"I can't reverse time, but I can serve the time": Nae Nae singer Silentó breaks silence on being sentenced to 30 years

After being sentenced to 30 years for killing his cousin Frederick Rooks, rapper Silentó broke his silence with a message of reflection and accountability.

Hours after the June 12 sentencing, the 27-year-old artist, born Richard Lamar “Ricky” Hawk, issued a public statement via his representative, Chanel Hudson-O’Connor.

“I will continue to make music and work on becoming the best possible version of myself."

He went on:

“I can’t reverse time, but I can serve the time I’ve been given lawfully, and strive to positively contribute to whatever my new environment may be.”

READ ALSO: Who is Silentó? Rapper's history explored as he gets sentenced to 30 years in prison

Best known for his viral 2015 hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” Silentó had pleaded guilty but mentally ill in the 2021 shooting that led to Rooks’ death.

Reflecting on his rise to fame, the rapper added:

“I entered this industry as a teenager, often without proper guidance or direction. While that is not an excuse, it is part of my truth.”

The statement concluded on a somber note:

“I pray for growth, evolution, and the ability to find forgiveness — for myself and for this entire situation. God bless y’all.”

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Silentó to serve 30 years in prison for killing cousin

Silentó has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the 2021 shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.

The artist pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter. He also admitted to charges of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and concealing a death, according to DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston.

As part of his plea deal, a murder charge was dropped.

READ ALSO: Silentó, known for “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” sentenced to 30 years in prison for the 2021 murder of his cousin

Rooks, 34, was found dead with gunshot wounds to the leg and face outside a home near Decatur, Georgia, on January 21, 2021. Police located ten shell casings nearby and reviewed security footage that showed a white BMW SUV leaving the scene just after the shooting.

Authorities say Hawk picked up Rooks in the same white BMW seen in footage. He confessed ten days later, and forensic tests confirmed the bullets came from his gun.

Rooks’ family told the court:

“He deserved a longer sentence.”

Hawk’s publicist previously stated:

“He was battling severe mental health issues.”

Before the incident, Silentó had multiple run-ins with the law and reportedly struggled with mental illness, despite early fame from his debut single in 2015.

In his conversation with ABC News on June 11, Silentó’s lawyer, Keith Adams, emphasized the role of long-term mental illness in the case, stating:

“This was not a crime of passion or a crime of a morally depraved person. He was mentally ill. Unfortunately, Ricky’s mental illness has been an issue since the age of 12, even during his success as an artist and beyond.”

He also confirmed that the rapper may be eligible for parole in about a decade.

"I’m hoping that he won’t be at the Diagnostic Center for too long, because they’re already familiar with his mental health issues. I expect within the next month to two months, he’ll be placed where he’s supposed to be.”

Speaking about the artist’s future, Adams reflected:

“No one is beyond redemption… I think he has an opportunity to come out and resume his position as a productive member of society, while properly being treated for his mental health.”