6ix9ine

6ix9ine, born Daniel Hernandez and also known as Tekashi69, is an American rapper who became one of the most polarizing figures in hip-hop. With rainbow-colored hair, face tattoos, and a shouting vocal style, he engineered a meteoric rise built on internet provocation as much as music. His viral singles like Gummo and Fefe made him a commercial force in the late 2010s, but his career has been inseparable from legal turmoil and public feuds. He drew widespread condemnation after pleading guilty in a federal racketeering case and testifying against former gang associates, a cooperation that earned him a reduced sentence but made him a pariah in much of the rap community. Supporters point to his undeniable knack for catchy hits and attention; critics see a figure who turned scandal into a marketing strategy. He remains a lightning rod for debates about authenticity and accountability in the attention economy. [edit]

Daniel Hernandez grew up in Bushwick, Brooklyn, raised by his mother and stepfather. He attended Public School 59 and later Juan Morel Campos Secondary School. As a youth, he was a standout baseball player, drawing interest from major league scouts. When he was 13, his father was shot and killed steps from the family home. The trauma triggered a spiral: he was expelled in eighth grade and began selling cannabis and heroin on the streets while working as a busboy. He was arrested and sent to Rikers Island, where he connected with the Nine Trey Gangsters, a subset of the Bloods. His early musical influences included heavy metal bands like All That Remains and Parkway Drive, which his brother played in. He started releasing tracks on SoundCloud in 2012 under the name Tekashi 6ix9ine, but nothing caught on until 2017. [edit]

6ix9ine's breakthrough came in 2017 with Gummo, a diss track aimed at former associates. The video showed him flanked by dozens of Nine Trey Gangsters in red bandanas; the song peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. He followed with Poles 1469 featuring Trippie Redd. In 2018 he released the mixtape Day69 and the album Dummy Boy, which included the Nicki Minaj collaboration FEFE, a top 10 hit. That same year he pleaded guilty to three felony counts of use of a child in a sexual performance. In 2019 federal racketeering charges led him to cooperate with prosecutors, testifying against former gang members and receiving a reduced sentence. After his 2020 release, he dropped Gooba, which hit No. 3, and Trollz with Nicki Minaj debuted at No. 1. He continued releasing music through 2023, including Spanish-language tracks, though his commercial peak had passed. In 2024 his Florida home was raided by the IRS over unpaid taxes for 2020-2023. [edit]

6ix9ine's signature look is rainbow-colored hair, extensive face tattoos including a prominent "69" on his cheek, and rainbow-themed clothing. His music videos are filled with gang imagery, luxury cars, and provocative scenarios. He cultivates a combative social media voice, feuding with other celebrities and trolling constantly. Media outlets portray him as a "troll prince" of hip-hop. His fanbase skews young, attracted to his rebellious, anti-establishment persona. There is no official fandom name. He generates viral moments regularly, but his reputation as a cooperator has made him a pariah in the rap community. [edit]

Daniel Hernandez stands as a polarizing force where music, internet culture, and legal drama collide. He is the 12th most famous person in Latin Music, a position he has held steady through cycles of viral controversy and renewed public attention. His reach extends beyond genre lines, capturing global attention across media coverage, search trends, and consumption signals worldwide. This dominance places him firmly within the cultural conversation, yet his specific standing in hip-hop remains distinct. He ranks as the 33rd most famous person in hip-hop, a metric that reflects both his commercial output and the sheer volume of discourse surrounding his persona. Despite the noise, his audience lacks a formal collective identity. Unlike artists with branded stans, 6ix9ine's supporters operate as an organic following on platforms like Instagram and X. They drive streaming numbers without organized campaigns or ritualistic gatherings. There is no official fandom name to claim; the crowd is defined by engagement rather than affiliation. The mythology built around him relies less on stage antics and more on high-stakes real-life events. Stories of his turn-in to federal authorities, his release from prison, and subsequent bizarre interactions with political figures form the core of his legend. These narratives persist because they blur the line between celebrity spectacle and criminal underworld lore.[edit]

His stage name and the number 69 are tattooed all over his body. Before fame took hold, Hernandez walked the streets of Bushwick muttering prayers for success. He once worked as a busboy but was fired for being too weak to carry stacks of plates. Growing up, he listened to heavy metal, particularly All That Remains, while his brother played in a metal band. A verified chapter in his modern folklore began when he turned himself in to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to serve a three-month sentence for violating supervised release. Upon his release in April 2026, he generated significant media attention by displaying a plush SpongeBob SquarePants toy signed by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In August 2026, ASAP Rocky publicly credited 6ix9ine with uniting rival gangs, the Bloods and the Crips, adding to the lore of his perceived power within street culture. A documentary titled *Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine* was released in July 2026, cementing these narratives into a curated history of his life.[edit]

His mother, Natividad Perez-Hernandez, is a factory worker and house cleaner from Atlixco, Mexico. His father, Daniel Hernandez Sr., was from Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, and was shot and killed when Daniel was 13. He has an older brother, Oscar Hernandez, who played in a metal band. He was raised by his mother and stepfather until the stepfather was also murdered in 2010. He has three children, though details about their mothers are limited in public sources. [edit]

6ix9ine has collaborated with Nicki Minaj on FEFE and Trollz. He worked with Trippie Redd on Poles 1469 before they became rivals. He also collaborated with Kanye West, Bobby Shmurda, and Lil Baby. His label CEO is Elliot Grainge of 10K Projects. He was married to Dominican singer Yailin 'La Más Viral'. [edit]

6ix9ine dated Milan Harris from 2018 to 2020; they have a daughter together. The relationship ended amid his legal troubles. After his prison release, he was briefly linked to Rachel "Jade" Rodriguez in 2020-2021. In 2022 he married Dominican singer Yailin "La Más Viral." The marriage was tumultuous and they separated in 2023; they have one child together. As of 2026, he is reportedly single. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, 6ix9ine's net worth stands at $5 Million as of 2026. His income streams include music streaming, album sales, and publishing royalties, which generate an estimated $2-3 million. YouTube revenue from his music videos contributes roughly $500,000 to $1 million annually. He secured a partnership with Fashion Nova, though the brand reportedly owes him $350,000. Financial troubles have marked recent years, including the ownership of a Florida home subject to IRS seizure in 2024 due to unpaid taxes. Hernandez acknowledged failing to report taxes for 2020 through 2023, claiming he paid over $6 million to the IRS. His net worth has declined from a peak of around $10 million in 2020.[edit]

6ix9ine has won a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Song for Trollz (2020), an MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act (2018), and an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award for FEFE (2019). [edit]