Silento rose to fame in 2015 with his viral hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” becoming a household name almost overnight thanks to the track’s catchy hook and dance craze. But years after his breakout moment, the rapper—born Richard Lamar Hawk—made headlines for a very different reason.
In 2021, Silento was arrested and charged with the murder of his cousin, Frederick Rooks. After a lengthy legal process, he pleaded guilty in 2024 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in June 2025. The case shocked fans and marked a tragic turn in the young artist’s life and career.
Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of Silento over the years.
