NEWS
6ix9ine has shared some of the wildest stories in hip-hop, leaving it up to fans to decide what’s real and what’s part of his trolling persona. He’s built a reputation as rap’s biggest provocateur, but this time, his claim might actually hold some truth. In a recent interview, the rapper recalled offering NBA YoungBoy a massive deal to collaborate on a song.
According to the Bushwick native, he was ready to pay $1 million for the guest verse. The conversation, which surfaced through DJ Akademiks, revealed that 6ix9ine wanted YoungBoy to feature on his 2022 single “GINE.” Instead, the track dropped as a solo release on April 15, 2022.
6ix9ine explained that their talks were serious and that they were close to hitting the studio together. However, it seems YoungBoy wanted to take the record in a more positive direction, something that didn’t align with what the “GUMMO” rapper had in mind.
In his own words, “I’m not on no positive sh*t. I don’t wanna be positive.”
YoungBoy may have decided to step back because of the real-life themes tied to the track. The song references 6ix9ine’s time with the Nine Trey Bloods, a chapter that’s well-documented and controversial.
The track also mentions Lul Timm, one of YoungBoy’s affiliates who was accused of murdering King Von.
Timm, who was seen hanging out with DJ Akademiks during one of YoungBoy’s tour stops, reportedly declined the song because of the allegations and legal issues surrounding him at the time. According to 6ix9ine, he only offered him “10 bands.” Kodak Black was also approached for the record.
Altogether, the story lines up with previous rumors about a potential collaboration between two of rap’s most polarizing figures. Discussions about a joint effort surfaced around four years ago and even lingered into 2024, though nothing ever materialized.
One collaboration that seems entirely off the table is between 6ix9ine and 21 Savage. During a recent chat with DJ Akademiks, 6ix9ine took aim at the UK-born rapper, claiming he’s better than him because he’s American-born.
21 later tweeted, saying that everyone seems to be “in a race to be the corniest alive,” leading fans to believe the message was directed at the rainbow-haired MC.
NEWS
Oliver Tree’s team has provided a new update following the singer’s death in a helicopter crash on June 14, confirming that a new artist grant will soon be established in his memory to help creatives secure funding, a plan he had detailed in his will before his passing.
Accompanying a collection of photos highlighting Tree’s performances, travels and creative work through the years, a post shared Sunday (June 21) on his Instagram account revealed that the musician’s remains have been brought back to California, the state he called home and where he will be laid to rest. “His legacy will live on through his foundation/endowment named ‘Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses’ coming soon,” the caption reads. “This is something that Oliver had put together before his passing.”
“We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish,” the statement continued, adding that “the constant love, support and positivity” shown by fans throughout the past week has helped his “family, friends and collaborators make it through these extremely difficult times.”
Tree was among six people who lost their lives in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro. The musician was in Brazil for his The World’s First Tour run and had performed what would ultimately be his final concert on June 6 in São Paulo. The other victims of the crash were identified as passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim and Lucas Brito Chaves, along with pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
Just months before his death, Tree discussed his plans to direct his fortune and future earnings from his music toward a grant program for artists during an appearance on the Zach Sang Show. “I take no credit for anything I’ve ever done,” he said during the April interview. “Furthermore, I don’t believe that any of the wealth or things that get made from it is mine. So when I die … my will is set up so that when I pass, my family, nobody is going to get a penny.”
“If I have a wife or kids or anything, they’re not getting a penny,” he added at the time, explaining that the initiative would focus on helping artists create work rather than funding education. “I’ll get my kids through college, that’s the agreement, but there’s not gonna be a silver spoon. All the money is going to go back to artists.”
