Atlanta Rapper Silento best known for his hit single Whip/Nae Nae will spend 30 years behind bars for the murder of his cousin.
Today a DEKALB COUNTY, Ga judge sentenced the artist to decades in jail after he pleaded guilty for the 2021 crime.
Ricky Hawk who is now 27 years-old pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and other charges in connection with the 2021 deadly shooting.
Silento was arrested back in Jan. 21, 2021 after officers responded to a report of a person shot at a home off of Deep Shoals Circle and Corners Crossing.
At the home, police found 34-year-old Frederick Rooks III suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Security later captured a white BMW SUV fleeing the scene right after the shots.
One of Rooks’ family members said that the victim was last seen with Silento, who picked him up from a friend’s home in a white SUV.
Investigators did not have a suspect at the time but later identified Hawk as the gunman.
After Silento was taken into custody, prosecutors say he admitted shooting Rooks. Bullet casings from the scene also reportedly matched a gun found on the rapper at the time of his arrest.
The judge also ordered Silento to serve 15 years of probation following his release from prison. Silento rose to fame in 2015 with his viral dance track Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).
Despite his success in the music industry, his personal life took a dark turn culminating in the tragic incident with his cousin. The rapper’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent actions, regardless of one’s public persona. Moving forward, Silento’s legacy will forever be overshadowed by this unfortunate chapter in his life.