Rapper Silento, widely recognized for his viral hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” has been sentenced to 30 years in prison following a tragic incident involving the death of his cousin. The artist, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill on June 12, 2025, in DeKalb County, Georgia, admitting to charges stemming from the 2021 fatal shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks.
Rooks was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds at a residence in Panthersville, Georgia, on January 21, 2021. He was just 34 years old. According to reports from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Silento pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter as part of a plea agreement. He also admitted to aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and concealing a death. Notably, a more severe felony murder charge was dismissed as part of the deal.
Initially arrested in February 2021 and facing malice murder charges, Silento’s situation took a turn as he navigated the legal system. The DeKalb County Police Department had reported at the time, “Today, Ricky Hawk, 23, was arrested for the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks, 34.” The rapper’s sentence will account for the time he has already served since his arrest.
In the wake of his arrest, Silento’s publicist, Chanel Hudson, revealed that the rapper had been grappling with significant mental health issues. “Please send my client Silento some positive vibrations,” Hudson stated. “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!! Ricky is a beautiful soul, and we hope that the same people who came up whippin’ and nay naying with him continue to support him and lift him in prayer. God bless.”
Silento’s legal troubles were not limited to this incident; he faced multiple run-ins with the law leading up to his 2021 arrest. In August 2020, he was arrested twice in California on charges of domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon. Additionally, he was apprehended for speeding in DeKalb County that same year, although the outcomes of those charges remain unclear.
The rapper’s rise to fame began in 2015 with the release of “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” a track that not only dominated the charts but also became a cultural phenomenon, amassing over 1.9 billion views on YouTube and reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite his success, Silento’s life took a tragic turn, highlighting the complexities of fame, mental health, and the consequences of violence.
As fans and the public reflect on Silento’s journey, it serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the impact of personal struggles, even in the lives of those who seem to have it all.