Atlanta Rapper Silentó Receives 30-Year Sentence in Cousin's Murder Trial

Atlanta rapper Silentó, famed for his hit track “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” has received an astonishing 30-year prison term. The 27-year-old, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, pleaded guilty to multiple grave charges, including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, firearm possession during the commission of a crime, and concealing the death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.The DeKalb County District Attorney's Office disclosed that Rooks was found with life-threatening gunshot wounds, leading to a comprehensive investigation that uncovered alarming surveillance footage of Silentó fleeing the scene in a white BMW. Ballistic tests ultimately linked shell casings at the crime scene to a firearm associated with the rapper.Having battled substantial mental health issues since childhood, Silentó admitted to his wrongdoing soon after his apprehension, attributing some of his actions to these ongoing struggles. This case poignantly illustrates that fame does not exempt one from facing justice.