Fat Pat

{{Short description|American rapper (1970–1998)}} {{Other uses}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Use American English|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = Fat Pat |image = Fat Pat.jpg |image_size = |caption = Hawkins in 1997 |birth_name = Patrick Lamark Hawkins<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitalcollections.lib.uh.edu/concern/texts/2801ph94k?locale=en#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-208%2C101%2C1607%2C1607|title = University of Houston Digital Library: HAWK Photographs and Memorabilia: Obituary (Memorial service program) for Fat Pat}}</ref> |alias =  |birth_date = {{birth date|1970|12|04}} |birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|1998|2|3|1970|12|04|mf=y}} |death_place = Houston, Texas, U.S. |genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|Southern hip hop}} |occupation = Rapper |instrument = |years_active = 1993–1998 |label = {{hlist|Screwed Up Click|Wreckshop}} |associated_acts = {{hlist|Screwed Up Click|Big Hawk|Lil' Keke|DJ Screw|Mike D|E.S.G.|Big Pokey|C-Note|Pymp Tyte|3-2|Big Steve|Southside Playaz|Dead End Alliance|South Park Mexican}} |website = }} '''Patrick Lamark Hawkins''' (December 4, 1970 – February 3, 1998), better known by his stage name '''Fat Pat''' (also known as '''Mr. Fat Pat'''), was an American rapper from Houston, Texas, who was a member of DEA (Dead End Alliance) with his brother John "Big Hawk" Hawkins, DJ Screw, and Kay-K, all original members of the Screwed Up Click (S.U.C.).<ref name="Simmonds">Simmonds, Jeremy (2008) ''The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches'', Chicago Review Press, {{ISBN|978-1-55652-754-8}}, p. 575</ref><ref name="Newton">Newton, Michael (2009) ''The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes'', Facts On File Inc, {{ISBN|978-0-8160-7818-9}}, p. 160</ref>

Wreckshop Records released his first two albums, ''Ghetto Dreams'' and ''Throwed in da Game'' in 1998 after his death. Later releases were on the Screwed Up Click label.

== Murder == {{See also|List of murdered hip-hop musicians}} On February 3, 1998, Hawkins was fatally shot by an unknown gunman at 10440 South Drive, Houston, Texas, after going to a promoter's apartment to collect an appearance fee. The promoter was not home, and he was shot in the corridor outside the apartment.<ref name="Newton" /> He was 27 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/1999-02-11/music/that-s-the-breaks/2/|title=That's the Breaks|last=Lindsey|first=Craig D.|date=February 11, 1999|website=www.houstonpress.com|publisher=Houston Press|access-date=July 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.governor.state.tx.us/music/tour/pioneers|title=Texas Music Office -|website=www.governor.state.tx.us|access-date=July 10, 2016}}</ref> Fat Pat's murder still remains unsolved.

Eight years later, his brother, rapper Big Hawk, was also shot to death by an unknown assailant.<ref name="death">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/2316-100_162-1496696-3.html|title=Rap Deaths: John Edward Hawkins|work=CBS News|access-date=July 10, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614192249/http://www.cbsnews.com/2316-100_162-1496696-3.html|archive-date=June 14, 2010}}</ref>

== Legacy == Houston-based UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis uses Fat Pat's 1998 single "Tops Drop" as his walkout song when he fights,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Houston-Derrick-Lewis-graffiti-mural-east-downtown-16366435|title=Houston shows love to UFC's Derrick Lewis with mural east of downtown|last1=Young|first1=Matt|publisher=Houston Chronicle|quote=It's hard to find another professional athlete who reps Houston the way Derrick Lewis does. From his patented walk to the UFC octagon as Fat Pat's "Tops Drop" plays to always throwing up the H, Lewis constantly shows love to his hometown.|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=December 20, 2021}}</ref> including when he fought Ciryl Gane for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 265 in Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/The-Walkmen-All-UFC-265-Walkout-Tracks-180944|title=The Walkmen: All UFC 265 Walkout Tracks|last1=Fridley|first1=Mike|last2=Pettry|first2=Jay|publisher=Sherdog|quote=Hometown headliner Derrick Lewis kept his flavor local as he went with the late Fat Pat's "Tops Drop," a Southern rap hit from the late 1990s.|date=August 7, 2021|access-date=December 20, 2021}}</ref> Comedian Shane Gillis used the same track as his intro music for his 2023 Netflix comedy special "Beautiful Dogs". The Houston Cougars men's basketball team uses "Tops Drop" as its intro song for home games at the Fertitta Center. As reported by the Houston Press, well over a decade since Hawkins' death, his music continues to be played heavily in the Houston area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/fourteen-years-after-his-death-fat-pats-legacy-continues-acting-bad-for-scrilla-6761253|title=Fourteen Years After His Death, Fat Pat's Legacy Continues Acting Bad For Scrilla|last1=Serrano|first1=Shea|publisher=Houston Press|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=December 20, 2021}}</ref>

== Discography ==

=== Albums === *1998: ''Ghetto Dreams'' *1998: ''Throwed in da Game'' *2001: ''Fat Pat's Greatest Hits'' *2004: ''Since The Gray Tapes'' *2005: ''Since The Gray Tapes Vol. 2'' *2008: ''I Had a Ghetto Dream'' *2025: ''Dreams To Reality: A Tribute to Fat Pat''

=== With Dead End Alliance === *1998: ''Screwed for Life''

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable" !align="center" valign="top" width="40"|Year !align="left" valign="top"|Song !align="center" valign="top" width="40"|U.S. Hot 100 !align="center" valign="top" width="40"|U.S. R&B !align="center" valign="top" width="40"|U.S. Rap !align="left" valign="top"|Album |- |align="center" valign="top"|1998 |align="left" valign="top"|"Tops Drop" |align="center" valign="top"|- |align="center" valign="top"|46 |align="center" valign="top"|5 |align="left" valign="top"|''Ghetto Dreams'' |- |}

=== Featured singles === {| class="wikitable" !align="center" valign="top" width="40"|Year !align="left" valign="top"|Song !align="center" valign="top" width="40"|U.S. Hot 100 !align="center" valign="top" width="40"|U.S. R&B !align="center" valign="top" width="40"|U.S. Rap !align="left" valign="top"|Album |- |align="center" valign="top"|1997 |align="left" valign="top"|"25 Lighters" (DJ DMD featuring Lil' Keke & Fat Pat) |align="center" valign="top"|- |align="center" valign="top"|- |align="center" valign="top"|- |align="left" valign="top"|Twenty-Two: P.A. World Wide |- |align="center" valign="top"|1999 |align="left" valign="top"|"Wanna Be a Baller" (Lil Troy featuring Fat Pat & Big Hawk) |align="center" valign="top"|70 |align="center" valign="top"|40 |align="center" valign="top"|31 |align="left" valign="top"|''Sittin' Fat Down South'' |- |align="center" valign="top"|2006 |align="left" valign="top"|"Swang" (Trae featuring Fat Pat & Big Hawk) |align="center" valign="top"|- |align="center" valign="top"|- |align="center" valign="top"|- |align="left" valign="top"|''Restless'' |- |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fat Pat}} Category:1970 births Category:1998 deaths Category:1998 murders in the United States Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:20th-century American rappers Category:African-American male rappers Category:20th-century American male rappers Category:Deaths by firearm in Texas Category:Murdered African-American people Category:Rappers from Houston Category:Screwed Up Click members Category:Underground rappers Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:Unsolved murders in Texas