Rapper Silentó, whose viral hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” once dominated charts, will now spend 30 years behind bars after confessing to the brutal murder of his own cousin while battling severe mental illness.
Key Takeaways
- Silentó (Ricky Lamar Hawk) has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter in the 2021 shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks.
- The former chart-topping rapper accepted a plea deal that reduced his original charge from malice murder to voluntary manslaughter, with prosecutors dropping a separate felony murder charge.
- Security footage and GPS data from Silentó’s BMW directly linked him to the crime scene, and he confessed to the murder 10 days after the incident.
- Prior to the murder, Silentó had a documented history of mental health struggles, including a suicide attempt in 2020 and multiple arrests for domestic violence and weapons charges.
- The case highlights the dangerous intersection of fame, untreated mental illness, and violence, with the rapper’s swift rise to fame followed by a catastrophic downfall.
From Viral Fame to Prison Sentence
Silentó, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, rose to fame in 2015 when his debut single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a viral sensation, particularly on the now-defunct app Vine. What should have been the beginning of a promising career instead spiraled into a tragic series of events culminating in murder. The DeKalb County Court sentenced the 26-year-old rapper to 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter in the January 2021 shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks.
The court proceedings revealed that Silentó will receive credit for time served since February 2021, when he was first taken into custody. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors reduced the original charge from malice murder to voluntary manslaughter and dropped a separate felony murder charge. In addition to the manslaughter charge, Silentó also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a felony, and concealing the death of another – charges that collectively contributed to his lengthy sentence.
The Crime and Investigation
The fatal shooting occurred on January 21, 2021, when DeKalb County Police responded to a call and found Frederick Rooks with multiple gunshot wounds. The investigation quickly uncovered damning evidence linking Silentó to the crime scene. Security footage from nearby homes captured a black SUV fleeing the scene immediately after gunshots were heard, while GPS data from Silentó’s BMW placed his vehicle at the exact location during the time of the murder. The digital trail, combined with witness statements, led police directly to the rapper.
“Depression doesn’t leave you when you become famous, it just adds more pressure,” said Silentó.
Perhaps most damning was Silentó’s own confession, which came approximately 10 days after the shooting. While the exact motive remains somewhat unclear, court documents and statements from those close to the case consistently point to the rapper’s deteriorating mental state as a significant factor. The “guilty but mentally ill” plea acknowledges that while Silentó committed the crime, his mental health issues played a substantial role in his actions – a factor the court considered during sentencing.
A History of Mental Health Struggles
The murder of Frederick Rooks was not Silentó’s first encounter with law enforcement. In the years following his meteoric rise to fame, the rapper faced numerous legal problems that painted a disturbing picture of escalating behavior. In 2020 alone, he was arrested multiple times – once for domestic violence, once for assault with a deadly weapon, and once for driving at the dangerous speed of 143 mph. These incidents, combined with a reported suicide attempt that same year, clearly indicated a young man in serious crisis.
“Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental illnesses,” she wrote. “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!!” said Chanel Hudson.
Following Silentó’s arrest for his cousin’s murder, his publicist Chanel Hudson made public statements confirming that the rapper had been battling significant mental health issues for years. This revelation has prompted important discussions about the entertainment industry’s failure to provide adequate support systems for young artists who achieve sudden fame. In Silentó’s case, his rise from obscurity to international recognition happened virtually overnight when he was just a teenager, potentially exacerbating existing mental health vulnerabilities without proper intervention or treatment.
The Aftermath and Family Response
The sentencing has evoked mixed reactions from Rooks’ family members, some of whom expressed a complex blend of grief and compassion. During court proceedings, one of Rooks’ siblings was quoted saying, “I’m sorry for both sides,” acknowledging the dual tragedy that has affected both families. The statement reflects the complicated reality when mental illness intersects with violent crime – the perpetrator may be simultaneously responsible for their actions while also being a victim of their own untreated mental health conditions.
Silentó’s case demonstrates a troubling pattern we’ve seen repeatedly in the entertainment industry – young performers who achieve sudden fame without proper support systems often face devastating personal consequences. This pattern is particularly pronounced among young black artists who may come from communities with limited access to mental health resources. The combination of instant wealth, fame pressure, and untreated mental illness created a perfect storm that culminated in violence and now, a 30-year prison sentence for a man who’s still in his twenties.
