For the entirety of his brief, meteoric career, the rapper known as Tekashi 69 (or 6ix9ine) fashioned himself as a recalcitrant hellion, intent on instigating conflict for its own sake. He baited law enforcement on social media with guns and money. He live-streamed himself in bed with other rappers’ girlfriends.

But on Wednesday, in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, the 6ix9ine persona vanished. In its place was considerate, cordial Daniel Hernandez, the Dr. Jekyll to 6ix9ine’s Mr. Hyde. He was there for a purpose his alter ego probably never foresaw: to testify against his former crew, the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods.

On trial are two of Mr. Hernandez’s former confidantes, including Anthony Ellison, an alleged high-ranking member of the Nine Trey gang who once served as Mr. Hernandez’s bodyguard.

Mr. Hernandez’s turn as a star witness for the federal government is a stunning twist in his career. For hours on Wednesday, the Instagram star sat on the witness stand and eagerly detailed the inner workings of the notoriously insular Nine Trey gang.

The contrast between the boisterous rapper seen on social media and the man on the stand was stark. Mr. Hernandez was relaxed, sometimes leaning against the judge’s dais as he walked the jury through gang life.

He sketched out Nine Trey’s hierarchy in detail, listing its leadership by name. He paused frequently to translate street slang for the jury and described several of the gang’s attacks at length, including one instance in which they stalked and assaulted another rapper, Trippie Redd.

At one point, Mr. Hernandez listed the gang affiliations of other rappers.

Several times, Mr. Hernandez imitated the voices of Nine Trey members and acted out conversations he had previously had with them. He launched into unprompted asides so specific — his choice of jacket during one particular gang episode, for example — that prosecutors had to refocus him.

Mr. Hernandez’s testimony has provided a rare window into the intersection of street gangs and rap, two notoriously guarded worlds that have all but explicitly disowned Mr. Hernandez in the midst of his reinvention.

On Wednesday, the rapper Meek Mill tweeted that Mr. Hernandez was an “Internet gangsta.” The rapper Snoop Dogg called him a “rat.”

Whether Mr. Hernandez can salvage any of the rowdy character he built remains unclear. Prosecutors have said previously that he may need to enter the witness protection program.

Wednesday’s trial is one part of a sweeping racketeering and firearms case that prosecutors brought against the Nine Trey gang last November.

Mr. Hernandez was arrested and charged along with several other alleged high-ranking members, including his former manager, Kifano Jordan, Mr. Ellison and the rapper Jamel Jones, known as Mel Murda.

Mr. Hernandez said Tuesday that he cut a deal with government lawyers the day after his November arrest. In return for his cooperation, prosecutors agreed to lobby the judge to reduce Mr. Hernandez’s sentence.

Ali Watkins is a reporter on the Metro desk, covering crime and law enforcement in New York City. Previously, she covered national security in Washington for The Times, BuzzFeed and McClatchy Newspapers. @AliWatkins

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