During the concert, 6ix9ine shared a personal message that the late rapper had sent him before his untimely death. "Before he died, he messaged me and said, 'don't let your guard down and be safe and I love you,'" he said. He then expressed his desire to keep his friend's name alive and honor his legacy by mentioning him at all of his shows.
6ix9ine's tribute came just weeks after XXXTENTACION's murderers — Dedrick Williams, Michael Boatwright, and Trayvon Newsome — were sentenced to life in prison without parole. The sentencing took place in a Broward County, Florida courtroom, where Judge Michael Usan issued mandatory life sentences in the state, as prosecutors had not sought the death penalty.
6ix9ine has been riding a recent wave of success with his latest single, "Y Ahora," which dropped on April 28th. The song features a softer side to the Brooklyn native, with a regional Mexican-inspired sound and lyrics expressing loneliness and heartbreak. The accompanying music video shows 6ix9ine and Gupao Firme's Eduin Cazares on a drive before an accident occurs, with Cazares helping to restore his life through song.
The rapper's tribute to XXXTENTACION and his new musical direction suggests a possible shift in his public persona, as he continues to evolve as an artist.
