Charizma Dies – Today in Hip-Hop

On this day, Dec. 16, in hip-hop history...

1993: Milpitas, Calif. rapper Charizma was shot and killed near his home on Dec. 16, 1993.

Born Charles Hicks in 1973, the charismatic rapper is best known for his time working with the producer, Peanut Butter Wolf, when the rapper and producer formed a duo in 1990.

Peanut Butter Wolf and Charizma ended up getting signed to Hollywood Records, which at the time, was known as Hollywood Basic. They released a promo cassette, which featured singles, "Red Light, Green Light" and "Jack The Mack." These were Charizma's earliest mass releases.

Unlike other rappers' murders, Charizma's killing was apparently was the result of a freak accident, as the MC was shot and killed in broad daylight in what is believed to have been a robbery gone wrong in December of 1993.

While reportedly headed to pick up his mother, Charizma was sitting in his car at a stop light in front of a church in East Palo Alto when a man approached the young MC and shot him once in the chest. Charizma died soon after, but the shooter was arrested the same day thanks to being identified by a preacher who was watering the lawn outside the church.

Following the tragic end to Charizma's life, Peanut Butter Wolf would go on to found Stones Throw Records and release a posthumous album dedicated to his fallen friend titled, Peanut Butter Wolf & Charizma’s Big Shots in 2003.

R.I.P., Charizma.

See 13 Rappers Who Were Shot While They Were in the Spotlight