Rapper Daniel Hernandez, known as 6ix9ine or Tekashi 69, is a popular artist known for his rapping skills. On Mar. 21, Hernandez got jumped and savagely beaten by a group of men inside the locker room of an LA Fitness gym in Florida.
Hernandez first made a name for himself in the ’SoundCloud rap’ genre. He broke through the mainstream with his first single ‘Gummo’ in 2017. He partnered up with several high-profile artists, including Fetty Wap, Murda Beatz, and Nicki Minaj, for his next releases and found commercial success. While his music didn’t appeal to some critics, his debut album went platinum and reached second on the Billboard 200 charts nonetheless.
Besides his music, Tekashi’s rise to stardom was fueled with controversy. He’s also faced a litany of legal issues, like the sexual exploitation of a child in 2015, and was arrested on racketeering/other charges in 2018. The 26-year-old rapper was allegedly affiliated with the Nine Trey gang (of the Bloods). He was arrested and charged with federal RICO and firearms charges and faced up to life in prison.
In Feb. 2019, Tekashi pleaded guilty to nine charges and faced a potential sentence of 47 years in prison. He got a reduced punishment after testifying against other gang members in related investigations. He drew a lot of heat from fellow artists and fans who labeled him a ‘rat’ or ‘snitch’ for giving up his fellow members.
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine savagely beaten in a Florida gym
On Mar. 21, a video uploaded by Only in Dade on Twitter showed rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine being brutally beaten up by two men in the locker room of an LA Fitness gym in Florida.
6ix9ine got jumped in LA Fitness bathroom, he was rushed to the hospital | #ONLYinDADE pic.twitter.com/PjxHAXD6Ft
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— ONLY in DADE (@ONLYinDADE) March 22, 2023
Tekashi can be seen lying on the floor with his hands up to protect his head from the two assailants. One of the men viciously kicks Tekashi in the stomach while the other punches him in the head. They yell profanity and mock Hernandez while taking pictures and recording.
Hernandez left the locker room bloodied and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after the police and EMS reached the scene. Hernandez’s attorney told TMZ he did not have security with him during the incident. The attorney specified that the rapper tried to fight back but to no avail against multiple attackers.
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It’s unclear whether the attack was provoked given the sparse details that have surfaced. His attorney hopes to secure extra security for his client in the coming days. As of this writing, the extent of Tekashi’s injuries has not been made available to the public.