Tekashi 6ix9ine granted an exclusive interview to the "Hoy Día" program on Telemundo in which he revealed unprecedented details about his daily interactions with Nicolás Maduro at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and candidly addressed those who criticize him for it.
The rapper, who was released from prison on April 2 after serving three months for violating his probation, did not shy away from uncomfortable questions: in response to criticisms from Venezuelans questioning his friendly demeanor with the former dictator, he stated a phrase that sums it all up: I am not Marco Rubio, I am an artist and an American.
The reference to the U.S. Secretary of State, one of the key architects of the maximum pressure policy against the Maduro regime, clearly indicates the tone with which 6ix9ine sees his role: that of a musician, not a politician.
What was described inside the cell, however, is difficult to ignore.
According to the rapper, he was in a shared room with 15 inmates and 6ix9ine's and Maduro's beds were literally just inches apart: "If I touch chiqui with my foot like this, that means... I can touch Maduro's bed," the rapper explained.
The group's routine was, according to what he shared, surprisingly mundane: coffee in the morning, watching television — specifically the program "Hoy Día" — and reading the Bible.
About the Venezuelan ex-dictator, 6ix9ine was straightforward: "The man reads the Bible, the man is very devout in God."
In a stream broadcasted this Sunday, the rapper provided more details about Maduro's arrival at the prison: "When he arrived, I told him I would help him with whatever he needed," and he recalled that the former president smelled bad when he came out of the box, like the terrorist unit, but he was able to take a shower afterward.
He also recounted that Maduro described his capture: "He was telling me how, when they arrested him, the American army just came in en masse."
Upon his release, 6ix9ine showcased a SpongeBob doll signed by Maduro with the inscription "April 2, Venezuela forever," a detail that further fueled the controversy.
This is not the first time the rapper has sparked controversy due to his ties to authoritarian regimes.
In August 2023, he performed at the Santa María Music Fest in Cayo Santa María, Cuba, a festival organized with hotels linked to the Cuban military conglomerate GAESA, alongside Yailin La Más Viral and Lenier Mesa, which sparked strong criticism from the Cuban exile community in Miami.
After that concert, 6ix9ine posted without remorse: I love you Cuba. For the envious, you do concerts to survive your fake lives. I do concerts for free."
In the "Hoy Día" interview, the rapper concluded with a reflection on his faith that summarizes the state of mind with which he left prison: "God has blessed me in this life so, so much... from coming from poverty, my mom picking up cans in Brooklyn, to me being the biggest American rapper in the world."
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