HAWK Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2010-024

Staff Only

This collection includes materials pertaining to the life and rap career of John Edward Hawkins, or HAWK. Digital files comprise the bulk of the collection and mostly include digital photographs of HAWK and his associates at hip hop related events. The digital files also include personal family photographs of HAWK’s wedding and funeral, as well as scans of newspaper clippings pertaining to his death. All digital files were scanned from originals owned by HAWK’s family.

The collection also contains a smaller amount of physical material, including a notebook used by HAWK to record rap lyrics and his daily activities, promotional material, and the obituaries, or memorial service programs, for HAWK and his brother Fat Pat.

Dates

1998-2006

Creator

H.A.W.K. (Rapper) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Special Collections owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish from copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies of Special Collections material in print or electronic form. For more information, consult the appropriate librarian. Reproduction decisions will be made by Special Collections staff on a case-by-case basis.

Extent

0.25 linear feet

4.2 Gigabytes

Additional Description

Biographical Information

HAWK, also known as H.A.W.K. or Big Hawk, was born John Edward Hawkins in Houston on November 15, 1969. Both HAWK and his brother Patrick Lamark Hawkins, known as Fat Pat, became members of the Screwed Up Click, a group of Houston area rappers centered around the work of DJ Screw. HAWK often worked with DJ Screw to contribute raps to DJ Screw’s famous gray tapes, and he collaborated with Fat Pat, DJ Screw, and others to form the group Dead End Alliance (D.E.A) and Dead End Records.

HAWK released his first solo album, Under H.A.W.K.’s Wings, with Dead End Records in 2000. In 2002, he released his second album, HAWK.

On April 9, 2006, HAWK married his longtime girlfriend, Meshah Hawkins. Shortly thereafter, in May 2006, HAWK was shot and killed. His murder is unsolved.