Charles Hicks

Charles Edward Hicks Jr., a promising and charismatic 20-year-old rapper from Milpitas, California, known to the world as Charizma, was on the verge of a breakthrough when his life was tragically cut short. Born in San Jose on July 6, 1973, Charizma began his journey in hip-hop at the age of 13, honing his skills at high school talent shows. His passion and talent for rapping were undeniable, drawing inspiration from the golden age of hip-hop. He was known for his witty, nimble, and curse-free lyrical style, and friends remembered him as a straight-edge individual who didn't drink, smoke, or use drugs.

In 1990, at age 16, Charizma’s life took a pivotal turn when he met 19-year-old producer Chris Manak, who would become known as Peanut Butter Wolf. The two quickly became best friends and formed a powerful creative duo. They recorded demos and performed throughout the San Jose area, building a reputation for their fun and inventive music. Their sound caught the attention of a manager after being played on the San Jose State radio station, KSJS 90.5 FM. This led to offers from major record labels, and the duo eventually signed with Hollywood BASIC, a hip-hop subsidiary of Disney Music Group.

Despite their growing buzz, which included features in Billboard magazine and opening for acts like Nas and The Pharcyde, Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf’s time with the label was fraught with creative friction. The label executives and the duo had conflicting visions for their music. Charizma expressed frustration, stating, "The stuff we wanted to do was not what Hollywood wanted... It's like they almost liked the image [of us] more." After recording a number of tracks between 1991 and 1993, they were released from their contract without having produced a full album. Only a promotional cassette and a flexi disc were released during this time.

On the afternoon of December 16, 1993, Charizma was on his way to pick up his mother. While sitting in his car at a stoplight in front of a church in East Palo Alto, a man approached him in what is believed to have been a robbery attempt. The man shot Charizma once in the chest. The young artist died from his injury. The senseless act of violence occurred in broad daylight and sent shockwaves through his community and the burgeoning Bay Area hip-hop scene.

The investigation into Charizma's murder saw a swift development. A preacher who had been watering the lawn of the church at the time of the shooting witnessed the incident and was able to identify the assailant. Based on this witness account, police arrested a suspect later that same day. The case, however, did not generate prolonged media coverage regarding its legal resolution, and details of the suspect's prosecution are not widely available in public records.

In the wake of this devastating loss, Peanut Butter Wolf was profoundly affected and stopped making music for a time. Three years later, in 1996, he founded the independent record label Stones Throw Records. The label's very first release was a 12-inch single of "My World Premiere," a track he had recorded with Charizma. This act was a tribute to his late friend and set the foundation for a label that would become a bastion of creative freedom for underground artists.

A decade after his death, Charizma's music was finally given a proper release. In 2003, Stones Throw Records issued the album "Big Shots," a collection of the tracks the duo had recorded between 1991 and 1993. The album was met with critical acclaim, celebrated as a treasured piece of hip-hop history that showcased Charizma's immense, unrealized potential. In the years since, Stones Throw has released more of their archived work, including the comprehensive 2014 box set, "Circa 1990-1993." These posthumous releases have ensured that Charles Hicks Jr.'s voice was not silenced by violence, allowing his legacy as the gifted MC Charizma to live on.