Big Hawk

Background

Big Hawk, also credited as H.A.W.K., was born John Edward Hawkins on November 15, 1969, in Houston. He was the older brother of rapper Fat Pat. The University of Houston's Brothers in Rhyme exhibit notes that he worked at American General Insurance Company before rapping full time. Fat Pat introduced him to DJ Screw in 1992, and he became an original member of the Screwed Up Click, appearing on many of Screw's tapes.

Dead End Records

With Fat Pat, DJ Screw, Lil' Keke and Koldjack, he helped set up D.E.A. (Dead End Alliance) and Dead End Records, named after the dead-end block off Martin Luther King Boulevard where he grew up. Wikipedia and the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) give different dates for the group album Screwed for Life (late 1998 and 1994).

His first solo album, Under H.A.W.K.'s Wings, came out January 4, 2000, on Dead End Records. It was recorded between 1997 and 1999, featured DJ Screw, Fat Pat, Lil' Keke, Big Moe, Big Pokey and E.S.G., and reached No. 68 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. Fat Pat had been killed in 1998, and DJ Screw died in November 2000. With other members in prison, Hawk became known as the "Five Star General of the Screwed Up Click" for keeping the group together.

Later Work and Death

He started Ghetto Dreams Entertainment and released HAWK (2001, Game Face/Ghetto Dreams), which reached No. 45 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart on the strength of "You Already Know." Guests included Z-Ro, Lil' O, Big Pokey and Trae. Wreckin' 2004, a duo album with Lil' Keke, came out on Presidential Records. TSHA also names "Back, Back," "Playas Get Chose" and "Chillin' Wit My Broad" among his known songs.

On May 1, 2006, he was shot and killed outside a house on Redfern Drive in Houston, where he had arrived early for a dominoes game. He was 36, and the case remains unsolved. Bun B described him as a peaceful family man. Endangered Species came out after his death in 2007 on Ghetto Dreams, with Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Devin the Dude and Chamillionaire, and reached No. 54 R&B/Hip-Hop. A second duo album with Lil' Keke, Still Wreckin', followed in 2008.