ticle:The high-octane world of New York drill rap has always been defined by its proximity to the raw, unfiltered reality of the streets. But for Kevin Perez, known to millions as Kay Flock, that reality finally reached a definitive and somber conclusion in a Manhattan federal courtroom. On December 16, 2025, the 22-year-old artist was sentenced to 30 years in prison, marking a tragic end to the career of a young man once hailed as the next king of the Bronx.

The sentencing was the final chapter of a trial that began in March 2025, serving as the culmination of years of investigation into the “Sev Side” or “DOA” street gang. As U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman handed down the 360-month term, the atmosphere in the room was heavy with the weight of lost potential. While Perez managed to secure a major legal victory earlier this year by being acquitted of the top charge—murder in aid of racketeering related to the 2021 death of Oscar Hernandez—the remaining convictions proved enough to ensure he will spend the prime of his life behind bars.

The Charges and the Final Verdict

The road to this 30-year sentence began with a two-week trial in March, where a jury found Perez guilty of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and a firearm discharge offense. These charges stemmed from a violent period between 2019 and 2022, during which prosecutors alleged the Sev Side gang reigned over the Bronx and Manhattan through targeted shootings and gang-motivated assaults.

Despite the acquittal on the primary murder count—where the jury accepted a self-defense argument—Judge Liman emphasized at the sentencing that the harm Perez caused was “immense.” The prosecution successfully argued that Perez led a neighborhood street gang that used violence to instill fear and asserted dominance. For his fans, the acquittal on the murder charge was a glimmer of hope, but for the legal system, the 30-year sentence represents a landmark victory in the effort to dismantle the cycle of violence associated with the drill scene.

A Message of Defiance and Remorse

Following the initial verdict in March, Kay Flock took to Instagram to address his supporters. In an audio message, he maintained a surprisingly resilient tone. “My spirits and faith are as high as they’ve ever been,” he stated, thanking his fans for their prayers. However, the rapper’s public response took a controversial turn when he posted a message celebrating “beating the top count” but ended with a deadly warning: “KILL ALL RATS.”

This blatant threat toward cooperators and “snitches” was brought up by Judge Liman during the sentencing. The judge noted that Perez had “taunted and celebrated” the violence and criticized him for not expressing genuine concern for his victims. Although Perez addressed the court on Tuesday, saying, “What I was at 18 is not what I am today,” the judge found that his actions, particularly those post-conviction, showed a lack of real remorse.

The Sting of Betrayal

The “rats” Flock referred to were not abstract concepts. The trial featured a devastating moment of betrayal when Vance Brockington, a former friend and associate, took the stand as a cooperating witness. Brockington’s testimony was a dagger to the defense; he detailed how Flock had allegedly led a revenge shooting after Brockington himself had been shot.

The courtroom drama intensified when Brockington’s own sister testified that her brother was lying. Despite this, the prosecution’s evidence—which included CCTV footage, social media posts, and even music lyrics—proved too substantial to overcome. The government argued that Flock’s lyrics were not merely creative expression but “autobiographical” confessions of his crimes.

Drill Music on Trial

A central theme of the proceedings was the controversial use of rap lyrics as evidence. Prosecutors pointed to songs like “Who Really Buggin” as direct references to real-world shootings. They argued that the drill rap culture fosters a deadly cycle: commit a crime, brag about it in a song to raise your status, and then face retaliation.

Flock’s defense team fought back, claiming the case was a “veiled attack on drill rap” and that the lyrics were fictionalized accounts of street life rather than literal admissions. They argued that using art against Black and Latino artists unfairly stifles creative freedom. While this argument helped secure the murder acquittal by suggesting self-defense in the Oscar Hernandez incident, it wasn’t enough to clear him of the broader racketeering conspiracy that ultimately led to his 30-year sentence.

The Mother’s Perspective

Behind the “Kay Flock” persona is Kevin Perez, a son whose mother tried desperately to steer him toward a different path. In past interviews, “Mama Flock” shared how she supported his music career as a way to keep him off the streets. She recalled him asking for money for studio sessions—sometimes hundreds of dollars a day—which she provided from her savings during the COVID-19 lockdowns. She saw his flare for fashion and his talent for music as his ticket out of the Bronx’s cycle of poverty and violence.

The Bronx, the birthplace of Hip Hop, remains one of the poorest and most dangerous boroughs in New York City. With a violent crime rate significantly higher than the city average, young men like Perez often find themselves trapped in gang allegiances before they are even old enough to vote. For Mama Flock, the 30-year sentence is the realization of her worst fears.

The End of an Era

As the 30-year sentence begins, the music industry is left to reflect on another wasted talent. Before his arrest, Kay Flock had signed a rumored $3 million deal with Capitol Records and was named Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month. He was a rising star with a “ridiculously gifted” delivery who had the potential to change the trajectory of his life and his community.

In prison, Flock briefly attempted to pivot his image, launching a “Stop the Violence” campaign in 2023. However, the prosecution successfully argued that this was a facade, pointing to his continued gang associations and social media taunts. Judge Liman’s decision to hand down 30 years—plus five years of supervised release—serves as a stern warning to those who use their fame to fuel “fear and intimidation.”

For now, the #FreeFlock movement continues to trend online, but the cold reality of the federal system has taken hold. The story of Kay Flock is no longer just about hit records and viral videos; it is a grim cautionary tale of how quickly a multimillion-dollar future can be dismantled by the very lifestyle it seeks to portray. Would you like me to analyze the specific lyrics used in the trial or look into the status of other Sev Side members?