It's safe to say that 2015 and 2016 were the years that defined Silento's career. The Georgia rapper tapped Bolo Da Producer for one of the best one-hit-wonder "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" and released it independently that year. The song was a megahit and the definite anthem of 2015, amassing over 1.8 billion views on YouTube up to this writing. Since then, he signed to Capitol Records but seemed to be struggling to replicate the success.
However, behind all the bubbly and wholesome persona that the song radiates, there's a dark side that constantly haunts the rapper. Silento, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, is no stranger to controversy with the law, with his recent arrest following his cousin's murder. To sum it up, here are the details of Silento, those murder charges, and his criminal record.
8 Georgia Grand Jury Indicted Him On Four Counts
After months of arrest, the Georgia grand jury finally indicted the rap star (23) for the murder of his cousin. According to the documents, the DeKalb County panel handed Hawk four felonies: malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and firearm possession. The victim of all the counts is his very own cousin, Frederick Rooks (34).
7 The Rapper Is Currently Being Held In Dekalb County Jail Without Bond
Up to this writing, Silento has been spending some time behind bars in DeKalb County Jail with no bonds. The slaying motive itself still remains undetailed in the indictment.
"After a thorough investigation, DKPD detectives identified Hawk as Rooks’ cousin, and the person responsible for Rooks’ murder. Investigators are still working to uncover the motive for the shooting," DeKalb Police Department said in a statement at the time of the arrest, per Rolling Stone's report.
6 His Publicist Said He's Been Suffering From 'A Series Of Mental Ilness'
Chanel Hudson, Silento's publicist, has broken her silence quickly after the arrest back in February. She revealed that her client has been battling mental illness and encouraged fans to support him during the most difficult time of his career.
"Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses," she took to Instagram. "We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public uplifts him and his family in immediate prayers & positive energy!!"
"I have felt like I been depressed my whole life," the rapper said on a segment of The Doctor in 2019, discussing his long-lasting battle against depression.
5 His Cousin Was Shot Multiple Times From Face & Leg
On January 21, 2021, residents of Pathersville, Georgia, heard multiple gunshots and called 911 for help. His cousin, Rook, was found by the police in the roadway at Deep Shoals Circle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report says that the man was bleeding severely due to multiple gunshot wounds to the face and leg, with eight empty shell casings recovered at the scene. Ironically, the shooting happened two days before the rapper's 23rd birthday.
4 This Wasn't The First Time He Got In Trouble With The Law
Ironically, the recent murder of his cousin wasn't the first time Silento had a run-in with the law. Last year, the rap star was arrested after entering a random house with a hatchet looking for his girlfriend. The homeowners and their children were all present at the time, but the rapper quickly fled after learning that he's entered the wrong house. The Los Angeles Police Department took Hawk into custody in August and later confirmed that no one was harmed during the occasion.
3 At The Time, He Was Charged With Two Counts Of Assault
Shortly after, LAPD officers apprehended the rapper and charged him with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with a bail of a whopping $105,000. After his arrest by the Santa Ana Police Department, the rapper was transported to Orange County following a report of a domestic disturbance.
2 He Was Also Once Arrested For Going 143 MPH On I-85
In the same year, the Atlanta rapper was also arrested for exceeding the speed limit. As reported by WSBTV, the police pulled Silento over early Friday morning for driving his white BMW SUV 143 mph on I-85 in DeKalb County. The rapper was just going home after promoting his new song at a club and felt like being followed shortly after.
"He stated, 'If there is like 10 cars following me, I can do 143 because I am not a regular person and you could go and look on your computer and it would tell you that,'" the statement reads.
1 Ironically, The News Broke As He Was Plotting His 'Major' Comeback
Speaking of his rapping career, despite not being able to replicate what he had in 2015, Silento has been actively rebuilding his career before the murder charge dropped. The Stone Mountain native released two mixtapes in the span of two years: Skyrolyrics (2020) and Bars Behind Bars (2021).