"The Price of Praising Violence"... Rapper Kay Flock Sentenced to 30 Years for Gang Murder and Gun Crimes

The promising figure of New York drill rap, which Billboard had spotlighted, will celebrate his 30s in prison instead of on stage. He lived by the rough lyrics of the Bronx, and now he has faced the law just like in his lyrics.

According to foreign media such as the New York Post and XXL on the 17th (local time), Judge Louis Lyman of the Manhattan Federal Court sentenced rapper Kay Flock (real name Kevin Perez, 22) to 30 years in prison during a sentencing hearing held on the 16th.

◆ "Mocked Violence and Corrupted Culture"

Judge Lyman treated Perez's crimes very seriously in the ruling. The judge criticized, "The defendant has mocked and praised violence, creating a culture of violence in this society," pointing out that "the damage you caused was enormous (Enormous)."

In particular, the fact that Perez posted on social media after the guilty verdict, "Kill all rats", threatening gang members who testified against him, worked against him in sentencing. This became decisive evidence showing that he showed no signs of remorse.

◆ Double Life as a Gang Leader and Rapper

According to the prosecution, Perez was active as the leader of the Bronx-based gang 'Sev Side/DOA', leading ruthless gun violence against rival organizations between 2020 and 2021.

Federal prosecutor Patrick Moroney sought a 50-year sentence, claiming, "He skillfully used his reputation as a rapper to glamorize violence and provoke bloodshed by irritating rivals." Perez was arrested as a prime suspect in the Oscar Hernandez murder case that occurred in Harlem in November 2021, marking a downward spiral.

◆ Adverse Environment vs. Brutal Crimes

The defense argued that Perez grew up in the Bronx, one of the most dangerous areas in America, and suffered the trauma of losing six friends to gun violence before even turning 18. They also requested the minimum sentence of 10 years, stating he was a teenager whose brain was not fully developed at the time of the crime.

The judge stated that he considered these environmental factors, but it did not lessen the weight of the crimes he committed.

◆ The Tragedy of the Drill Rap Scene

Kay Flock, who was selected as Billboard's 'R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month' in 2021 and received support from big names like Cardi B, was seen as the next-generation star to lead the New York drill scene, but he has become a tragic example of musical talent wasted on crime.