Richard Lamar "Ricky" Hawk[3] (born January 22, 1998), better known as Silentó (/ˈsaɪləntoʊ/) or Prince Silentó, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter.[4] On February 1, 2021, he was arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia and charged with multiple murder-related counts in the shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks. He is currently being held without bond.
Silentó | |
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![]() Silentó in 2018 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Richard Lamar Hawk |
Born | (1998-01-22) January 22, 1998 (age 24) Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S. |
Origin | Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S. |
Genres |
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Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2015–2021 |
Website | silentoworld |
Criminal status | Incarcerated, awaiting trial[1] |
Criminal charge |
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Date apprehended | February 1, 2021 (2021-02-01) |
He is best known for his debut single "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)", which charted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. He later released a project titled Fresh Outta High School in August 2018 after some delay. He is a native of Stone Mountain, Georgia.[5]
Silentó's debut single, "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)", made with Bolo Da Producer, was released on his YouTube channel on June 25, 2015.[6] Over the course of one week, it gained over 2.5 million views. After making the song when he was 17 years old in his basement and having already garnered more than 100,000 streams on SoundCloud, A&R Executive Alex Wilhelm approached and signed him to Capitol Records.[7] They then released the track as a single with an accompanying music video. It peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. In June 2015, Silentó performed at the BET Awards, alongside the cast of the show Black-ish.[8]
He also performed the hit single on December 31, 2016, in Times Square for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.[9] On August 3, 2018, Silentó released his first album, Fresh Outta High School, which was originally scheduled to be released on May 25. He later released Fresh Outta High School Part 2 on November 29, 2018.
On August 28, 2020, he was arrested following a domestic disturbance. After being charged with inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant he was released. The following day he was again arrested in Valley Village, Los Angeles after walking into a stranger's home wielding a hatchet while looking for his girlfriend.[10]
Silentó was arrested again on October 23, 2020. Police charged him with speeding and reckless driving, alleging that he had been driving at 143 miles per hour (230 km/h) on Interstate 85.[11]
Murder of Frederick Rooks | |
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Date | January 21, 2021; 21 months ago (2021-01-21) |
Target | Frederick Rooks |
Deaths | Frederick Rooks |
Perpetrators | Richard Lamar Hawk |
On February 1, 2021, he was arrested in DeKalb County and charged with malice murder and felony murder, among other charges in the shooting and death of his cousin. Police responded to a shots fired call on January 21, 2021, at around 3:30 a.m. in the Panthersville area, and he was booked into the DeKalb jail on one count of murder.[12] He was indicted on August 3, 2021, on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm while committing a felony.[13]
Title | Album details |
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Fresh Outta High School[14] |
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Fresh Outta High School 2[15] |
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Skyrolyrics |
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Bars Behind Bars |
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Title | EP details |
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SilentóMOB: The Doctor's Exclusive |
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Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [16] |
AUS [17] |
CAN [18] |
DEN [19] |
FRA [20] |
GER [21] |
NZ [22] |
SWE [23] |
SWI [24] |
UK [25] | ||||
"Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" | 2015 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 50 | 11 | 52 | 41 | 19 | Non-album single | |
"No Sense"[31] | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Bars Behind Bars |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US Dance [32] |
AUS [17] |
NZ [22] |
DEN [33] |
NOR [34] |
SWE [23] | ||||
"Lightning in a Bottle"[35] (Sunny featuring Silentó) |
2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
"Dessert" (Dawin featuring Silentó) |
68 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 17 | — | — | Dessert | ||
"Girl in the Mirror"[39] (Sophia Grace featuring Silentó) |
2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Emoji"[40] (Sicko Mobb featuring Silentó) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Spotlight"[41] (Samuel featuring Silentó) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Slide"[42] (ELS featuring Silentó) |
2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Like It Like It" (Marcus & Martinus featuring Silentó) |
— | — | — | — | — | 16 | 48 | Moments |
Title | Year | Album |
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"Get Em"[43] | 2016 | Non-album single |
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
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"Volcano" | 2015 | The Vamps | Wake Up |
"Juicy Fruit" | 2018 | Night & Day (Day Edition) |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | ref |
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2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Rap/Hip-Hop Track | "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" | Nominated | |
MTV Video Music Award | Song of the Summer | ||||
Soul Train Music Awards | Best Dance Performance | Won | [44] | ||
2016 | Billboard Music Awards | Top New Artist | Nominated | ||
2016 | BET Awards | YoungStar Award | Nominated | ||
2017 | 26th Seoul Music Awards | Global Collaboration Award | "Spotlight" w/Punch | Won | [45] |
Authority control ![]() |
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