6ix9ine takes the stand.
The “FEFE” rapper completed the first day in his Manhattan federal court trial on Tuesday where he testified against fellow gang members of the Nine Trey Bloods. According to TMZ, 6ix9ine spent nearly two hours on the stand, wearing blue prison scrubs, a white undershirt, and his rainbow-colored hair in pigtails.
As current or former Nine Trey members looked on, he revealed that he joined the gang in November 2017, and participated in violent crimes including shootings, assaults, and drug trafficking. At one point, Tekashi nervously ID’d the defendants, Aljermiah “Nuke” Mack and Anthony “Harv” Ellison, as affiliates of the Nine Trey Bloods.
He revealed that he met many of the Nine Trey members on set of his “GUMMO” music video in August 2017. That is also the day he met his manager, Kifano “Shotti” Jordan. Prosecutors showed stills from the video, and Tekashi identified various gang members who appeared on camera.
Tekashi testified that he never had to be initiated or shoot anyone to join the gang. They simply wanted him to release music in order to bankroll their gang activities.
At one point, 69 also ID’d Trippie Redd as a gang member from a rival Bloods sect.
6ix9ine agreed to snitch as part of a plea deal, which will provide key testimony for prosecutors. He said that he started cooperating with the feds the day after he was arrested on racketeering charges in Nov. 2018. Tekashi was facing a minimum of 47 years in prison, but he cut a deal in return for his full cooperation.
Tekashi’s safety has become of concern. U.S. Marshals took Tekashi through a secure tunnel to the courthouse, and he’s been placed under heavy guard in a facility with other snitches.
His snitching has not fared well with others in the hip-hop community including Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Meek Mill, who have all publicly disapproved. “69 going up in s federal courthouse today kids! Message of the day don’t be a Internet gangsta… be yourself! #cloutisnottheroute get money,” tweeted Meek, while Snoop posted a photo of the rapper and captioned it with emojis including a rat and police officer.