TEKASHI 6ix9ine boasted about ordering a £23k hit on Chief Keef's cousin days before Keef narrowly escaped gunfire himself in a New York hotel.

The US rapper, 22, was caught bragging on camera in May, in the latest scandal to the hit the star who is facing 32 years in jail for racketeering and firearm charges.

6ix9ine, real name Daniel Hernandez, is filmed arguing with Tadoe on FaceTime, asking if he would be joining his cousin Chief Keef at his hotel in New York.

The leaked clip, which was published by TMZ, was allegedly filmed back in May, just days before someone shot at and missed Keef in New York City's Times Square.

The rainbow-haired star instigates "Who's the last person you shot?" as he gloats about knowing Tadoe's address.

When the rapper hangs up, he laughs to his crew about placing a $30,000 (£23k) bounty on Tadoe, despite later denying any involvement with the shooting.

Tekashi brags: "Yo, I gotta thirty pack on him right now. Swear to God I gotta thirty pack. Thirty thou cash."

The video will likely be used in court against the rapper, who was this week transferred to a secure unit which houses prison snitches after being threatened by ruthless gangster inmates.

TMZ previously reported that Tekashi was transferred on Wednesday to a new detention centre from the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Centre (MDC).

His lawyer Lance Lazzaro told the news outlet that the 22-year-old was moved for “security reasons” after being threatened by ruthless gangsters he was jailed with.

The unit is known to shelter witnesses who have cooperated with the feds, the website reports.

However, Lazzaro refused to comment on whether his client had “ratted” on anyone to secure the move to the new prison.

Sources told the news outlet that the rapper asked to be transferred because he feared members of the notorious gangs the Bloods and the Crips.

The young star, who has been denied bail, is now in a unit which has "neutral inmates”, meaning non-gang members, after mingling with the general population at the MDC.

Investigators believe he was involved in conspiring to commit armed robberies, shootings and drug deals.

Authorities also allege the rapper committed armed robbery in April which is among a variety of charges which span a five year period, TMZ reports.

The musician was indicted by a federal judge along with five other alleged members of the Nine Trey Gangsters.

Assistant US Attorney Michael Longyear said: "6ix9ine is a member of a violent sect of the Bloods... this defendant participated in multiple acts of violence."

Judge Henry Pitman cited the discovery of evidence from a gunpoint robbery and an automatic pistol found in his home as a reason to deny bail.

He's had several run-ins with law enforcement. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in Brooklyn Criminal Court in connection with a May traffic stop.

He also pleaded guilty to "the use of a child in a sexual performance" after posting a video in 2015.

The hip-hop star was hospitalised after he was pistol-whipped, kidnapped and robbed of nearly £600,000 earlier this year.