Bronx drill rapper Kay Flock, born Kevin Perez, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in a string of violent shootings that terrorised parts of New York’s Bronx between 2020 and 2021. The sentence was delivered on Tuesday, December 16, by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, bringing a dramatic halt to the once-rising career of the 22-year-old artist, whose music momentum was cut short following his arrest in late 2021. The ruling marks a decisive end to what prosecutors described as a violent criminal trajectory disguised as artistic expression.

During sentencing, Judge Liman condemned Perez for glorifying brutality and influencing younger peers through music and social media. He pointed to a concentrated 18-month period in which prosecutors said dozens of people were shot, wounded, or killed in gang-related conflicts across the Bronx. “You taunted, you celebrated and you helped create a cycle of violence,” Liman said, referencing Perez’s online posts boasting about avoiding charges and an Instagram message that read “KILL ALL RATS” after gang members testified against him. The judge described Perez’s conduct as a destructive example to impressionable youth.

Although Liman acknowledged Perez as a “man of promise,” he stressed that the gravity of the crimes demanded a severe sentence. Perez was convicted in March on charges including racketeering conspiracy and attempted murder for his role in four separate shootings while leading the Sev Side/DOA gang. Despite arguments for leniency, the court ruled that the extent of the injuries and the organised nature of the attacks warranted long-term incarceration, prioritising accountability over potential rehabilitation.

In a brief address to the court, Perez pleaded for mercy, insisting he had changed since committing the crimes as a teenager. “What I was at 18 is not what I am today,” he said, adding that he had been young and misguided. Judge Liman rejected the plea, noting that Perez failed to acknowledge the harm inflicted on victims. “To date, you’ve shown no real remorse for your conduct,” the judge said, highlighting a lack of empathy as a critical factor in the sentencing decision.

Before his arrest, Kay Flock had been gaining industry recognition, earning Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month in November 2021 following the release of his debut project The D.O.A. Tape. His rise placed him at the forefront of New York’s drill rap movement, a genre known for raw depictions of street life. Prosecutors argued that Perez weaponised his music to amplify gang rivalries, claiming his fame and financial success were directly tied to real-world violence, making his artistry inseparable from criminal conduct.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick R. Moroney had pushed for a 50-year sentence, aligning with recommendations from the Probation Department, asserting that Perez “celebrated his violence” both publicly and privately. However, defence lawyer Michael Ashley urged the court to impose the 10-year mandatory minimum, citing Perez’s upbringing in one of America’s most dangerous neighbourhoods and the influence of older gang members. While acknowledging those mitigating circumstances — including the fact that six of Perez’s friends died from gun violence before he turned 18 — Judge Liman concluded that prison was unavoidable, stating, “The life of the street, it seems to me, is all you’ve ever known.” The sentence now stands as a stark warning to artists who blur the line between performance and criminal reality.