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Rapper Silento, also known as Richard Lamar “Ricky” Hawk, was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison on June 11, 2025. The legal issue is associated with the death of his cousin Frederick Rooks III, which happened around four years ago in 2021, as per People magazine.
Richard was arrested a month after the incident, and he allegedly admitted to having fired shots at Rooks. The artist has released mixtapes like Skyrolyrics and boasts a fortune of around $500,000, as stated by Celebrity Net Worth.
Silento’s PR manager, Chanel Hudson, responded to the sentencing in a statement obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta. Hudson described Richard as an individual with a beautiful soul and requested everyone to pray for him. She added that over the last few years, the rapper had been "suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses.
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“We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer and positive energy!!” the PR manager added.
Rooks was reportedly shot in Panthersville, and he was discovered by the DeKalb County Police with gunshot wounds during the early morning hours. Multiple bullet casings were also found near Rooks' body, and he succumbed to his injuries after the EMS came to the spot.
According to People magazine, a relative of Silento and Rooks told the police that the former reportedly picked up his cousin from a friend's house. The rapper's car was identified as a white BMW SUV, which was later spotted in the surveillance footage obtained from the neighbor. The residents of the area allegedly heard gunshots at the time, following which the vehicle left the place.
Silento's sentencing was confirmed by Sherry Boston, the DeKalb County District Attorney, stating that he pleaded guilty to multiple charges. This includes aggravated assault, firearm possession, commission of a crime, and concealing another individual’s death.
Silento’s net worth: Career, albums, and other details explained
The Stone Mountain, Georgia native started his journey in the music industry around ten years ago. He has worked with record labels like BB&R Enterprises and is known for his singles, such as No Sense.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Silento initially gained recognition after posting the video of a song titled Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) on YouTube. The single instantly grabbed a lot of attention, and people began imitating the same on other social media sites.
The video was shared back in 2015, and Richard appeared in an interview with Vibe magazine where he said he was inspired by artists like Usher and Future. He additionally opened up on the beginning of his musical career by saying that he was in the eighth grade when he "got involved in music."
“It was just me [without a label or ghostwriter]. I pick whatever I want, say whatever I want. Birthday parties, school events, TV shows… I was performing my older songs,” he added.
Silento mentioned that he promoted himself through platforms like Soundcloud. He then discovered a place called Tooncard, which helped him connect with DanceOn Network, where dancers made videos on YouTube. The rapper stated that people of all races danced to his singles over the years.
His first major project was a mixtape, Fresh Outta High School, released around seven years ago. It was followed by an EP titled SilentoMOB: The Doctor’s Exclusive and his latest mixtape was Bars Behind Bars. His single Watch Me grabbed a spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 and other charts.
The rapper has appeared in the works of artists like Sophia Grace, Samuel, ELS, and more. He also won a Soul Train Music Award in 2015, followed by the Seoul Music Award around two years later.
