Rapper Kay Flock sentenced to 30 years in prison

Bronx drill rapper Kay Flock, whose real name is Kevin Perez, was sentenced on 16 December to 30 years in federal prison after a federal judge handed down a long term following convictions tied to gang violence and racketeering. The sentence, delivered in Manhattan by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, marks a dramatic and highly publicised end to the 22‑year‑old’s burgeoning music career.

Perez had faced multiple charges that stemmed from widespread gun violence in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan between 2020 and 2021. A jury in March found him guilty on counts that included racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, along with firearm offences related to violent clashes tied to the gang he was linked with. He had been acquitted of a first‑degree murder charge connected to the killing of Hwascar Hernandez in Upper Manhattan after the jury accepted a self‑defence argument, but that did not prevent a lengthy prison term for the other convictions.

During sentencing proceedings, Judge Liman was clear in his condemnation of Perez’s actions, telling him directly that he had “taunted, celebrated and created a culture of violence” that left serious harm in its wake. Prosecutors highlighted Perez’s dual identity as both an artist and a gang affiliate, arguing that he used his rising fame to fuel fear and intimidation and that his music and online posts boasted about shootings and threatened rivals, contributing to a cycle of retaliation on city streets.

Officials described Perez as the leader of a Bronx‑based group referred to as Sev Side/DOA, with members carrying out shootings to protect territory and bolster status. According to a Department of Justice press release, the gang supported itself through bank and wire fraud schemes that allegedly helped fund Perez’s music activities, while its members engaged in violent clashes with rival crews.

Perez’s courtroom statement acknowledged personal change, with him telling the judge that “What I was at 18 is not what I am today,” a sentiment he argued showed growth. However, the judge and prosecutors rejected that as evidence of genuine remorse, pointing to Perez’s prior social media behavior, including posts that celebrated violence and responded angrily when co‑defendants cooperated with authorities.

Reaction to the sentencing has been intense across social media platforms. Commenters debated the severity of the sentence and its implications for drill rap, local communities and American justice. Some posters argued the punishment was necessary given the level of violence, while others questioned whether Perez’s music career should factor into sentencing.

As Perez heads to serve his sentence, the case stands as one of the most prominent legal reckonings involving a figure from the drill rap scene, a subgenre that has often been critiqued for its lyrical focus on street violence even as it gains mainstream attention.