![]() They love to see a hip-hop artist that magnifies negative stereotypes of the hip-hop generation - this image of hip-hop feed directly into White America’s racially biased perception of urban and hip-hop youth. But it was too late.Īmerica loves the image a hip-hop artist toting guns, glorifying violence and inciting beef regularly. Is it possible that Tekashi 69 portrayed an inauthentic, arrogant persona as a means to a successful rap career? Once Tekashi realized his gangster persona had real consequences, he tried to disaffiliate. ![]() Additionally, his association with the Nine Trey Bloods gave him an allowance in the streets to create disputes with anyone because he could always depend on the protection of his gang and loyal fanbase. If the reports are accurate, one can argue that Takashi’s affiliation with the Nine Trey Bloods and former manager Shotti helped propel his music career and gave him credibility as an untouchable villain in hip-hop. This narrative particularly has had adverse effects on Tekashi ’s life and career, but it also one that is harmful hip-hop culture and the hip-hop generation of his time. Hip-hop at its core values community, not individuals who want to mainly capitalize off of the culture. Rather he is using gang culture ingeniously as a means to achieve personal gain. Tekashi’s decisions to both join and disaffiliate from the gang and its members in rash moments reveal his true intention in participating in gang culture. Tekashi’s decision to construct a narrative around himself as a villain who publicly welcomed and celebrated violence is an example of the problem of inauthenticity in hip-hop culture. Tekashi69 faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 47 years in federal prison if convicted. Tekashi69 was arrested in November for charges that stem from a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) investigation that include a number of crimes: armed robbery, conspiracy to commit murder, and drug distribution. This was Tekashi’s attempt to disaffiliate from the Nine Trey Bloods gang, but it would prove to be too late. A few weeks before his November arrest, Tekashi took to Instagram to tell his fans that he fired his whole team, including his manager Shotti. Federal agents also found a book bag that was stolen during an armed robbery that involved Tekashi and was reportedly executed by the Nine Trey Bloods. When federal agents executed a search warrant of Tekashi’s home, they found an illegal assault rifle. Tekashi’s recent arrest is not his first time coming in contact with the criminal justice system. ![]() Credit Jefferson Siegel for The New York Times Daniel Hernandez, the rapper known as 6ix9ine, was sentenced in October of 2018 to four years’ probation in a case involving explicit videos with an underage girl. The controversy surrounding Tekashi only helped his career, as 10 of his songs reached the Billboard 100 charts in his first year as an artist. During his career, Tekashi has had public feuds with Hot 97 Radio Personality Ebro Darden, Rappers Cheif Keef, The Game, Trippie Red and YG to name a few. He constructed a narrative around himself as a self-indulged villain in hip-hop who attracted drama and gun violence almost everywhere he went. Known for his signature face tattoos and rainbow-colored hair, Tekashi created a successful viral internet personality through Instagram where he garnered over 15 million followers and is well known for his over the top antics. Reportedly, before ever meeting Shotti, Tekashi was never involved in a gang. Many believe that Takashi aligned himself with his former manager Kifano “Shotti” Jordan, who is a known member of the Nine Trey Bloods gang, and sought gang affiliation to increase his credibility as a hip-hop artist. Tekashi became affiliated with the Nine Trey Bloods gang in September of 2017, just a month before his hit song “Gummo” was released. The music video for “Gummo,” which was released in October of 2017, shared images of dozens of Black men pointing guns at the camera, dancing and flaunting red bandanas paying homage to the Bloods gang. Tekashi’s career launched with the instant success of his first hit song “Gummo,” which glorifies gang culture, violence, and misogyny. Since Tekashi received mainstream attention, I was always troubled by his portrayal of hip-hop culture. I was not surprised when the news broke that Brooklyn rapper Tekashi69 was cooperating with federal prosecutors and reportedly pleading guilty to charges arising from his involvement with the Nine Trey Bloods gang. On the Inauthenticity of Hip-Hop, Tekashi 69 and the Impact on Youth
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