Kay Flock Convicted in RICO Trial, Faces Mandatory Life Sentence

Rapper Kay Flock, legally known as Kevin Perez, has been convicted on several serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and use of a firearm resulting in death, following a high-profile trial that highlighted tensions between law enforcement and the drill rap music scene.

Inner City Press reported that while Perez was acquitted of a murder charge, the jury found him guilty of attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and related firearms charges.

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed the 21-year-old as the leader of the Bronx-based Sev Side gang, involved in multiple shootings that terrorized the community. The defense argued that Perez was being targeted not just as an individual but as a representative of drill rap, a genre often scrutinized for its violent lyrics.

“This case is not really against Kevin Perez. It is against Kay Flock. It is US versus drill rap…,” the defense stated.

Evidence presented in court included Perez’s music and visuals, particularly his video “Who Really Bugging,” which prosecutors claimed referenced real-life violent events. According to AllHipHop, Perez now faces a mandatory life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for July 16.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky remarked on the verdict, emphasizing the impact of Perez’s actions on the community. “Kevin Perez, aka ‘Kay Flock,’ was the leader of a neighborhood street gang known as Sev Side / DOA, and with that gang, he committed a series of gang-motivated shootings,” Podolsky said.

He added that Perez had used his music to threaten rivals and glorify violence, contributing further to the cycle of fear and aggression in the streets.

The conviction marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over the intersection of music, artistic expression, and criminal activity. Authorities first indicted Perez on federal murder and racketeering charges in February 2023, linking him and his alleged gang associates to seven shootings in the Bronx between June 2020 and February 2022.

Perez had already been in custody, awaiting trial for the 2021 murder of alleged gang member Hwascar Hernandez outside a Harlem barbershop, which resulted in the not guilty verdict mentioned earlier.

The case against Kay Flock underscores the complex challenges and controversies surrounding artists in the drill rap scene and the broader implications for the music industry and communities affected by gang violence.