Silentó, the Atlanta rapper who became famous for his hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was sentenced to a 30-year prison sentence for the January 2021 murder of his cousin.
Born Lamar “Ricky” Hawk, he pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and firearm possession while committing a crime, along with concealing a death involving the killing of Frederick Rooks III, WSB-TV Atlanta reported. A separate felony murder charge was dropped according to the terms of the agreement.
In Januaray 2021, Silentó was first arrested after the DeKalb County Police Department discovered that Rooks sustained gunshot wounds to his face and leg. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Shortly thereafter, Silentó confessed to the crime, and law enforcement officers matched bullet casings to a gun that he had on his person when he was arrested.
Chanel Hudson, Silentó’s publicist at the time, shared on social media that her client was dealing with severe mental health issues.
“Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental illnesses,” her post read. “We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public to uplift him and his family in immediate prayer & positive energy!!”
Hudson also claimed that he had attempted suicide in 2020 and had numerous run-ins with the law.
Dropping his debut single in 2015, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was released as a junior in high school in 2015 and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. To date, the song has earned more than 400 million Spotify streams in the time since.
Silentó will serve 30 years in prison with credit for time served since Feb. 2021.