Hawk And T.I.'s Posse Are Latest Victims Of Gun Violence

While the April 11 shooting incident that left D12 member Proof and another man dead has made headlines over the past three weeks, gun violence has also plagued lesser known rappers in recent days.

Big Hawk (real name John Edward Hawkins), 36, was shot several times and killed in Houston, Texas on Monday night while waiting to meet a friend outside a house. Police don't have any suspects in the murder.

Hawk released a self-titled album in 2001 and was a member of the late DJ Screw's rap collective, the Screwed Up Click. He was an important member of the Houston underground rap scene and was included on mix tapes from a number of artists, including Paul Wall. Hawk's brother, rapper Fat Pat, was killed in 1998.

In Cincinnati, four members of rapper T.I.'s entourage were shot during a gun battle that took place on Interstate 75 early Wednesday morning. A dispute broke out at an after-hours party at Club Ritz following a show by T.I. and Yung Joc. Shots rang out around 3:20 a.m. after the fight moved outside. Three men and one woman were injured.

Police told NBC affiliate WLWT that the incident took place after T.I. left the club and shots were fired into two vans carrying his entourage as they drove down the highway. The names and conditions of the victims hadn't been released as of Wednesday morning, but homicide detectives were called to the crime scene. Two of the victims were treated and released from hospital, but it's believed that the two others received life-threatening injuries. T.I. wasn't hurt.

In New York City, hip-hop radio station Hot 97 is facing eviction after rapper Jamal "Gravy" Woolard was shot in the butt outside its studios on April 26. The owner of the building that houses the studios has filed legal papers to have the station removed due to fear for the lives of other tenants or passers-by, and a claim that Hot 97 promotes violence. There have been three shootings, two bomb threats and more than a dozen other incidents — involving the likes of Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent and Lil' Kim — at the station in the past six years.