Rapper Kay Flock, whose real name is Kevin Perez, was sentenced on Tuesday, December 16, to 30 years in prison for his involvement in a series of shootings within his Bronx neighborhood. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, effectively derails the 22-year-old artist's music career, which was just gaining momentum before his arrest in 2021.

Judge Liman sharply criticized Perez for setting a damaging example for his young peers by glorifying violence. The judge highlighted a period of less than 18 months, between 2020 and 2021, during which prosecutors stated that dozens of individuals on Bronx streets were shot at, injured, or killed due to gang-related activities. Liman stated, “You taunted, you celebrated and you helped create a cycle of violence,” further noting Perez's social media boasts about being exonerated on a top charge and an Instagram post reading “KILL ALL RATS” after a trial where gang members testified against him.

While acknowledging Perez as a “man of promise,” Judge Liman underscored the necessity of a lengthy prison term due to four distinct shootings that resulted in multiple injuries, which occurred while Perez led a gang known as “Sev Side/DOA.” Perez had been convicted in March on charges including racketeering conspiracy and attempted murder.

During his defense, Perez asserted that he had changed, stating, “What I was at 18 is not what I am today,” and appealing for a second chance, adding, “I was just a kid. Didn’t really know better.” However, Judge Liman countered this by criticizing Perez for failing to express any concern for his victims, remarking, “To date, you’ve shown no real remorse for your conduct.”

Perez had achieved recognition in November 2021, being named Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month following the release of his debut album, “The D.O.A. Tape.” This established him as a rising figure in New York’s drill rap scene, a genre often characterized by performers wielding weapons and lyrics containing slang about violence, threats, and taunts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick R. Moroney cited this aspect of his music, arguing for a 50-year prison sentence—the same as recommended by the court’s Probation Department officer—stating, “He was very good at celebrating his violence and getting under the skin of his rivals.” Prosecutors further emphasized in their sentencing brief that Perez had signed with a music label and used violence to advance his career, asserting, “The music that had glorified gang violence made the defendant famous and now rich,” and accused him of promoting violence through private messages.

Defense attorney Michael Ashley advocated for the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, arguing that his client grew up in one of the nation’s most dangerous neighborhoods and was influenced by an older individual who encouraged gang activity. Judge Liman acknowledged these mitigating factors, considering that the crimes occurred while Perez’s brain was “still evolving and maturing,” and noting that six of his friends had died from gun violence before Perez turned 18. The judge concluded by saying, “The life of the street, it seems to me, is all you’ve ever known.”