A decade after shaking up the internet with one of the most unforgettable viral tracks of all time, Silentó, the rapper behind “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with the 2021 killing of his cousin.
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From Viral Fame to Prison Time
Real name Ricky Lamar Hawk, Silentó shot to global fame in 2015 when his song Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) dominated the charts, dance floors, and kids’ birthday parties around the world. With catchy, repetitive lyrics and easy-to-mimic dance moves like the Whip, Nae Nae, Stanky Leg, and Superman, the song became the soundtrack of summer 2015.
But that viral moment would remain the peak of his career. Now, nearly 10 years later, Hawk is facing the consequences of a violent crime that shocked many of his fans.
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What Happened?
In January 2021, Hawk was arrested after the body of his 34-year-old cousin, Frederick Rooks, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in DeKalb County, Georgia. After a police investigation, Silentó was charged with his cousin’s murder.
In 2024, Hawk accepted a plea deal, admitting guilt to several charges including:
• Voluntary manslaughter (reduced from malice murder)
• Aggravated assault
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
• Concealing the death of another
As part of the agreement, another felony charge was dropped. The court sentenced the now 27-year-old to 30 years in prison, which includes time already served since his 2021 arrest.
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Mental Health Concerns
Hawk’s legal team entered a plea of “guilty but mentally ill,” highlighting years of psychological challenges. In a statement following the sentencing, his publicist said:
“Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental illnesses. We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer & positive energy.”
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Troubled Past Before 2021
This wasn’t Silentó’s first brush with the law. In 2020 alone, he was:
• Arrested for alleged domestic violence
• Later caught driving at 143 mph in a 65 mph zone
While his debut single went on to gain over 1.9 billion views on YouTube and 400 million streams on Spotify, his music career never quite reached those heights again. He was only 17 years old when his track earned him a ‘Song of the Summer’ nomination at the MTV VMAs.
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A Tragic Turn of Fame
The story of Silentó is a reminder of how viral fame doesn’t always guarantee stability or success. As he begins his lengthy sentence, fans are left reflecting on a career that began with so much promise but ended in tragedy.
