Fat Pat

 

Fat Pat is one of the most influential founding fathers of Houston's rap scene as he set the precedent for Texas rap. Patrick Hawkins's short-lived career brought national attention to his down south sound, neighborhood, city, Screwed Up Click, Dead End Alliance, Wreckshop Records and the great state of Texas while connecting the Third Coast to the rest of the world. Fat Pat will forever be sampled by Texas artists in order to show homage for his contributions that helped put Texas rap on the map. R.I.P. P.A.T.

-- Amy Mueller, Founder of Bounce and Turn (Houston's monthly Texas Rap Party)

 

Patrick Lamark Hawkins was born in 1970 and raised in the Dead End area of the Southside of Houston. Known as Fat Pat, he was one of the earliest rappers to freestyle (improvise) on Houston producer DJ Screw's innovative mixtapes. The numerous rappers who appeared on DJ Screw's tapes called themselves the Screwed Up Click.

Houston rapper Fat Pat developed a following for the commanding delivery and streetwise attitude he displayed on DJ Screw's mixtapes. This photograph portrays him as a charismatic man and sharp dresser.

Fat Pat, "Do You Like What You See" 12", Wreckshop Records

DJ Screw's personal copy, Gift of Robert E. Davis, Sr.

Based on his popularity on DJ Screw's mixtapes, Fat Pat was signed to the Houston independent label Wreckshop Records. "Do You Like What You See" was one of the first singles released by the label.

 

Fat Pat and the Wreckshop Family, "Jammin Screw" 12", Wreckshop Records

DJ Screw's personal copy, Gift of Robert E. Davis, Sr.

This song captures the culture around DJ Screw and the Screwed Up Click, which included highly customized cars called slabs that featured distinctive rims called swangas. "Rollin' down the street on them swangas jammin' on that Screw."

 

DJ Screw, Wineberry Over Gold CD, Screwed Up Records & Tapes

This is the CD version of a mixtape created by DJ Screw and featuring a ferocious freestyle by Fat Pat. "Wineberry over gold" refers to the paint job on the customized cars known as "slabs."

 

 

Fat Pat, Ghetto Dreams CD, Wreckshop Records

The legendary Houston hip hop album Ghetto Dreams features the classic single "Tops Drop."

 

Back cover of Fat Pat "Tops Drop" CD, Wreckshop Records

Gift of SoSouth

This classic single celebrates the customized cars known as slabs that were often owned by members of the Screwed Up Click and friends.

 

 

Tragically, Fat Pat did not live to see the release of his debut album Ghetto Dreams. On February 3, 1998, he was shot and killed after a show. Only 27 years old, he left behind a son, Patrick Hawkins, Jr.

 

Fat Pat of the Screwed Up Click, who inspired many Houston and other rappers, was buried on February 7, 1998. In this photograph, his older brother HAWK can be seen in the grey jacket.

 

The lyrics below were written following Fat Pat's death by his brother HAWK, who was also a rapper in the Screwed Up Click:

"Next up 2 bat was a cat named Fat Pat. It was
a proven fact he was the leader of the pack.
Then Fat Pat was killed Things were going downhill
We had a void 2 fill The Click had 2 rebuild."