Kay Flock's rapid rise in Bronx drill ended abruptly as the 22-year-old rapper was sentenced to 30 years in prison on racketeering and attempted murder convictions.
Kay Flock has been a rising star in the rapping world. Just a few years ago, the rapper, once a chart-topping force with his new-age music, is now feeding the tabloids, but this time, it’s for a shocking reason. At just 22, Kay Flock has been sentenced to spend the next three decades behind bars.
On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Kay Flock, aka Kevin Perez, received 30 years in federal prison after being convicted on multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy and attempted murder. Here’s a closer look at the rapper’s once-promising career and how his momentum collapsed following the violent charges that ultimately derailed it.
Born Kevin Perez on April 20, 2003, the rapper is the son of Dominican and Puerto Rican parents and was raised in the Bronx. His music often reflected the environment in which he grew up, with beats and lyrics rooted in the realities of street survival. By the time he was 18, he was already a rising star under the stage name Kay Flock. His songs, including Is Ya Ready, Being Honest, and later Not In The Mood, racked up millions of streams worldwide.
The rapper’s most renowned piece has been Not In The Mood, which reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 and catapulted him to national fame. By the end of 2021, he had millions of monthly Spotify listeners, with industry buzz suggesting he might be the next rising star.
The U.S. District Judge reportedly announced a sentence of 30 years in prison on Tuesday after finding Kay Flock (Kevin Perez) guilty of four shootings. He was convicted of being tied to a series of gang violence in the Bronx. In March 2025, he was found guilty on charges including racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and firearms offenses.
Prosecutors argued that Perez played a pivotal role in leading the Sev Side DOA gang, a Bronx-based street gang, and was directly involved in multiple shootings between 2020 and 2021. According to federal records, the crimes left several victims wounded, including some bystanders who were caught in the crossfire.
During his sentencing, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman made it clear that the sentence was more than just punishment, but a cautionary message to Perez about sending the wrong message to young fans. According to the Associated Press, Liman said during the sentencing:
“You are lucky no one was killed in those instances. I am not considering the incident when you shot and killed a victim. These crimes were part of a pattern that would have continued... You taunted, you celebrated, and you helped create a cycle of violence.”
The judge pointed out how the rapper bragged on social media after the trial, claiming that he was exonerated on one of the most serious charges, posting the phrase, “KILL ALL RATS,” following testimony from gang members. Judge Perez warranted a lengthy prison sentence for Kay Flock, citing his role in four separate shootings that injured multiple people while he led the DOA gang.
Kay Flock was first arrested in December 2021 after he was linked to the fatal shooting of Hwascar Hernandez in New York City outside a Harlem barbershop. The Court acquitted him of first-degree murder, but found him guilty of assault with a deadly weapon, firearm discharge, racketeering conspiracy, and attempted murder.
Prosecutors ultimately charged Perez under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), accusing him of being a leader in the Sev Side DOA gang. According to the government, Perez and other members carried out retaliatory shootings across the Bronx, acts that prosecutors said were later celebrated and taunted through music, videos, and social media.
Initially, prosecutors had asked for a 50-year sentence for Kevin Perez, citing his “habit” of violence, taunting victims, and bragging about shootings online, in addition to his alleged leadership role in the DOA gang. The court cited the rapper’s music videos and gritty lyrics as evidence that he used to threaten rivals and reinforce gang status.
According to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, “Perez and his gang members carried out a string of shootings that struck both rival gang members and innocent bystanders.” Ultimately, the judge sentenced the defendant to 30 years in prison, to be followed by a minimum of five years of consecutive time.
Before his sentence was announced, Kevin Perez addressed his part in the court, saying he is no longer the kid he was at 18. The rapper argued that he was “just a kid” back then, and he believes he has changed while incarcerated. AP quoted his words to the court:
“What I was at 18 is not what I am today. I was just a kid. Didn’t really know better.”
Judge Liman acknowledged Perez’s difficult upbringing and the reality that his brain was still developing at the time of his heinous crimes. He also noted that six of the rapper’s friends had been killed by gun violence before he turned 18. Still, he couldn’t show remorse for his victims, a key factor in imposing his lengthy sentence.
Though brief, Kay Flock’s career arc has been quite impactful. In less than two years, he went from a teenage freestyler to one of the most recognizable names in the Bronx. What are your views on his sentencing?
Read Next: Meet Rachel Sennott: Starred In 'I Love LA', Allegedly Dating GRAMMY Winning Producer, Blake Saltkin