Ricky Lamar Hawk, better known as Silentó, the rapper behind the viral hit song "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his cousin, Frederick Rooks. Hawk pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The incident occurred in January 2021, when Rooks was found with gunshot wounds to the face and leg in the US state of Georgia. Hawk was arrested and charged with murder, and after a lengthy trial, he accepted a plea deal, which reduced his sentence.
Hawk's publicist released a statement highlighting the rapper's struggles with mental illness and requesting support for him and his family. The statement read, "Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental illnesses... We ask in the meantime the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer & positive energy."
Despite his personal struggles and legal issues, Silentó's song "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" remains a cultural phenomenon, with over a billion views on YouTube and 400 million streams on Spotify. The song's catchy beat and dance moves captivated audiences in 2015, but Hawk's inability to replicate his success and his subsequent troubles have overshadowed his musical legacy.



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