Silentó,the rapper best known for his 2015 viral hit ‘Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)’,received a 30-year prison sentance for voluntary manslaughter. The charges stemmed from the death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks, in January 2021.

Originally charged with malice murder, Richard Lamar Hawk (Silentó’s real name) pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and concealing the death of another. As part of the plea deal, the murder charge was dropped.

On January 21, 2021, authorities discovered Rooks’ body abandoned on a road near Georgia.html” title=”Panthersville, … (GA 30034) profile: population, maps, real …”>Panthersville, Georgia, close to Atlanta. Hawk was arrested in Febuary by the DeKalb County Police Department in connection with the killing.

‘Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)’ propelled Silentó to fame in 2015, becoming a social media phenomenon, particularly on Vine. The song popularized the “whip” and “nae nae” dance crazes, referencing other dances like “Crank That” and “stanky legg.” The track peaked at Number Three on the Billboard Hot 100 and has garnered 1.9 billion views on YouTube.

Despite the initial success, Silentó struggled to replicate the hit, releasing four solo mixtapes: ‘Fresh Outta High School’ (2018), ‘Fresh Outta High School 2’ (2018), ‘Skyrolyrics’ (2020), and ‘Bars Behind Bars’ (2021).

Silentó has reportedly battled mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, and allegedly attempted suicide in 2020, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He also faced multiple arrests prior to the charges related to Rooks’ death, including domestic violence charges.