In a characteristically dramatic public spectacle, controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has begun serving his latest prison sentence at one of America's most infamous federal jails. The artist, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, surrendered on Tuesday at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in his native Brooklyn, New York.
A Live-Streamed Surrender
The 29-year-old's arrival was anything but discreet. Hernandez pulled up to the facility in a luxury van accompanied by popular internet personality Adin Ross and a full camera crew. The entire event was broadcast live to his followers, turning his surrender into a real-time media event. His legal representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday, but have previously stated the rapper is focused on serving his time so he can return to his music career.
Inside the 'Hell on Earth' Facility
The Metropolitan Detention Center is New York City's sole federal jail and is notorious for its harsh conditions and persistent violence. Its reputation is so severe that some judges refuse to send individuals there, with others having described it as 'hell on earth'. Despite this, it currently houses an astonishing array of high-profile detainees. Alongside Hernandez, the MDC's inmates now include Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. It also holds Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering Brian Thompson, the chief executive of the United Healthcare insurance giant.
Over the years, the Brooklyn lockup has been home to a constellation of infamous figures from the worlds of crime and celebrity. Past inmates have included R&B singer R. Kelly, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A Troubled Legal History
Hernandez's latest incarceration stems from a violation of his supervised release terms. Last year, he admitted to assaulting a man and possessing drugs. This followed a December sentencing that handed him an additional three months in federal custody. This is not his first breach; in 2024, he was given a 45-day sentence for similarly breaking the terms of his release.
The rapper's legal troubles are deeply intertwined with his career. He first shot to fame in 2017 with his hit track “Gummo,” but his rise was quickly marred by his involvement with the violent Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods gang. In 2019, he was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty and cooperating extensively with authorities against other gang members. He was released several months early in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The specific offences triggering his current sentence involved small quantities of cocaine and ecstasy discovered during a police raid on his Miami home. Prosecutors also successfully argued that he assaulted a man who taunted him at a Florida shopping mall about his past cooperation with law enforcement.
As Hernandez starts this new chapter behind bars at the MDC, his case continues to highlight the intersection of celebrity, crime, and the modern media landscape, where even a surrender can be staged for a live audience.
