Kay Flock was sentenced Tuesday (Dec. 16) to 30 years in prison for a series of shootings in his Bronx neighborhood, according to the Associated Press. This case derailed a music career that was just beginning before his arrest in 2021. The 22-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kevin Perez, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.

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Judge Critiques Before Sentencing Kay Flock

Judge Liman criticized Kay Flock for sending the wrong message to his young peers by glorifying violence during a period from 2020 to 2021. During this time, numerous individuals on Bronx streets were shot at, injured, or killed, as stated by prosecutors.

“You taunted, you celebrated and you helped create a cycle of violence,” Liman said.

The judge also pointed out that Kay Flock boasted on social media about being exonerated on the top count. Additionally, he wrote “KILL ALL RATS” on Instagram after a trial where gang members testified against him.

Rapper Claims He’s Changed, Judge Notes Lack Of Remorse

While Liman referred to Kevin Perez as a “man of promise,” he emphasized that a lengthy prison sentence was necessary for four separate shootings that injured multiple individuals. At the time of those incidents, Kay Flock led a gang known as “Sev Side/DOA.” Perez was convicted in March 2025 of charges including racketeering conspiracy and attempted murder.

Kay Flock maintained that he had changed, stating: “What I was at 18 is not what I am today.” Claiming everyone deserves a second chance, he added: “I was just a kid. Didn’t really know better.” However, Judge Liman criticized him for not showing any concern for his victims.

“To date, you’ve shown no real remorse for your conduct,” the judge said.

Prosecutors Critique Kay’s Drill Music

The rapper was named Billboard Magazine’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month in November 2021 after releasing his first album, ‘The D.O.A. Tape.’ This album established him as a newcomer in New York’s drill rap scene but also featured performers who wield weapons and lyrics containing slang about violence. The music includes threats and taunts, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick R. Moroney highlighted while requesting Judge Liman to impose a 50-year prison sentence. This was the same sentence recommended by the court’s Probation Department officer.

“He was very good at celebrating his violence and getting under the skin of his rivals,” the prosecutor said.

In their sentencing brief, prosecutors stated that Perez signed with a music label and used violence to advance his career. “The music that had glorified gang violence made the defendant famous and now rich,” they wrote, accusing Kay Flock of promoting violence through private messages.

Meanwhile, defense attorney Michael Ashley requested the judge to impose the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. Ashley argued that his client grew up in one of the nation’s most dangerous neighborhoods and fell under the influence of an older man who encouraged gang activity.

In response, the judge acknowledged that Kay Flock’s crimes occurred while his brain was “still evolving and maturing.” He also considered that six of Kay Flock’s friends died from gun violence before he turned 18. Nevertheless, Kay Flock received a sentence of 30 years behind bars.

“The life of the street, it seems to me, is all you’ve ever known,” Judge Liman said.

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Associated Press writer Larry Neumeister contributed to this report.