Tekashi 6ix9ine continues to be a hot topic of conversation. The rapper-turned-federal informant spent the better part of a year behind bars as he worked out his testimony against his former Nine Trey Gansta Bloods associates, and while they all serve out their lengthy sentences behind bars, 6ix9ine is enjoying his musical comeback now that he’s been released. While he quickly regained his status and broke records with his single “GOOBA,” not everyone is welcoming him home with open arms. Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, Lil Tjay, and many others have disapproved, including Benny The Butcher who wants nothing to do with 6ix9ine.

“Anybody who’s somebody with a pair of eyes coulda knew that little n*gga was gon’ rat,” Benny The Butcher said. “He’s a rat. He don’t deserve to be out. He don’t deserve nothin’. He’s a rat. I was just talkin’ ’bout my n*ggas, the numbers that they got and nobody told nothing…He’s a f*ckin’ rat. He’s a disgrace.”

“He told and give information on people that he was around who, they thought of each other as friends,” the rapper added. Vlad spoke about other cases and then asked Benny if he thinks 6ix9ine will make a huge comeback. “To be honest with you man, I don’t even care to talk about that rat ass n*gga. Imma be honest with you, man… He gon’ get enough publicity… Of course people gon’ go stream his music ’cause they don’t live off the same type of morals that we took an oath to. He gon’ do what he do. The world that I live in and the cloth that I’m cut from, he know what he deserve.”

He added that if 6ix9ine called him for anything he’d just throw his phone away. Watch the clip of the interview with Benny The Butcher below.

Previously on Complex and Spotify’s Infamous: The Tekashi 6ix9ine Story podcast… Angie Martinez narrated the story of how the rainbow-haired rapper ended up getting kidnapped by his fellow Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods member, Anthony “Harv” Ellison. The episode left off with Tekashi and his manager, Shotti, plotting an attack on Harv to get back at him. Little did they know, the feds were spying on their moves and were on the verge of gathering enough evidence to take down Nine Trey. 

In Episode 7 of Infamous, titled “That’s What Rats Do”, it’s detailed how Tekashi cooperated with the feds in order to reduce his sentence and gain revenge over those who wronged him. After members of the gang first started being taken into custody, it wasn’t known that Tekashi would serve as a prime snitch in the case. However, suspicions arose when he was the only one brought out separately from the rest of his co-defendants when their indictments were being handed out. Initially, this exception was imagined to possibly be a result of his celebrity status. Soon, the world would discover that Tekashi was spilling all the beans to benefit himself. 

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All the charges Tekashi was facing should have amounted to a 47-year sentence, yet reports are now saying he could be released from prison as soon as August 2020. How did this happen? Well, he quickly plead guilty to racketeering and firearm offenses. The public became more convinced that Tekashi was ratting as the list of defendants in the federal case got longer, eventually implicating a dozen Nine Trey members. One theory for his willingness to cooperate were that he was looking for a ticket to escape the gang, which would be easy if most of its members were locked up. It was also suspected that he turned on Shotti because Tekashi thought his manager was stealing from him. Shotti was initially one of the only members refusing to plead guilty. Once he did, he still refused to snitch. 

The episode goes on to discuss the two other cooperating witnesses in the case that helped sentence so many Nine Trey members. 

It appears as though Tekashi 6ix9ine will be a free man this summer, according to Complex and the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator website. The rapper’s attorney, Lance Lazarro, stated that Tekashi 6ix9ne would be out of prison this summer after wrapping up his 24-month prison sentence. Lazarro initially predicted the rapper’s release would arrive at the end of July and he was nearly correct. 6ix9ine will be released from prison on Aug. 2nd with Lazarro later confirming this date.

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There have been rumors of his plans following his release from prison which apparently include getting back into the rap game. Apparently, the self-proclaimed “King Of New York” will be leaving the city following his prison stint to a secretive location that he plans to surround with security guards. We’ll see if that ends up actually working out for him, especially since he does plan to resume his rap career.

Discussions have taken place on who would actually take on the job of becoming 6ix9ine’s personal security guard especially since he testified against the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. However, it turns out 6ix9ine’s original manager will be the person who ends up working as the rapper’s full-time security guard. We’ll keep you posted on any more details surrounding 6ix9ine’s release.

Do you think he’ll be able to reclaim his place in hip-hop after his release? Sound off in the comments. 

Years of federal surveillance and a few slip-ups related to Tekashi 6ix9ine‘s career led to the government’s takedown of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. One of the members caught up in the mix is Aljermiah “Nuke” 

Mack, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison for drug-dealing and racketeering. Mack, one of the twelve defendants in the case, received his sentencing after a two-week trial conducted back in September. His unfortunate fate was partially a result of Tekashi’s inclination for tattletaling. The rainbow-haired rapper testified that Mack was high up in Nine Trey’s ranks. It was also revealed during Mack’s trial that he had flipped NYPD Sergeant Arlicia Robinson, who is still awaiting sentencing for helping the gang transport heroin and other drugs around Brooklyn. 

