Nine is the stage name of Derrick Keyes (born September 19, 1969), an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. He is also known as 9MM or Nine Double M. Known for his harsh, gravelly flow and distinctive voice, Keyes got his break in early 1993 as a featured guest on Funkmaster Flex and the Ghetto Celebs' "Six Million Ways to Die".
Keyes originally recorded under the moniker 9MM (or Nine Double M) before changing his name to simply Nine. He stated, "I didn't want to be just be named after the gun (9mm)." His stage name refers to his date of birth (9/19/1969), his shoe size, and his lucky number.