated it on Instagram when he said, "Fuck that 'Gummo' shit." From the rumors that surfaced, Trippie gave the beat to 69. Most recently, Pi'erre subliminally claimed to have birthed Tekashi's career and 69 later responded by saying Pi'erre hasn't even launched his own.
He pleaded guilty to the use of a child in a sexual performance
In a ever-evolving story with new information surfacing regularly, Tekashi 6ix9ine plead guilty to one count of using a child in a sexual performance. In the way he recounts the story with DJ Akademiks, it happened when he was 17 and the girl told him she was 19. However, court files with his statement that have surfaced reveal that he was 18 at the time and he also said that "she came in she asked me how old I was, and I told her I was 18, and I assumed she was older. The way she was asking made me think she was older."
There were pictures of him and another rapper, Tay Milly, with the thirteen year old girl without a shirt on. While he's denied that he was involved in any sexual activity with the girl, he did admit that it was him in the photos and videos with the girl.
He has a list of conditions he has to complete, including community hours, completing his GED and not posting any sexually explicit or violent images with women or children to social media. If he completes those, he will not be required to register a sex offender.
He's been working with Swizz Beatz and Fetty Wap
Swizz Beatz and Fetty Wap have both been spotted with Tekashi in the studio. While Tekashi's been working on an upcoming project, it's likely the Swizz Beatz and Fetty Wap features land on it. He's previously teased both songs on social media.
The first time he performed in his hometown was at the Diplomats reunion
On a video he posted to Instagram, the first time the viral sensation performed in his hometown of New York City was during Diplomats reunion show with A$AP Mob for RapCaviar. DJ SpinKing was holding it down in between sets and brought out a slew of artists including Fat Joe, Uncle Murda and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. However, the reported highlight was Tekashi's entrance to "Gummo" at the Hammerstein Ballroom, where he also switched a line to fire shots at Trippie Redd. "Tell Trippie Redd shut, I fucked that n*gga bitch."