Many artists choose to go with industry trends that often relegate them to hip hop cliches. Big Hank, on the other hand, chooses to go against the grain. As a military brat and later as a soldier himself, hank had the opportunity to experience East coast hip hop from its inception. The Tulsa native took many years soaking in influences from East, West and Midwest artists, as well as Afro-Cuban rhythms to develope a style that would be at home in any hood..