Silento

Ricky Lamar Hawk, known professionally as Silento or Prince Silento, was born on January 22, 1998, in Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA. He is an American rapper and singer, best known for his breakout single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae/Nae),” which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Silento later released a project titled Fresh Outta High School in August 2018, following some delays.

Early Life

Silento was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a hardworking mother who worked at a department store and a father who was a storekeeper. Raised by his mother, grandmother, and aunt, Silento was the only child. He attended Redan High School but did not graduate.

Career

Silento’s big break came in 2015 with the release of his debut single, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae/Nae),” on January 25. The video gained over 2.5 million views within a week, which led to Silento signing with Capitol Records. The song was released as a single, accompanied by a music video, and quickly gained international popularity. Later that year, Silento appeared as a featured artist on tracks like “Dessert” and “Lightning in a Bottle.”

In 2016, he released “Get Em” as a lead artist, followed by two more singles: “Girl in the Mirror” and “Spotlight.” In 2017, his track “Like It Like It” was released, featuring other artists. Silento has since experienced some delays in his career, with no new projects expected in the immediate future.

Controversies

Silento’s career has been marred by legal issues. In February 2021, he was arrested and charged with the murder of his 34-year-old cousin. He was taken into custody in a suburb of Atlanta and remains in jail without bail. In addition, Silento faced charges for assaulting two people with a hatchet in Los Angeles, allegedly breaking into their home before being disarmed.

In 2017, Silento faced a legal dispute in the UAE after failing to perform at two scheduled concerts in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The court ruled that Silento had to pay a local promoter 300,000 dirhams ($81,500) and placed a travel ban on him until the issue was resolved. Silento was also arrested for reckless driving in Georgia, where he was caught speeding at 143 mph. He argued with the officer, claiming that he was being followed by people after events and that he could drive at such speeds because he was not a “regular person.”

Personal Life

Silento lives with his mother and is not publicly involved in any relationships. He has led a relatively quiet life and keeps his personal matters private. Raised by his mother, grandmother, and aunt after his parents’ divorce, Silento developed an interest in music in eighth grade. He performed his songs at various school events and TV shows.

Silento has about 496,000 followers on Instagram and 82.9K followers on Twitter but is less active on Facebook.

Net Worth

As of 2021, Silento’s net worth is estimated at $6 million. His debut song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae/Nae)” earned him significant recognition, making its way to the top charts in multiple countries, including number three in the U.S. and number nine in Australia. In 2015, he won a Soul Train Music Award for the song.

Trivia

• Silento has always aspired to be a role model.
• He has not completed his high school graduation.
• He had his first girlfriend at the age of five, who was a teenager.
• His musical influences include Usher, Ciara, Mariah Carey, and Future.
• “Rush Hour” (1998) is his favorite movie.
• Silento has expressed that he prefers dating younger women, as his social media is often filled with older women interested in him.
• Despite signing with a major record label, he chose to finish his high school education.