Because he would rather stay famous, rapper Tekashi 69 has decided to reject witness protection in favor of covering the costs of his own security.
The American rapper was offered witness protection after an incredibly revealing trial where he offered information on numerous gang-affiliated persons he was aware of from his time in the rap industry.
Tekashi was facing up to 47 years in prison on racketeering and firearms charges. He did not hesitate to offer to be a witness for the prosecution in exchange for a lighter sentence.
It’s unclear at present how long his prison sentence will be, but when he gets out, he’ll be fending for himself against retaliation from the gangs he “snitched” on.
Tekashi, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, told a New York courtroom about the myriad of connections between the rap industry and street gangs. Primarily, Tekashi testified against Anthony ‘Harv’ Ellison and Aljermiah ‘Nuke’ Mack, two of his former friends who are allegedly involved with the Trey Nine subset of the Bloods.
As part of his testimony, Tekashi also attempted to link other famous rappers to the Blood gang. Those famous figures included Cardi B and Jim Jones. Cardi, for her part, offered a full-throated denial of the allegations, stating that she’s never been affiliated with any gang activity.
Tekashi was arrested last year on racketeering and firearms charges. He’s been in custody since November 2018, and his charges are quite serious. The New York-based rapper faces charges related to gang activity, including selling drugs and at least two shootouts in New York between rivals.
There is a slight possibility that, at his sentencing next week, Tekashi will be allowed to walk free for time served. This is unlikely, but, given the gravity of his informant stint, it could happen. The rapper is alleged to be worth around $5 million, so it remains to be seen how he’ll handle his security detail when he is released.
In the meantime, many hip hop fans are simply excited to have the chaotic, violent energy of Tekashi 69 back in the mix. The rapper hopes to jump-start his career thanks to his notoriety from this case. Time will tell how the community reacts to someone they brand a “snitch.”
