“Whip/Nae Nae” Rapper Silentó on Murder Conviction: ‘Can't Reverse Time, But I Can Serve the Time

Silentó said he’s seeking forgiveness after pleading guilty but mentally ill in the death of his cousin.

The 27-year-old rapper (born Richard Lamar “Ricky” Hawk) released a statement on Thursday (June 12), just hours after receiving a 30-year prison sentence for the murder of Frederick Rooks, who died following a shooting in 2021.

"I will continue to make music and work on becoming the best possible version of myself,” Silentó said in a statement shared by his publicist, Chanel Hudson-O’Connor. "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.

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

Silentó, who is best known for his 2015 hit "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," was arrested in early 2021 in connection with Rooks’ death. He confessed to the crime about 10 days after he was taken into custody and subsequently charged with malice murder and felony murder.

On Wednesday (June 11), he entered a plea for lower offenses, including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and concealing the death of another. According to Variety, Silentó will get credit for time served since his 2021 arrest.

"This was not a crime of passion or a crime of a morally depraved person. He was mentally ill," Silentó’s attorney, Keith Adams, told ABC News. "Unfortunately, Ricky’s mental illness has been an issue since the age of 12, even during his success as an artist and beyond."

Adams said his client’s guilty plea made him eligible for parole in the next 10 years or so. Silentó has since been transferred to the Georgia Diagnostic Center in Jackson, Georgia, for initial processing. He will then be transferred to a mental health facility, where he will presumably serve his time.

"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," Adams continued. "I expect within the next month to two months, he’ll be placed where he’s supposed to be. 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."