Who is Tekashi 6ix9ine and why was he rushed to hospital?
RAPPER Tekashi 6ix9ine broke an Instagram record after two million followers watched his livestream following his release from prison.
However, not long after - in October 2020 - the star was rushed to hospital, leaving fans with concerns for his health. Here's what happened...
Who is rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine?
Tekashi 6ix9ine, 24, is an American rapper from New York who first found viral fame by uploading tracks to SoundCloud.
As of 2021, his net worth is roughly estimated at around 8 million dollars.
The rapper, whose name is pronounced "six nine", first began releasing songs in 2014 and gained mainstream attention for his style of aggressive rap mixed with anime visuals.
He rose to fame in late 2017 with the release of his debut commercial single Gummo which became platinum, but his career has also been blighted by personal and legal issues.
Prior to his music career he sold marijuana to support his family after his father was murdered in 2009.
Why was 6ix9ine in jail?
6ix9ine was originally arrested in 2018 on racketeering charges.
He faced up to 47 years in prison but struck a plea deal with prosecutors to testify against fellow gang members Anthony "Harv" Ellison and Aljermiah "Nuke" Mack.
Following the deal, he was sentenced to just two years in jail, 13 months of which he had already served.
He also pleaded guilty to "the use of a child in a sexual performance" after posting a video in 2015.
He was then released from jail in April 2020 over fears he would catch the coronavirus in a New York prison, as the rapper suffers from asthma.
He then served the remainder of his sentence - four months - in home confinement.
He said: "I appreciate every little thing and I did nothing wrong. Yes, I didn’t need all of that beef. I’m the biggest artist in the f***ing world."
The rapper has a complex criminal history, and is associated with the Nine Trey Gansta Blood gang of New York - labelled a "violent city gang" by the US Attorney Office.
What are Tekashi 6ix9ine's biggest songs?
The rapper has notched up quite a few hits, his highest-ranked hit, Fefe, reaching No17 in the UK charts.
The hits include (in order of popularity):
- Bebe
- Fefe
- Stoopid
- Billy
- Tati
What is his album TattleTales about?
After his release from jail, Tekashi released new music, including TattleTales, his second studio album.
The rapper confirmed the drop in an Instagram video shot in Chicago.
He wrote: "We just landed in Chicago and all that.
"Yo, I got a huge announcement for y'all. I'm dropping the album Sept. 4. TattleTales, the album. I think the killers, the hitters, is over here.
"Try to keep it down … Let's pay respect to all the soldiers."
The album was released on September 4, 2020, and is the follow-up to Dummy Boy, which was released shortly after 6ix9ine was arrested in November 2018.
The 13-track project includes songs “GOOBA,” “PUNANI,” “YAYA,” and “TROLLZ” featuring Nicki Minaj, Smilez, Leftside, Lik AK, and Akon.
The album’s first track is appropriately named LOCKED UP 2 and another song on the album TUTU features a music video of the rapper and his signature rainbow style cavorting around a theme park with Blac Chyna and a flamethrower.
The album's title TattleTales is a cheeky reference to how the rapper famously testified against members of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods.
In May he dropped a brand new video for his song GOOBA.
In February 2021, he followed up TattleTales with a new single - Zaza - which took swipes at his rival Lil Durk and premiered at 90 on the Billboard top 100.
When was Tekashi 6ix9ine rushed to hospital?
The rapper spent two days in hospital, later revealing that he overdosed on caffeine and weight loss pills.
He had gained weight in prison and had reportedly ballooned to 200 pounds, which is why he was taking diet pills.
Speaking to The Shade Room, he explained that he took two doses of Hydroxycut instead of one, which affected his heart rate.
This was made worse by then drinking a McDonald’s coffee.
He is now well again and has stressed that he doesn't take recreational drugs.
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