Atlanta rapper Silentó began his lengthy prison stint with a new look this week, after being sentenced to 30 years for killing his cousin.
The 27-year-old, who’s best known for his hit song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was processed into the Georgia Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in the 2021 shooting death of 34-year-old Frederick Rooks III.
In his mugshot, Silentó looks nearly unrecognizable with a completely shaved head and an emotionless look on his face.
Earlier this month, Silentó entered a plea of “guilty but mentally ill” to multiple charges, including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and concealing the death of another. A murder charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement.
In the early morning hours of Jan. 21, 2021, DeKalb County police found Rooks shot in the face and leg outside a home near Decatur, Ga. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Security video from a nearby residence showed a white BMW SUV speeding away shortly after gunshots were fired. The BMW was later identified by a family member as being driven by Silentó, and GPS data also put the vehicle at the scene of the shooting.
The rapper confessed about 10 days later after he was arrested, according to police. Bullet casings found at the scene also matched to a gun that Silentó possessed when he was taken into custody.
While it’s still unclear exactly what led to the shooting, the rapper had for years been open about dealing with depression and other mental health problems.
At the time of his arrest, his publicist said he’d been “suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses,” noting he’d also attempted suicide in 2020.
The Georgia native plans said he plans to spend his time behind bars focusing on making new music.
With News Wire Services
