‘Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)’ rapper Silentó gets 30 years for manslaughter of cousin
Yesterday, the Atlanta rapper popularly known for his viral 2015 song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”, Silentó, was sentenced to spend 30 years in prison. This comes after he pleaded guilty but mentally ill for the shooting death of his cousin in Georgia, which occurred in 2021.
Rapper Ricky Lamar Hawk (also known as Rick Ross) admitted guilt for the manslaughter of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III, along with charges of aggravated assault, carrying a firearm during a crime, and hiding a death. Sherry Boston, the District Attorney of DeKalb County, made this announcement in a statement.
California
2015 rap sensation famous for “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”, Silento, stands accused of attempting to attack two individuals using a hatchet within their residence.
27-year-old Hawk admitted to the murder when authorities apprehended him approximately ten days following the discovery of Rooks, aged 34, in the early morning hours on January 21, 2021, who was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders confirmed his death at the scene, as stated.
I myself was the one who provided the video and GPS evidence linking me to the alleged crime, as stated by Boston. Additionally, a family member of the victim shared with authorities that the individual had their last known encounter with me.
On the day Hawk was taken into custody, his former publicist, Chanel Hudson, put up a message appealing for prayers on behalf of her client. She disclosed that in recent years, he had been severely affected by several mental health issues and would carry on with his therapeutic treatments.
In 2016, Hawk was among a group of talented young artists, including Amandla Stenberg, Quvenzhané Wallis, Willow Smith, and Yara Shahidi, who were nominated under their stage names for the BET Awards’ YoungStars Award. However, it was Amandla Stenberg, best known for her role as Rue in the film “The Hunger Games,” who ultimately received the honor.
Music
The original member of The Beach Boys was always eager to experiment with different musical genres, instruments, or trends in his compositions. This versatility is what makes it both intriguing and plausible that at the dawn of the ’90s, he decided to record a rap song titled “Smart Girls.
In the year 2019, Hawk made an appearance on the syndicated talk show “The Doctors”, sporting a jacket reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s, and discussed his past struggles. Born with various substances in his system, he admitted to feeling depressed throughout his life. He shared that in 2014, he moved in with a loving aunt, and was given ADHD medication without a prior diagnosis. His fame skyrocketed a few years later due to viral popularity.
On the show, Hawk stated that fame doesn’t make depression disappear; instead, it brings on extra stress. He explained that as people watch, they also criticize.” (This version aims to maintain the original’s meaning while making it more accessible and conversational.)
Subsequently, events took a grim turn as Hawk was apprehended in Southern California during the late summer of 2020, accused of causing physical harm to a partner or roommate in Santa Ana, based on allegations of domestic violence involving corporal punishment.
Or, more concisely:
The situation worsened when Hawk was detained in Southern California in August 2020 due to accusations of domestic violence involving corporal punishment against a spouse or cohabitant in Santa Ana.
During the time he was out on bail following an incident in early September 2020, he was apprehended once more in Los Angeles and indicted for two counts of assault with a non-firearm deadly weapon (specifically, a hatchet). The allegations claim that he trespassed into the Valley Village home of two unfamiliar individuals and intimidated them with the hatchet.
Television
An ex-MTV video host and TV show presenter named Ananda Lewis has passed away at the age of 52 following a prolonged struggle against breast cancer.
The case in question is still being heard at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with the next court date set for September. The prosecutor assigned to this case hasn’t provided an immediate update on the situation when asked by The Times.
On Thursday, nearly a decade had passed since its release, and Silentо’s “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” music video surpassed 2 billion views on YouTube.
Four years ago, a commenter remarked, “This used to play in every car worldwide.” It wasn’t clear if this comment was made before or after the death of Rooks.
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2025-06-12 20:01