Atlanta rapper Silento, the artist behind the infectious 2015 hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” has taken a dark turn, landing himself a 30-year prison sentence. The reason? He pleaded guilty to the shocking murder of his cousin in 2021. The rapper, also known as Ricky Lamar Hawk, was set to face trial this week for the death of his cousin Frederick Rooks but instead opted for a plea deal on Wednesday.
Silento’s guilty plea included charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, gun possession, and concealing a death. He claimed to have been suffering from mental illness at the time of the crimes, which led to the manslaughter charge being reduced from a harsher malice murder count. Georgia prosecutors agreed to drop an additional felony murder charge as part of the agreement.
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson didn’t pull any punches, slapping Silento with a heavy 30-year sentence. To give the artist a smidgen of credit, he will receive acknowledgment for the four years spent in jail since his arrest in 2021.
Prosecutors detailed a chilling account of how Silento allegedly shot his cousin multiple times in February 2021 before fleeing the scene. The damning evidence included bullet casings that matched a gun found on Silento at the time of his arrest, as well as his reported admission to the crime during a post-arrest interview.
A spokesperson for Silento mentioned that the rapper was battling severe mental health challenges, with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder while in jail.
Following the plea and sentencing, Silento’s attorney, Keith Adams, shed light on the situation, stating, “For the first time since he’s been arrested, Ricky is in his right mind, and he’s in a place where he has a full understanding of everything that happened and what brought him here.”
“Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” propelled Silento to worldwide fame in 2015 and enjoyed a 51-week stint on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3. Despite the success, the rapper struggled with legal issues post-“Watch Me” glory days. He found himself embroiled in various controversies, including legal troubles in the United Arab Emirates and domestic violence incidents in California.
Silento’s journey from viral sensation to a convicted felon serves as a stark reminder of the tumultuous nature of fame and the perils that can come with it. As Silento begins his lengthy prison term, one can’t help but reflect on the tragic fall from grace of an artist who once had the world dancing to his tunes.
