Silentó
- Hip hop
- pop rap
- pop
- dance-pop
- snap
- Rapper
- singer
- songwriter
- Malice murder
- Felony murder
- Aggravated assault
- Criminal possession of a weapon[1]
Richard Lamar "Ricky" Hawk (born January 22, 1998), known professionally as Silentó (/ˈsaɪləntoʊ/), is an American rapper. He is best known for his 2015 debut single "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)", which charted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 when he was 17 years old.
In 2021, Silentó was arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia and charged with multiple murder-related counts in the shooting death of his cousin following earlier charges including domestic violence, assault, and possession of a firearm.
Life and career
1998–2016: Early life and "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)"
Richard Lamar "Ricky" Hawk[3] was born in Stone Mountain, Georgia.[4] He has stated that he was born with multiple drugs found in his system, including cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and that he grew up seeing his family members attempting to kill one another and talking to walls.[5] He was raised in Atlanta, where he began performing music as part of a group while in eighth grade before making solo music as a high schooler.[6]
Prompted by losing a high school talent show, Silentó independently released his debut single, "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)", in May 2015, promoting it on his Instagram and SoundCloud accounts and by performing it at local birthday parties, school events, and roller rinks.[4] The digital distribution network TuneCore soon helped to promote the song through a partnership with DanceOn, a dance-based multi-channel network on YouTube that paid dance channels to make videos set to the song with the hashtag #WatchMeDanceOn.[7] 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 one hundred thousand streams on SoundCloud, A&R executive Alex Wilhelm approached and signed him to Capitol Records.[8] They then released the track as a single with an accompanying music video, which, by 2020, was one of the most-viewed hip hop music videos on YouTube with 1.7 billion views. It peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent 53 weeks on the chart.[3] In June 2015, Silentó performed at the BET Awards, alongside the cast of the show Black-ish.[9]
He also performed the song in December 2016 in Times Square for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.[10] On August 3, 2018, Silentó released his first mixtape, Fresh Outta High School, which was originally scheduled to be released on May 25.[citation needed] He later released Fresh Outta High School Part 2 on November 29, 2018.[citation needed]
2019–present: Legal issues and murder charges
In May of 2019, Silentó appeared on the daytime talk show The Doctors to discuss his adverse childhood experiences and his resulting anxiety and depression. According to Chanel Hudson, his publicist at the time, he was scheduled to make subsequent appearances on other television shows and partake in further therapy sessions but did not attend either. She also stated that he attempted to kill himself in 2020.[5]
In August 2020, Silentó was arrested by the Santa Ana Police Department and taken into custody by the Orange County Sheriff's Department on a charge of inflicting injury on a cohabitant, then released.[11] The next day, he walked into a random home in Valley Village, Los Angeles with a hatchet in search of his girlfriend before his friend came to inform him he was at the wrong house. He was soon arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.[3]
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.[12]
Murder charges
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.[13] 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.[14]
The twenty-three year-old rapper was denied bond as he was considered a flight risk.
According to TMZ, the lawyers for Silento, whose real name is Richard "Ricky" Lamar Hawk, argued he is a role model in his community and not a flight risk. Nonetheless, the judge believed due to his mental health and a history of "not taking his prescribed medication made him a risk to the community", the outlet reports. Even Silento's grandparents asked the judge to deny his $25,000 bail request.[15]
In 2020, Hawk faced legal issues when he was accused of two instances of assault involving a deadly weapon. Initially granted a $105,000 bond, it was subsequently revoked following his failure to appear in court.[16] He remains in police custody in the DeKalb jail in Georgia until a trial date is set.[17]
Musical style
Silentó stated in 2015 that his rapping style was defined by the lack of profanity in his songs. He has named his biggest musical influences as Mariah Carey, Future, Ciara, and Usher.[6]
Discography
Mixtapes
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Fresh Outta High School[18] |
|
Fresh Outta High School 2[19] |
|
Skyrolyrics |
|
Bars Behind Bars |
|
Extended plays
Title | EP details |
---|---|
SilentóMOB: The Doctor's Exclusive |
|
Singles
As lead artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [20] | AUS [21] | CAN [22] | DEN [23] | FRA [24] | GER [25] | NZ [26] | SWE [27] | SWI [28] | UK [29] | ||||
"Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" | 2015 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 50 | 11 | 52 | 41 | 19 | Non-album single | |
"No Sense"[38] | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Bars Behind Bars | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DEN [23] | NOR [39] | SWE [27] | ||||
"Lightning in a Bottle"[40] (Sunny featuring Silentó) | 2015 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
"Dessert" (Dawin featuring Silentó) | 17 | — | — |
| Dessert | |
"Girl in the Mirror"[42] (Sophia Grace featuring Silentó) | 2016 | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Emoji"[43] (Sicko Mobb featuring Silentó) | — | — | — | |||
"Spotlight"[44] (Samuel featuring Silentó) | — | — | — | |||
"Slide"[45] (ELS featuring Silentó) | 2017 | — | — | — | ||
"Like It Like It" (Marcus & Martinus featuring Silentó) | — | 16 | 48 | Moments | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Promotional singles
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Get Em"[46] | 2016 | Non-album single |
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Volcano" | 2015 | The Vamps | Wake Up |
"Juicy Fruit" | 2018 | Night & Day (Day Edition) |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Soul Train Music Awards | Best Dance Performance[47] | "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" | Won |
2017 | 26th Seoul Music Awards | Global Collaboration Award[48] | "Spotlight" w/Punch | Won |
References
- ^ Burns, Asia Simone. "Rapper Silento indicted on murder charge in cousin's shooting death". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ "Silento Remains in Jail After Judge Denies Bail Request". Complex Networks.
