It turns out there’s more to the stage name of controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine than we first thought, with a friend of the artist discussing his memorable moniker in a new profile.

If you’ve learnt anything about US rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine over the last few months, it’s that he’s a rather divisive figure. Currently facing life in prison on federal charges of racketeering, his lavish lifestyle, music, multitude of tattoos, and awkward stage name are just some of the notable aspects of his existence.

However, while many of us just assumed that 6ix9ine (whose real name is Daniel Hernandez) was a rather immature moniker adopted by the artist, a close friend has revealed there’s more to it than we first thought.

Back in March, 6ix9ine took to Instagram to discuss his stage name with a series of faux-philosophical messages.

“I never lost sense of where I came from. That’s what makes me 69,” he wrote. “The true meaning of 69 is just because you’re right doesn’t mean I’m wrong YOU JUST HAVENT SEEN LIFE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.”

“Turn the 6 upside down it’s 9 but remains the same in a different perspective. Open your mind and heart.”

Image of Tekashi 6ix9ine's since-deleted Instagram post (via Spin)
Image of Tekashi 6ix9ine’s since-deleted Instagram post (via Spin)

While this message undoubtedly raised more questions than it answered, the meaning of his name has again been raised, this time by a close friend of the artist.

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In a recent profile about the artist by Rolling Stone, friend and frequent collaborator Andrew “TrifeDrew” Green opened up about the rapper’s stage name, alluding to a deeper meaning that we’re not yet privy to.

“Danny explained his vision to Andrew,” Rolling Stone’s profile noted. “His rap handle was Tekashi69. The ‘Tekashi’ part was inspired by Japanese anime, of which Danny was a big fan. Six-nine was more mysterious — it was the sex number, obviously, but in its interlocking yin-yang digits, Danny had found something deeper that he never fully explained.”

“He was obsessed with the number and, even before the tattoos, was wearing outlandish sports jerseys with the numerals emblazoned on the back, and the words ASSHOLE and STD’S in the fields for the player’s name.”

As Rolling Stone notes, Tekashi 6ix9ine has been using the numeral nickname for a number of years, with one of his first songs, also titled ’69’, being released back in 2014.

At this stage though, we’re beginning to get rather confused as to what else the ’69’ part of his name possibly could mean.

At this stage though, it’s looking more and more likely that we might one day get some sort of deep explanation that lacks any sort of substance or sense. Either that, or it’s just the page he was up to in the book he was reading at the time.

Check out 6ix9ine’s ‘FEFE’:

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