As we rejoice the unparalleled profession of the legendary Robert “DJ Screw” Davis Jr. through the week of his passing virtually 1 / 4 century in the past, we determined to discover a few of Houston’s most revered artists and the way their profession was based and expanded on account of their connection to DJ Screw. Because the recognized originator of the well-known “chopped and screwed” sound and the chief of H-City’s Screwed Up Click on, Screw launched greater than 350 mixtapes earlier than his premature passing in 2000. With chopped and screwed as his signature sound, he made tapes which he bought out his Screwed Up Information and Tapes retailer in Houston, solidifying himself as a businessman and a music innovator.
Listed below are simply a few of H-City’s most revered artists that admittedly wouldn’t be the place they’re at this time if it weren’t for the inspiration laid by the late DJ Screw.
Trae Tha Fact
Houston-born emcee and activist Trae Tha Fact, together with longtime collaborator Z-Ro of their group ABN, made their ascension within the recreation as members of the legendary Screwed Up Click on, with the 44-year-old dropping 11 solo albums, over 25 mixtapes and now serves as VP of T.I.’s Grand Hustle Information. Trae can also be well-known for his philanthropy because the founding father of each Angel by Nature, a charity geared toward serving to the impoverished youth of Texas.
Lil Flip
Named Houston’s “freestyle king” by Screw himself, Lil Flip acquired his break within the recreation when Screw heard his debut album The Leprechaun on H-City based mostly label Sucka Free Information and put him down with the Screwed Up Click on. 4 years later, Flip signed a take care of Sony City Music and dropped his third album and first double-disc CD U Gotta Really feel Me, which contained the favored single “Recreation Over(Flip”, incomes him his first platinm plaque of his profession.
Paul Wall
Although Pau lWall repped North Houston and was beneath Michael “5000” Watts’ Swishahouse Information, his hottest singles, 2005’s “Sittin Sidewayz”, which samples a line from Large Pokey’s verse on DJ Screw’s “June twenty seventh” and Mike Jones’ “Nonetheless Tippin” remix that includes Screwed Up Click on’s Lil Keke and Large Pokey, set the tone during Wall’s profession. At present, Wall can also be an completed and proficient mixtape and occasion DJ, recognized for producing mixtapes within the well-known chopped and screwed type, which was invented by DJ Screw.
Large Moe
Originating from Houston, Texas, and as one of many founding members of the “Unique Screwed Up Click on,” Large Moe began out in music by freestyling on DJ Screw mixtapes like lots of his Houston friends. Large Moe’s debut album, Metropolis of Syrup, dropped in 2000). The title was a nod to Houston’s popularity for consuming codeine-laced syrup known as “lean” or “sizzurp”, which Moe pours from a Styrofoam cup on the album’s cowl.
DJ Mike “5000” Watts
Within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, chopped and screwed music began to maneuver to the north facet of Houston by the use of Swishahouse Information founder DJ Michael “5000” Watts. A rivalry between North and South Houston over the true originators of chopped and screwed started to come up, however Michael “5000” Watts all the time gave credit score to DJ Screw because the originator of chopped and screwed music, though Watts has been a proponent of the slogan “screwed and chopped” as a substitute of “chopped and screwed”.
Following the dying of DJ Screw, his musical affect unfold everywhere in the southern United States. Later in 2000, the Memphis-based group Three 6 Mafia got here out with their tune “Sippin’ on Some Syrup”. The tune debuted as a minor hit however later grew to become one in every of Three 6 Mafia’s hottest songs.
The 2007 documentary movie Screwed in Houston particulars the historical past of the Houston rap scene and the affect of the chopped and screwed subculture on Houston hip hop. In 2011, College of Houston Libraries acquired over 1,000 albums owned by DJ Screw. A few of the albums had been a part of an exhibit in early 2012 and, together with the remaining, went obtainable for analysis in 2013. At present, the chopped and screwed music style has been added to all types of streaming companies together with iTunes, Spotify and has crossed over to obtain mass mainstream attraction.