From Viral Fame To 30 Years: The Untold, Tragic Story Of 'Whip Whip Now Watch Me Nae Nae' Rapper Silentó

The phrase "whip whip now watch me nae nae" is permanently etched into the cultural memory of the mid-2010s, instantly conjuring images of a global dance craze that dominated social media feeds, school dances, and sporting events. The song, officially titled "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," was a quintessential piece of viral internet history, catapulting its young creator, Silentó, to overnight stardom in 2015.

However, as of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the story of the artist behind the infectious hit has taken a profoundly dark and tragic turn, replacing his legacy of lighthearted dance with a grim reality of legal trouble and a decades-long prison sentence. This is the updated, definitive look at the song's meteoric rise, its cultural impact, and the shocking fall of its creator.

Silentó (Ricky Lamar Hawk) Complete Biography and Legal Timeline

The rapper Silentó, who became a global sensation at age 17, saw his career and personal life spiral dramatically in the years following his debut. The following is a breakdown of his life and the legal troubles that led to his current status.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

• Full Name: Richard "Ricky" Lamar Hawk
• Date of Birth: January 23, 1998
• Age: Currently 27 (as of late 2024)
• Hometown: Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S.
• Debut Single: "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" (2015)
• Record Label: Capitol Records
• Peak Achievement: Song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
• 2020 Legal Issues: Arrested in August 2020 for domestic violence and felony gun charges. Arrested again in October 2020 for driving at 143 mph.
• 2021 Crime: Arrested and charged with the murder of his cousin, Frederick Rooks, in DeKalb County, Georgia, in January 2021.
• Current Status: Sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter and other charges in June 2023.

The Anatomy of a Viral Smash: How "Whip/Nae Nae" Defined an Era

Released in 2015, "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" was more than just a song; it was a cultural phenomenon that perfectly captured the nascent power of social media to launch music careers. The track's success was entirely driven by its instructional, easy-to-follow dance moves, making it ideal for the platforms of the time, such as Vine, Twitter, and YouTube.

The repetitive, catchy chorus—"Now watch me whip, now watch me nae nae"—was an invitation to participate, democratizing the music video experience and turning every listener into a potential performer. This interactivity was the secret sauce that propelled the song to over 1.5 billion views on YouTube and secured its place in pop culture history.

The Dual Dance Legacy: Whip and Nae Nae Origins

The brilliance of Silentó's single lay in its synthesis of two already popular Atlanta hip-hop dance moves, giving them a mainstream, global platform. This technique of combining and repackaging existing dance trends is a hallmark of the genre.

• 7 Shocking Things Jessica Capshaw Revealed About Growing Up With Steven Spielberg As Her Stepfather 892ho

The Whip Dance

The Whip is a move where the dancer mimics the action of holding a steering wheel and aggressively whipping it from side to side. It originated in the Atlanta street dance scene and was popularized by the group King Imprint in the summer of 2014. It’s an energetic, arm-focused movement that suggests a sudden, sharp motion.

The Nae Nae Dance

The Nae Nae is a lighter, more rhythmic move where the dancer sways from side to side, usually with one hand raised, as if saying "talk to the hand." It was popularized by the Atlanta-based group We Are Toonz with their 2013 song "Drop That NaeNae." The move itself is a nod to the sassy, confident character Sheneneh Jenkins from the 1990s sitcom Martin.

By combining these two distinct movements, Silentó created a hybrid dance that was both fresh and rooted in regional hip-hop culture, ensuring its widespread appeal and solidifying its status as a defining moment in the era of viral dance crazes, alongside other hits like the "Dougie" and the "Stanky Legg."

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

The Shocking Downfall: From Viral Sensation to Decades in Prison

The post-fame life of Ricky Lamar Hawk stands as one of the most jarring and cautionary tales in modern music history. After the initial success of "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" faded, Hawk struggled to maintain his career momentum. His life began to unravel in a series of highly publicized legal incidents.

In 2020, he was arrested multiple times, first on domestic violence charges and then for reckless driving, including an incident where he was clocked driving his car at nearly 150 mph. These early signs of trouble foreshadowed the devastating event that would permanently alter his life and legacy.

The Murder of Frederick Rooks

The most shocking development occurred on January 21, 2021, when Silentó's cousin, Frederick Rooks, was found shot to death in an Atlanta-area suburb. Following an investigation, Ricky Lamar Hawk was arrested and charged with the murder of Rooks in DeKalb County, Georgia.

The case concluded in June 2023 when Hawk pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter. This plea acknowledged his culpability while also recognizing the mental health struggles he was facing. The court handed down a sentence of 30 years in prison, effectively ending the public life and career of the young artist known globally as Silentó.

The Lasting Legacy and Topical Authority

The story of "whip whip now watch me nae nae" is a complex, two-part narrative. On one hand, the song remains a vibrant, nostalgic artifact of the mid-2010s internet culture—a perfect example of a dance-craze hit that leveraged the power of platforms like Vine and YouTube to achieve global reach. It is a key entity in the history of viral music, alongside other phenomena like "Gangnam Style."

On the other hand, the personal tragedy of Ricky Lamar Hawk serves as a grim reminder of the pressures and instability that can accompany sudden, overwhelming fame, especially for young artists. The phrase "whip whip now watch me nae nae" is now forever linked not only to a catchy beat and an iconic dance but also to a profound fall from grace, cementing its place as one of the most dramatic stories in the history of one-hit wonders. His story is a critical case study in the intersection of celebrity, mental health, and the criminal justice system in the modern era.