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Silento, the talented rapper who achieved fame at the tender age of 17 with his viral sensation “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” has been sentenced to prison for the tragic murder of his cousin, Frederick Rooks. The now 27-year-old artist, whose birth name is Richard Lamar “Ricky” Hawk, was taken into custody by the DeKalb County Police Department in Georgia on February 1, 2021. This arrest occurred just 11 days after Rooks was discovered fatally shot in a residential area. Investigators revealed that Rooks had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident. Following a comprehensive investigation, Silento emerged as the primary suspect in this unfortunate case.
From his meteoric rise to fame to the troubling legal issues that have surfaced before and after his arrest, here are five essential things to understand about Silento and his complex journey.
1. Discover How Silento Achieved Fame at Just 16 with “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).”
The young rapper, who was still a high school student, released his breakout song on SoundCloud in 2015, collaborating with the talented beatsmith Bolo Da Producer. Silento recounted on his official website that within just the first day, the track garnered 1,000 listens, and by the next day, it skyrocketed to 4,000 listens. With this rapid success, he decided to unveil the music video for the track on his 17th birthday in January 2015. Today, that music video has amassed an astonishing 1.7 billion views, while the song itself reached an impressive peak at the No. 3 position on Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart, solidifying his status as a rising star in the music industry.
2. Silento Chose to Complete His High School Education Despite Signing with a Major Record Label.
After the overwhelming success of “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” Silento secured a record deal with Capitol Records. However, instead of opting for homeschool, he chose to continue his high school education. He expressed on his website, “I didn’t get to experience a lot of the things new artists get to experience when they’re first signed. Certain events, performances. I was still in school working to get my diploma.” This decision reflects his commitment to education, even amid the excitement of newfound fame.
3. Recognize Silento from His Other Popular Collaborations in the Music Industry.
Following the success of his debut single, Silento collaborated with various artists to further his music career. One of his most notable collaborations is with Dawin on the catchy track “Dessert.” While the original song was released in March 2015, Silento joined forces for the music video, which premiered in October 2019 and is now approaching an impressive 200 million views on YouTube. This collaboration helped to expand his reach and introduce him to a broader audience.
4. Silento Followed Up His Debut Single with His First Album, Fresh Outta High School.
In September 2018, Silento released his debut album, showcasing his growth as an artist. The rapper also leveraged his newfound fame to give back to the community by visiting children’s hospitals, earning him recognition and an honor from the mayor of Augusta, Georgia, for his charitable contributions in Atlanta, his hometown. In 2019, he partnered with DoSomething.org’s “The Hit We’ll Take” campaign, which aims to combat the rising use of e-cigarettes, vapes, and Juuling among youth. This initiative highlights his dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of young people.
5. Learn About Silento’s Legal Troubles: Arrested Multiple Times in 2020.
In 2020, Silento faced significant legal challenges, being arrested on three separate occasions. He was apprehended twice within a mere two days in August, with one arrest stemming from allegations that he “threatened two strangers with a hatchet” on August 29. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed these details in a press release obtained by HollywoodLife. Silento faced “two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon,” with the hatchet being classified as a dangerous weapon in this instance. Reports indicate that he entered the strangers’ home while searching for his girlfriend, causing distress to the homeowners and their children, although they were unharmed, according to statements from the LAPD to ABC 7.
This incident occurred just one day after Silento had been arrested and posted bail in Santa Ana on August 28 due to a domestic disturbance. Following this, he missed a court hearing in September 2020, leading to a bench warrant for his arrest with a bail amount set at $105,000, as reported by XXL magazine. In October, Silento was again arrested for allegedly “driving over 140 MPH in Atlanta,” but he was released on his “own recognizance” the same day. These events paint a troubling picture of the rapper’s descent into legal issues during a pivotal time in his career.
