 Complex Presents, Dummy Boy, Takashi 6ix9ine, and the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods by Sean Citero. This book is dedicated to Rosie and Ruben. May you grow up to learn that Don't Act Dumb, cause I'm Dumber, is a song lyric and not a way of life. Preface. This book began out of confusion. The Complex editorial team was trying to find new ways to cover the SoundCloud rap wave, and especially to write about artists who eschewed traditional press outlets and who had either committed or been accused of interpersonal abuses. Foremost among these artists, in the middle of 2018, was Takashi 6ix9ine. His rise was rapid and inescapable. But there were also rumors swirling around abuse in his past. There had to be a new way into the story. How about looking at that Treyway guy, someone suggested? That was the beginning. I started trying to find out everything I could about the mysterious figure who appeared by Takashi's side at seemingly every moment. That led me down a huge rabbit hole. And then, after several months, Takashi, that Treyway guy, and a bunch of other people got arrested on federal racketeering charges. From the very first court hearing, I was there. It all culminated in an intense, surreal trial and an even more surreal sentencing hearing featuring a surprise cameo from a person most folks had assumed was dead. Much has been said, in text, via audio, and on camera, about Takashi 6ix9ine. I've written and said no shortage of it myself, and complex, on the podcast Infamous, the Takashi 6ix9ine story, and in other documentaries. Dummy Boy is the culmination of all of my efforts. Everything I've learned in years of reporting this story, all the interviews, all the court documents, all the side conversations, all the rabbit holes I fell into, went into this book. It gives the most complete picture of the story of Daniel Hernandez that we've seen so far. And I know, because I've been involved in most of the others. Welcome to Dummy Boy, preface. This book began out of confusion. The complex editorial team was trying to find new ways to cover the soundcloud to rap wave, and especially to write about artists who eschewed traditional press outlets and who had either committed or been accused of interpersonal abuses. Foremost among these artists, in the middle of 2018, was Takashi 6ix9ine. His rise was rapid and inescapable. But there were also rumors swirling around abuse in his past. There had to be a new way into the story. How about looking at that Treyway guy, someone suggested? That was the beginning. I started trying to find out everything I could about the mysterious figure who appeared by Takashi's side at seemingly every moment. That led me down a huge rabbit hole. And then, after several months, Takashi... Sample complete. Ready to continue?