DJ Screw

DJ Screw, born Robert Earl Davis, Jr. (June 27, 1971 – November 16, 2000), was a central figure in the Houston hip hop scene. His innovation included the trademark technique of slowing down the basic tracks of a cut when he remixed it. This process is called "screwing" a song. Slowing down the song was supposed to recreate the effect of recreationally using Promethazine with Codeine also known as "lean" or "purple drank" in Houston slang. He was the main mixtape/street album mixer for the huge Houston hip hop South Park Coalition.

Biography

He was born in Bastrop, Texas to Robert Earl Davis, Sr. DJ Screw had lived in Smithville, Houston, and Los Angeles; at one point his father took him to Houston. There DJ Screw lived in a working class, mostly African American neighborhood near Hobby Airport described by Michael Hall of Texas Monthly as "hard-edged." DJ Screw dropped out of Sterling High School during his 10th grade year and focused on music.

During the early 1990s, he invited some of Houston's most renowned rappers from the south side of the city to flow on his Screw tapes. This eventually led to the formation of the Screwed Up Click. What originally was only a fad of Houston, Chopped and Screwed music started getting more widespread attention with the introduction of p2p programs such as Napster in the late 90s. This ultimately led to DJ Screw getting recognition across the country and being known as one of biggest faces in modern hip-hop. He released five above ground releases: "All Screwed Up, Vol. 1" (1995), "3 'N the Mornin Part 1" (1995), "3 'N the Mornin Part 2 Red" (1996) "3 'N the Mornin Part 2 Blue" (1996), and "All Work, No Play" (1999).

Although DJ Screw only has a handful of above ground releases, he has recorded hundreds of different mixes, released primarily on cassette tape. These are still available for purchase at the "Screwed Up Records and Tapes" located on Cullen Blvd in Houston which opened in 1998. His mixtapes include titles such as "June 27" and "The Final Chapter." In the mid-1990s Priority Records offered DJ Screw a lucrative record deal. Screw turned down the offer. Former Priority Records executive Dave Weiner said "It wasn't about the money for him, it was about doing what he wanted to do with his homeboys."

DJ Screw often created "Chopped and Screwed" versions of famous rap songs. Some notable examples of these tracks include R. Kelly's "I Wish," Biz Markie's "Nobody Beats the Biz," and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's "Budsmokers Only". In 2004, Game Over was a major hit for one of DJ Screw's protégés Lil' Flip. Houston rap artists that have recently signed major record deals, including Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug, owe much of their success to DJ Screw and give proper credit in many of their songs.

After his music became popular, he moved to a house near Gulfgate Mall with long time friend OG Ron C of Swishahouse Records; fans, some driving from far away areas such as Dallas, lined by his door to receive his recordings.

Death

The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on DJ Screw concluded that Screw didn't solely die from a codeine overdose, but from exhaustion. There has also been speculation that his death was caused by a "long-term buildup" of codeine in his body, but since codeine has a very short half life (just a few hours), and since the human body actually gains tolerance to opioid agonists like codeine after repeated use, this speculation can be dismissed.

In a 2006 interview, long-time Screwed Up Click member Z-Ro revealed that the DJ Screw's autopsy found a sample of methamphetamine mixed in with the codeine. Z-Ro and other members of the Screwed Up Click have stated that DJ Screw did not use methamphetamine, and that they fully believe that someone within their large group murdered DJ Screw by slipping the methamphetamine into DJ Screw's codeine. However, Z-Ro's claims are not only contradicted by the autopsy results, which did not report any finding of methamphetamine, but also by DJ Screw's manner of death (respiratory failure - not usually a problem for meth users). Other speculations say that the methamphetamine was just an ecstacy tablet in his system.

In the wake of DJ Screw's death Chopped and Screwed music became a bona fide sub-genre of American music in the early part of the 21st century as nearly every major hip hop label in America released at least one Chopped and Screwed version of a Southern Hip-Hop release in their catalog. (See partial list below)

Discography

• "3 N' the Mornin' Pt. 1 (predominantly featuring classic West Coast artists such as 2Pac, Dr. Dre & Ice Cube, Spice 1, Ant Banks, Warren G or DJ Quik)
• "3 N' the Mornin' Pt. 2" (predominantly featuring Houston artists such as ESG, Botany Boyz, Al-D, and Point Blank)
• "10 Deep-2"
• "11.16.00" (the date of his death) bootleg
• "100% Business"
• "2000 Tears"
• "9 Months Later"
• "97 Live"
• "All Screwed Up, Vol. 1"
• "All Screwed Up, Vol. 2"
• "All Work, No Play"
• "Another Day Another Dollar"
• "Another Platinum Hit"
• "Apt. 100-Where It All Began" bootleg
• "As the World Turns Slow"
• "Back on the Streets '96"
• "Bangin Down the Strip"
• "Best of the Best"
• "Best of the Best Vol. 2"
• "Best of the Best Vol. 3"
• "Biggie Vs. Pac"
• "Blowin Big Behind Tint"
• "Blue over Grey"
• "Blue 22"
• "Crawfish Festival"
• "Crumbs to Bricks"
• "Codeine Fiend"
• "Da Funk is on my Mind (1994)"
• "Dancin' With Candy"
• "Duck Sick"
• "Eyes on the Prize"
• "Endonesia"
• "Final Chapter"
• "Freestyle Kings"
• "Fully Loaded"
• "G Love"
• "Greatest Hits"
• "Headed 2 Da League"
• "If The Price Is Right"
• "High Wit Da Blanksta"
• "Hurricane Duck"
• "June 27"
• "Late Night Fuckin Yo Bitch"
• "Leanin' On A Switch"
• "Lets Call Up On Drank"
• "Mash For My Dreams"
• "Money Over Bitches"
• "N' 2 Deep"
• "Next Episode"
• "Playaz Nite"
• "Popped Up Sittin Low"
• "Popped Up, Smoked Up"
• "Ridin' High"
• "Ridin' Dirty"
• "Screwed Up Texas"
• "Screw Tape In The Deck" bootleg
• "Sentimental Value"
• "Shit Don't Stop"
• "Show Up & Pour Up"
• "Sippin' Codine"
• "Soldiers United 4 Cash Series"
• "Something 4 Dat Trunk"
• "Southside Holdin'"
• "Southside Still Holdin'"
• "Southside Riders"
• "Southside Most Wanted"
• "Southsiders"
• "Stayin' Down"
• "Still A G At 27"
• "Still Hoopin'"
• "Sr8 Wreckin'" (all freestyles)
• "Symptoms Of A Thug"
• "Syrup Sippers"
• "The Final Chapter"
• "The Legend"
• "Unconditional Love"
• "Weed and Hennesy" bootleg
• "Who's Next Wit Plex"
• "Wineberry Over Gold"
• "Wreck Shop"
• "Your Ugly Bitch

External links

• Screwed Up Records & Tapes - Official site (requires flash)
• Swangin' and Bangin' ... and getting to that other level with the disciples of screw - HoustonPress feature article on DJ Screw by Megan Halverson (published Feb. 1997)
• One Last Spin - HoustonPress article by Craig D. Lindsey on DJ Screw's passing (published Nov. 2000)
• Davey D article regarding the death of DJ Screw
• Murder Dog interview with DJ Screw 8/8/99
• Soldiers United 4 Cash DVD - Documentary on DJ Screw & the Screwed Up Click produced prior to his death by REL Entertainment, LLC]