According to AllHipHop, Mack’s lawyer, Louis V. Fasulo, confirmed that his client was planning to fight the sentence. Mack will be joining a list of defendants in the Nine Trey case who are appealing their sentences, including Aaron “Bat” Young (20 years), Kifano “Shotti” Jordan (15 years) and Roland “Ro Murda” Martin (5 years). 

If you’re a bit confused about the Nine Trey case and Tekashi’s involvement in it, it’s all being unpacked on the docu-series podcast, Infamous: The Tekashi 6ix9ine Story. 

Previously on Complex and Spotify’s Infamous: The Tekashi 6ix9ine Story podcast… Angie Martinez narrated how the FBI surveilled the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods and eventually took down many of its members, including Tekashi himself. On this week’s episode, titled “Heavy Is The Head”, we “look at the split inside Nine Trey itself.” 

The primary riff that the episode tracks is that between two Nine Trey members, Kifano “Shotti” Jordan and Anthony “Harv” Ellison, who both wished to benefit off of Tekashi’s rising career. Once the godfather of the gang decided that Shotti would handle the rainbow-haired rapper’s affairs, Harv became resentful. The tension between Shotti and Harv ultimately led to Harv kidnapping Tekashi. 

Not long after the incident, Tekashi went on Angie Martinez’s Power 105.1 radio show to discuss his kidnapping. At the time, he didn’t mention that Harv was the one who conducted it, even though he was well aware of this. As revealed in court, during the abduction, Harv had pressured Tekashi into relinquishing his status as a Nine Trey member. Harv disapproved of how the social media star had dodged the traditional initiation process and managed to obtain a relatively high status within the gang. He ended up handing over hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry to satisfy Harv before fleeing to a hospital. Tekashi and Shotti planned to put a hit on Harv, but little did they know that the feds were right on their tails at this point. Find out what happened by listening to the full episode below. 

Previously on Complex and Spotify’s Infamous: The Tekashi 6ix9ine Story podcast… Angie Martinez chronicled the many beefs Tekashi incited throughout his brief career. Once Tekashi recruited Nine Trey gang member Shotti as his manager, he felt emboldened to start up with anyone and everyone in an attempt to gain viral attention. 

Episode 5 of the podcast, which is titled “The Money Don’t Get Wet”, dives into the trolling that ultimately put Tekashi behind bars and sent Nine Trey into shambles. It started with the rainbow-haired rapper refusing to pay proper respect to Rap-A-Lot Records founder James Prince and his sons upon visiting Texas, as is customary in the rap game. J Prince Jr., James Prince’s son, then took it upon himself to publicly clown Tekashi. This snowballed into Tekashi targeting another Rap-A-Lot affiliate, Scum Lord Dizzy. Tekashi filmed (from a safe distance) Shotti robbing Dizzy of his backpack in Manhattan, which produced a viral video after being posted by DJ Akademiks. This backpack and the social media evidence of the robbery would later end up playing a central role in the FBI’s take-down of Tekashi and the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. 

Listen to the episode below to find out how it all unfolded. 

It’s not every day that a rapper lives up to the moniker of his group, but Cam’ron recently engaged in some genuinely diplomatic behavior. After an explosive RICO case left several Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods behind bars, including the Dummy Boy 6ix9ine himself, many were left grappling with the fallout. For Cam, he ultimately had to watch as his friend Aljermiah Mack, known by his Nine Trey handle “Nuke,” was left facing a recommended sentence of thirty-years. The reason being his involvement in racketeering and narcotics trafficking charges, which left him behind bars since October 2019.

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At this moment, Judge Englemeyer, the man responsible for the dramatic reading of 6ix9ine’s sentencing, has yet to reveal whether he’ll stick with the recommended sentence. He doesn’t have much longer to decide, as Mack’s next court date arrives on February 24th. Many friends and supporters penned letters on his behalf, and as Complex reveals, one such message came from Killa Cam himself, a longtime friend of Mack. 

Complex shared the letter, which finds Cam vouching for Mack’s integrity. “Mr. Mack is a good person and has always had morality in his actions,” he writes, in the supportive message. “I believe in him and will lend support which will enable him to become an upstanding part of our community.” While it’s unclear whether Cam’s words will have an impact on Judge Englemeyer’s decision, it remains a solid gesture all the same. Check out the full letter below:

Dear Judge Engelmayer:

I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Mack for the past ten years. Mr. Mack is a good person and has always had morality in his actions. This is why I can assure you that although he has had recent challenges, he is a decent person with a good heart.

