Controversial rapper 6ix9ine is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit from South Carolina artist Warren Hamilton, who said he’s used the name “SIX9” since 2007.
Per legal documents viewed by Complex, and initially reported on by Billboard, Hamilton claimed that Daniel ‘6ix9ine’ Hernandez has “injured and stifled” his career after he started releasing music under the very similar name in 2017. Hamilton claims that he first used the name SIX9 in 2007, and has released multiple projects under the name. He’s also toured as SIX9 across the country, performing in venues alongside the likes of Lil Wayne. His most recent release as SIX9 came in January, 2022.
“Many rap and hip-hop consumers have erroneously accused and criticized Hamilton of stealing Hamilton’s SIX9 mark from Hernandez,” reads the suit. “Many rap and hip-hop consumers have also mistakenly attended Hamilton’s live performance shows thinking that Hernandez was going to be performing [and] many music promoters and booking agents have refused to book live performance shows.”
Although Hernandez uses the name 6ix9ine for his releases these days, he initially released music under the name Tekashi69. Somewhere down the line, he shortened the name to what it is now. Hamilton has accused the rapper of using the shortened version in an attempt to distance himself from the 2015 conviction on one count of “use of a child in a sexual performance.”
“If a DJ on the radio or a playlist or podcast announces that this is a song by SIX9 or 6ix9ine, the average consumer doesn’t know by the announcement of the artist’s name if that song is going to be by Hamilton or Hernandez since each mark has the same exact pronunciation and meaning,” the suit continues. “The same is true if a consumer saw a concert poster or heard an advertisement using the mark SIX9 or 6ix9ine.” Hamilton is seeking unspecified damages.
Earlier this year, 6ix9ine was hit with a $2 million lawsuit after he allegedly failed to turn up for two scheduled Los Angeles concerts in 2021. Just a month before that, he settled a lawsuit after an artist accused him of copying their own material for his track “Gooba.”
