Embattled New York City rapper, Tekashi 69 (legal name, Daniel Hernandez) has broken his silence after a video surfaced on social media, depicting the rapper being confronted and then beaten relentlessly by 3 men at a South Florida LA Fitness.
The incident took place when he was accosted in the locker room of LA Fitness by 3 men who recognized him, including a known gang member, according to local law enforcement.
Hernandez took to social media, uploading a video in which he called the attack “nothing but cowardly”. He went on to say, “In the street, there’s no rules, so I can’t say they were wrong. Obviously, it wasn’t fair, but again the streets has no rules. Just imagine having nothing to do to with a situation and feel obligated to make it your business. (Very weird) I’m happy to be here still. And I want to say I love my fans. Thank you.”
The cause of the attack, in particular, is unknown, but fans and journalists have speculated that the incident stems from Hernandez’s legal woes back in 2018-2019. Hernandez was facing life-altering prison time in connection to a RICO charge against the Nine Trey Gangsters, a subset of the Bloods gang. Although Hernandez was able to avoid a potential 47-year sentence, he spent almost 2 years behind bars before an early release. His legal maneuvering and cooperation with federal agencies, to reduce his sentence, led to many claims that the 26-year-old rapper was a “snitch” and would be a marked man for the rest of his life.
Many see the recent beating as retaliation being carried out by an unaffiliated gang, as a way of upholding the sanctity of gang culture.
Three suspects have been arrested for the beating: Rafael Medina Jr., 43, Octavious Medina, 23, and Anthony Maldonado, 25. All three men are being held at Palm Beach County jail, awaiting their first hearing.
Tekashi 69 released a video, shortly after his post addressing the incident, featuring his new song “Bori” playing behind footage of the viral video clip and footage from his time in the hospital being treated for injuries.
