Marquette "Marq" Hawkins, formerly known as DJ Cli-N-Tel, [1] is the mayor of California City, California. He is the first African-American mayor of the town. [2] He is a former member of hip-hop group World Class Wreckin' Cru with Dr. Dre. [1]
Hawkins was a child actor at six months old, appearing on at least one television show. He also acted in school as well as church plays. [3] He was influenced by Miss L. Brown, the English and drama teacher at his junior high, Vanguard Junior High School in Compton, California, to act in a school play called As Sure As You're Born. He won Best Supporting Actor for his role when the play was taken to a city-wide competition. Following this, Hawkins begged his mother to take him on auditions. However, upon hearing "Rapper's Delight" for the first time, Hawkins felt he wanted to pursue rap. From there, he and his friends formed a group and entered into talent shows. Hawkins's friend would tap dance, Hawkins's cousin would beatbox, and Hawkins would rap over the beat. [3] The group was so successful that when Hawkins entered high school, he formed a DJ crew, called the Invasion Force, and his own production company, Diamond Star Productions. Eventually the crew entered a contest at Eve After Dark, a teen nightclub run by Lonzo Williams. When the group won a $100 prize, Williams offered to help Hawkins create a record with himself and other young men from the area, including Andre Young and DJ Yella. This was the inception of Hawkins's involvement with the World Class Wreckin' Cru with Dr. Dre. [4] Hawkins was a writer on all seven tracks to the group's debut album, World Class . During this time, Hawkins mentored a young Ice Cube and Sir Jinx, teaching them how to rap.
After leaving World Class Wreckin' Cru, Hawkins started his own label, his own film production company for music video work, and began writing scripts. In 1994, Hawkins was a producer on Concrete Roots , a compilation album by Dr. Dre.
Hawkins attended California State University, Fullerton and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies. [5] He later earned a Master's in Education from the University of Phoenix. [5]
As a youth, Hawkins participated in sit-ins, marches, and community organizing events. He was a participant in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets as well as Boy Scouts. [3]
In 2001, Hawkins and other young men from the industry, including KRS-One, Minister Server, and Kurtis Blow, authored the International Hip-Hop Declaration of Peace, a document meant to interrupt the rap and hip-hop violence that had emerged in the late 1980s and 1990s. It was presented to UNESCO and the United Nations. [3] [6]
Hawkins worked as a teacher and professor and served on school councils and cultural advisory boards [3] before running for mayor of California City. He was an adjunct professor at California College of Arizona State University and a member of the faculty at LA Film School. [7]
Hawkins is a father. [8]