From viral sensation to convicted murderer: Silento’s 30-year prison sentence

American rapper Silento has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his cousin. The “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” hitmaker was sentenced on Wednesday, June 11, after he pleaded guilty to charges related to his cousin’s death.

The 27-year-old Atlanta-born artist, whose real name is Richard Lamar Hawk, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter and other charges in connection with the fatal shooting of his 34-year-old cousin.

The plea deal also included guilty pleas to aggravated assault, firearm possession during a crime, and concealing a death, while a murder charge was dismissed due to the plea agreement.

In January 2021, Hawk was arrested in connection with the shooting of his 34-year-old cousin, Frederick Rooks III, who was found with multiple gunshot wounds in Atlanta, Georgia, at a DeKalb County location. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the district attorney’s office, a number of neighbours nearby told the police that they heard the gunshots go off, and doorbell camera footage at a nearby house captured a white BMW SUV speeding away from the scene shortly after the shots were fired.

It is reported that one of Rooks’ family members claimed the victim was last seen with Hawk, who had picked him up from a friend's home in a white SUV.

According to prosecutors, after the rapper’s arrest, he admitted to shooting his cousin, Rooks. Additionally, bullet casings found at the scene were reportedly matched to a gun discovered on the rapper at the time of his arrest.

Hawk had a prior history of run-ins with the law. In 2020, he was arrested in DeKalb County for speeding. Additionally, he faced charges in a separate incident in Los Angeles for attempting to strike two people with an axe in their home.

The 27-year-old rapper, singer, and songwriter gained popularity in 2015 with his viral debut single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”.

He was 17 when he released the catchy song that was shortly followed by a colourful music video with the famous “Nae Nae” dance moves that shot the song to hit status, topping the Billboard Hot 100 US charts at number 3 and earning him a record deal.

Almost every teenager on social media, across the globe, was posting videos doing the famous dance moves and knew the song word for word.

The song’s success propelled Hawk into the spotlight, and he became a popular figure in the music industry during that time. In 2019, he went on to release a full-length album titled “Fresh Outta High School”.