I am sure that as long as Mr. Mack receives the support from people around him, he can be quickly rehabilitated. I believe in him and will lend support which will enable him to become an upstanding part of our community.

Thank you for your time and I hope that your decision will lend Mr. Mack the opportunity to repair the actions he may have caused.

Sincerely,

Cameron Giles 

Another week, another episode of Spotify and Complex’s Infamous: The Tekashi 6ix9ine Story, as hosted by Angie Martinez. This time, his partnership with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods is the focus. After nursing gang aspirations for years, in a twist of fate, 6ix9ine found himself crossing paths with the gang on the set of “GUMMO.” As the single wasn’t garnering the young rapper any cash, 6ix9ine turned to crime to pay the bills. Martinez details how he “acted as the middleman to a heroin deal” for some of his newfound Nine Trey affiliates. When “GUMMO” went viral, however, 6ix9ine soon found the money rolling in. Given his newfound fortune, Nine Trey saw an opportunity to strike up a mutually beneficial partnership — at least in theory. 

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Thanks to the testimony of New Jersey gang cop Edwin Santana, listeners are granted deeper insight into the process of joining Nine Trey. Apparently, one requires a “sponsor” to join the ranks, with Shotti acting as young Tekashi’s. Martinez reasons that 6ix9ine was already on the right path without the gang’s involvement, but he simply couldn’t help himself. Emboldened by Shotti’s endorsement, 6ix9ine found himself all but begging for smoke. It was a decision that would seal his fate down the line, with Judge Englemeyer reasoning that the “fateful decisions you made later to join the gang” played a role in his sentencing.

Still, the impact Nine Trey had on his image and attitude was staggering. Gang-specific slang like “Billys” and “shoot your thirty-one” quickly folded into his lexicon. With hardened gangsters at his back, 6ix9ine found himself at the center of several violent crimes, including an arranged hit on his enemy Chief Keef. As his notoriety and popularity grew, so too did the Feds interest in Nine Trey. As the law was plotting the extensive RICO case that would have major consequences on the entire operation, the bond between Shotti and 6ix9ine was growing. Cigar Talk host Naji Grampus broke down the dynamic as follows:

I think when Tekashi and Shotti met each other it was just kind of like any big homie-little homie situation in the neighborhood. There’s always the OGs kind of look out for the young kids, and that’s sort of where it was and where it stemmed from, but I think once he was able to see an opportunity to where Tekashi had an ability to actually monetize what he was doing, I think that took their relationship to another level. 

For more deep-dive information on the long and complicated tale of the Rainbow Wonder, better known as Tekashi 6ix9ine, check out episode three of Infamous below. 

Reports surrounding the downfall of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods and 6ix9ine’s cooperative ways have been abundant, with many assuming that the incarcerated rapper has essentially burned the bridge for good. Yet by his own admission, Shotti claims to have loved 6ix9ine in a paternal fashion, a feeling he expressed through a phone conversation with Esha of Hustle and Love.

“Another day, another dollar,” says Shotti, his spirits sounding largely unaffected by his current situation. Explaining that an appeal is within his constitutional rights, Shotti reveals that he’s been doing his due diligence in brushing up on federal law. “I’m not just a quote-unquote gangsta like how they trying to portray me,” he explains. “That’s how the world is, they don’t want to hear the truth. They want to hear what sells…My actions speak louder than a lot of words.” As the conversation pivots to Treyway, Shotti maintains that he’s been misunderstood in the media. “Anybody who knows me knows I’m loyal. I’m here for being loyal.”

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“I have five sons, I think about my family before I make any more,” he continues. “Not as much as I should have when moving in these streets…Anybody trying to judge me has to realize, I looked at these people as my family. It was never about the money, I was never a broke individual. It was always about the love for me, and the fact we could take it to another level.” 

Staying positive, Shotti reminds the people that he’s not doing a life sentence. “I’m coming home,” he says. “This is what happens when you go to jail. People try to discredit you, take your shine. You can’t tarnish something this bright.” He also clears the misconception that 6ix9ine was the sole reason for his misfortune. “I’m in here with most of my friends,” says Shotti. “These dudes ain’t have anything to do with what happened. We didn’t come in here cause of this Danny guy. We came in here cause a quote-unquote gangsta didn’t want to do the time for his shit. And the kid told. I’m not mad at him. I’m not mad at him.”

“Did Gotti think Sammy The Bull was built like that?” asks Shotti. “It’s never obvious…You don’t judge a person off what the world says. I judged him by his character. I loved him. Maybe my love for him blinded me. Even with that being said, I never thought he’d be involved with other people, make falsehoods, and get people taken away from their families. Ish was just a driver, he never carried a gun, never robbed nobody. He’s doing five years. They said Melli sold drugs, Melli never sold no drugs. Everybody knows that.”