- ^ a b c Woods, Aleia (September 3, 2020). "Silento Arrested After Walking Into Random Family's House With a Hatchet Looking for His Girlfriend". XXL. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ a b Lee, Christina (December 14, 2015). "How Silentó got the nation doing nae nae". Maxim. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Hollis, Henri. "Silento's rep speaks out on rapper's murder charge, recent struggles". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Jones, Kathryn E. (July 2, 2015). "Meet Silento, The 17-Year-Old Who Has The Nation Whipping And Nae Nae-Ing". Vibe. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ Votta, Rae (August 3, 2015). "DanceOn gives upcoming musicians an extra lift in the video space". The Daily Dot. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ "As Calum Scott Soars, A&R Exec Alex Wilhelm on Signing Him to Capitol & Finding Hidden Gems When 'Goosebumps Meet Data'". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ "The kids from Black-ish had the best time at the BET Awards". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
- ^ "New Year's Eve 2017: Times Square live ball drop and how to watch celebration online". nj.com. December 31, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^ "Rapper Silento arrested in LA and Santa Ana for alleged assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence". ABC 7. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ "Atlanta rapper Silento arrested after driving 143 mph on I-85, police say". WSBTV. October 25, 2020.
- ^ Hollis, Henri (February 1, 2021). "Atlanta rapper Silento charged with murdering his cousin in DeKalb". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Li, David K. (August 17, 2021). "Rapper Silento indicted by Georgia grand jury for murder of his cousin". NBC News. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Rapper Silento Remains In Jail After Judge Denies Request For Bail". BET. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Nolan, Emma (February 2, 2021). "Rapper Silento Arrested, Charged With Murdering Cousin". Newsweek. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Hollis, Henri. "Silento's rep speaks out on rapper's murder charge, recent struggles". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Fresh Outta High School – Album by Silento on Apple Music". Apple Music. August 3, 2018.
- ^ "Fresh Outta High School Part 2 by Silentó on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ "Silento – Chart history: The Hot 100". Billboard. September 12, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ "Discography Silentó". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Silento – Chart history: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ a b "Discography Silentó". Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Discographie Silentó". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Discographie Silentó" (Enter "Silentó" into the "Suchen" box). German Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Discography Silentó". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- ^ a b "Discography Silentó". Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Discographie Silentó" (select "Charts" tab). Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Silentó". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "American certifications – Silento". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "British certifications – Silento". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 8, 2023. Type Silento in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Silentó)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Silento" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Silento – Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Canadian certifications – Silento". Music Canada. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Silento – Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "No Sense – Single by Silentó on Apple Music". Apple Music. November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ Steffen Hung (May 4, 2015). "Discography Silentó". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ "Lightning in a Bottle (feat. Silentó) – Single by Sunny". iTunes. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Dawin feat. Silentó – Dessert". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Girl in the Mirror (feat. Silento) – Single by Sophia Grace". iTunes. June 9, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ "Emoji (feat. Silentó)". iTunes. September 2, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ "Spotlight – Single by Punch". iTunes. April 8, 2016.
- ^ "Slide (feat. Silentó) – Single by ELS". iTunes. April 7, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ "Get Em – Single". iTunes. March 18, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ "Winners". BET.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Watch Performances from the '26th Seoul Music Awards'!". allkpop.com. Retrieved August 15, 2017.