6ix9ine vs The “Stop Snitching” Movement
By: Matthew Spence
Tags: Hip Hop, Pop Culture, Music, Tekashi 6ix9ine, Rap

As of 2019, Tekashi 6ix9ine reign of “King of NY” has come to a screeching halt; whether you were a fan or not, it’s hard to deny the year he had in 2018, 6ix9ine had: from a collab with Nicki Minaj to beefing with…well… pretty much with everyone in the rap industry throughout the country. But sadly, all the trolling and energy he put out in the world, it has come back around and now he has gotten into an undesirable situation with being charged with RICO and possibly spending over 20 years in prison. But as of right now, 6ix9ine has taken a plea deal, if he gives up everyone in his camp involved in the actions he’s being charged for, he will receive no jail time and will be put into Witness Protection.

Which seems like a win (I guess), but in the hip hop community it’s really a lose-lose situation for 6ix9ine, cause with this plea deal, he’s already being labeled a “rat” and has gotten flack from a few rappers such as Boosie who added his two cents of his frustration with 6ix9ines situation; He posted on his Instagram stating: “WHEN YOU FIRST WENT TO JAIL I WAS LIKE FREE DUDE CAUSE I DONT LIKE TO SEE NO ONE N DAT CAGE LIKE DAT,” “BUT ONE THING I DONT CONDONE OR SUPPORT IS RATS.” Going on to also explain how him [6ix9ine] and his family’s life is at risk by snitching. Snoop Dogg also tastefully going on Instagram to give his stance on the situation. “N*ggas is bustas, man, The era I come from, you couldn’t tell on a n*gga.”(and this was before 6ix9ine plea deal was even confirmed). Meek took to Twitter and canceled 6ix9ine for snitching saying things such as:”Ok that’s cool but I don’t represent that using influence to cause unnecessary drama and then get them locked up after he portrayed a gang banger..kids will believe that and follow up it’s not cool..I got a say so when we talking the trenches so I’m speaking for us! I’m off it”.

Hell, his Twitter name was hacked and changed to Snitch9ine at one point, but immediately changed. But, whether you believed he was a blood gang-member who was G’d up and Bout It Bout It (Free C-Murder) or he was a meme-able rapper who had an act for getting under the skin of his fellow rap industry brethren’s; 6ix9ine taking the plea deal and cooperating, whatever image you believed and overall reputation has instantaneously been tainted in the rap game….. but does it matter? Hip-hop (well street culture as a whole) and it’s intolerance of “snitching” has a long history, going on for a few decades. Whether it’s loyalty, street ethics, and so on, not snitching has been embedded in hip hop culture, with many rappers in their from Biggie to Drake, the countless rapper has given there stance and expression on their disdain for snitching and snitches themselves. Jay-Z on 2003s Justify My Thug said: “I will never tell, even if it means sittin in a cell” and on 2006s, 30 Something he says: ”I’m from the era where n***** don’t snitch; You from the era where snitchin’ is the shit”, or even to Trinidad James infamous and somewhat comical line from 2013s All Gold Everything where he says: “I don’t f*** with no snitches; So don’t tell me who tellin’”. From Tee Grizzley on First Day Out to Master Ps track from 1998 about snitches properly titled…Drum roll, please … <drum roll> “Snitches” (fitting title), the list of anti-snitching lyrics and tracks is continuous.

But art reflects reality and some rappers stand by the street code of ethics and don’t snitch. Cam’Ron of The Diplomats was shot in an attempted carjacking but refused to tell who shot him and did 60 Minutes soon after. In the interview, Anderson Cooper asked if he’d call the police on a serial killer living next door to him and replied: “If I knew the serial killer was living next to me, I wouldn’t call and tell nobody on them, but I’d probably move…’”

A more famous case in hip hop in recent years Bobby Shmurda, famous for the song Hot N****, was sentenced in 2016 to serve 7 years in prison for one count of third-degree conspiracy and one count of weapons possession. What it’s interesting about it is that he’s doing 7 years because of his loyalty and street code of ethics. In an interview with Complex Bobby and Rowdy Rebel discussed their situation and how they took a plea deal. Which Shmurda agree to do 7 years for his friend: “I did it for Rowdy. They offered me five and offered Rowdy 12. They said the only way they’ll give him seven is if I took seven too. So, you know, I had to take one for the dawgs.” Doing this heighten Bobby’s respect in the hip hop community, so when he gets out, he’ll pretty much have parade waiting for him. Same goes for B.G., Max B and so on.

Which leads back to 6ix9ine, Overall, this a muddy situation for his reputation (well his life overall but I focus on the music career). Even though his camp was supposedly trying to KILL HIM, people truly believe he shouldn’t have snitched and should have done the time (Note: I’m not saying he should or shouldn’t have snitched). Will this ruin his credibility with his core audience? Will they even care if he snitched? Will his streams increase or decrease after all this? Referring back to the Cam’Ron interview from 2007, before he said the infamous “I’d probably move” line he had made a point earlier in the interview stating: “The type of business I’m in, it would hurt my business. And the way that I was raised, I just don’t do that.” That was 2007, 12 years later the times have changed and so has hip hop. We’re in a new era, where meme rappers and “mumble rap” are accepted. No one cares about Ghostwriting, this generation is more liberal and open to things in hip-hop; we are in a “separate the art from the artist” era.

But, not snitching is something passed down from generation to generation, whether it’d be via hanging with friends and family members, movies (Hood movies, Mob movies) and TV, and music……rap music. So when you’re rapper like 6ix9ine, or a Cam’Ron, who’s content overall isn’t social conscious like a De La Soul or J Cole or Kendrick Lamar, and essentially exaggerates their level of toughness and bravado; it’ll be really hard to continue making the same content when you’re labeled a snitch, in the eyes of hip-hop community, you’re a disloyal weakling and lame.

Hypothetical, 6ix9ine, if he was to continue to make music (which is unlikely, since he will be in Witness Protection, so it’ll defeat the purpose of the program if you continue to be a popular rapper) he can’t make records like GUMMO or BILLY anymore, the contradiction will be uncanny. It’ll be the equivalent to the 1993 Chris Rock movie “CB4” where Rock and his friends become megastar gangster rappers, even though they were raised in nice neighborhoods weren’t affiliated with anything street related. With all that being said, will any of this matter to this generation, to middle America, who’s to say; only time will tell. One thing is for sure, outside of the music, he’s facing a lot of heat, best wishes and hope for the best for Tekashi 6ix9ine, his family, and everyone involved that seems to be in danger or affected by his situation.