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DJ Screw, born Robert Earl Davis, Jr. (July 20, 1971 – November 16, 2000), was a central figure in the Houston rap 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 parlance. During the early '90s, 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, Screwed and Chopped 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. Born in Smithville, Texas he began DJing at age 13. [1] A few years later he moved to Houston for opportunities as a rap SFX musician. 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 handfull 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 Dj Screw's hometown Houston, Tx 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 exec Dave Weiner said "It wasn't about the money for him, it was about doing what he wanted to do with his homeboys." [2] DJ Screw often created "chopped and screwed" versions of famous rap songs. Some notable examples of these tracks include R. Kelly's "I Wish" and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's "Budsmokers Only". In 2004, Game Over was a major hit for one of DJ Screw's proteges Lil' Flip. Houston rap artists that have recently signed major record deals, including Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, and Bun B, owe much of their success to DJ Screw and give proper credit in many of their songs. DJ Screw died of a heart attack in 2000.[1] His cause of death was rumoured in the media to be either a codeine overdose or merely the result of long-term buildup of codeine in his system. However, Screwed Up Click member Z-Ro stated in a 2006 interview that Screw's death came from someone putting methamphetamine into his codeine, and he believes that it was someone very close to the Click who sabotaged him.
Lil' Troy, who featured in his songs many members of the Screwed Up Click, managed to break out of Houston's thriving rap scene in the late '90s with "Wanna Be a Baller," one of the few Houston-based songs to reach national audiences. The track was actually written by fellow Houston rapper E.S.G., although he was never credited with it, and still holds a grudge over the situation. The song propelled his debut album, "Sittin' Fat Down South", to respectable success, particularly for a Houston artist. Released in 1998, Universal picked up the album, re-released it in 1999, and helped "Wanna Be a Baller" spread from city to city. That was about all the success Troy had for a while, though. As the late '90s became the early 2000s, "Wanna Be a Baller" still garnered play, but Troy couldn't deliver a strong follow-up single, instead watching his moment of opportunity diminish. His last album was a screwed and chopped version of his album "Back to Ballin." His relatively upscale, contemporary, casual clothing line hit the streets in May 2006. http://www.liltroy.com
Yungstar (born Patrick Lemon) is a rapper who grew up on the west side of Houston, Texas and began rapping at age ten. In the early 1990s, he began working with DenDen, CEO of Straight Profit Records. He first gained attention freestyling over tapes made by DJ Screw and emerged nationally with a guest appearance on Lil' Troy's "Wanna Be a Baller." Straight Profit released his debut album, "Throwed Yung Playa", and it sold 40,000 copies before being picked up and re-released in a revised form by Epic Records in 2000.
Houston, Texas Rapper Kiotti has inked a deal with Unauthorized Entertainmen and has secured major label backing from Asylum/WEA. Kiotti, who was featured in The Source’s “Unsigned Hype,” rejected offers from Def Jam, J Records and Sony, after his single “Hooker Hooker” dropped and was well received by rap fans. Shortly afterwards, Kiotti signed with Unauthorized Entertainment, which is run by former Def Jam and Sony A&R Executive, Selim Bouab. "I feel confident and comfortable with Unauthorized Entertainment taking my street audience to another level,” Kiotti told AllHipHop.com. “I knew it was only a matter of time before someone stepped up to the plate and offered me what I'm worth." Kiotti, 22, became well known in Texas after battling Lil’ Flip in a freestyle contest on Houston’s KBBX (numbers). The ambitious rapper’s major label debut hits stores this summer. Until then, the rapper plans on recording his album and developing his community based program, Young Fam Against Drugs, in which he speaks at various Houston schools education youth on the negative affects of drug use. http://www.kiotti.com/
Michael "5000" Watts is a DJ from Houston, Texas (more specifically, the Homestead area on the northeast side of Houston) who specializes in the chopped & screwed technique of southern rap. Michael Watts is also the founder and owner of Swishahouse Records whose artist roster includes Paul Wall. He founded his Swishahouse Label in 1998. The label was mainly known for releasing mixtapes which featured freestyles from such artists as Slim Thug, Golden Child, Big Pic, Archie Lee, and others. Around 2000, artists like Archie Lee and Big Tiger began to release rap albums under the Swishahouse Label. Meanwhile, Michael Watts was involved in a dispute with Swishahouse artists Big Pic and AD which stemmed from monetary disputes and the failure to release Big Pic's album "I Broke It!" In 2003, Michael Watts was assaulted at the Texas Beach Party by a group of men led by defunct Swishahouse artist Big Pic.In late 2005, Watts got in a monetary dispute with Mike Jones that resulted in Jones leaving Swishahouse, firing his manager T. Farris and signing with Rap-A-Lot Records. Watts and the label are also in talks with anime giant & native Houston company ADV Films for an Anime Screwed & Chopped Megamix series.
UGK (short for Underground Kingz) is a hip-hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas. Formed in 1987 by long-time friends Chad "Pimp C" Butler and Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, they are highly respected by many of their peers, due in part to their longevity and their entrenchment in hip-hop's underground. UGK, from Port Arthur, TX, the neighboring city to Beaumont, TX, released their first album in 1988. Titled The Southern Way, it was distributed by local record label Bigtyme Recordz and only available as an audio cassette. In 1992, they had caught the attention of Jive Records, and were signed to a five album record contract.
Z-Ro (born Joseph Wayne McVey on June 6, 1976) is an American rapper known for his "up-from-nothing" rise to fame, flexibility in rhyme and extensive collaboration with other rap artists and musicians. Z-Ro's popularity has increased rapidly recently, as has been featured on Bun B's single "Get Throwed" with Pimp C Jay-Z, and Young Jeezy. It was through hip-hop that Z-Ro found a channel for his experiences in the hood. By this time he had moved to Missouri City (an area in Houston known to locals as 'Mo City'), and befriended a local rap group, Street Military, who were signed to EMI. Now a member of Street Military's Killa Klan collective, Z-Ro found himself inducted into DJ Screw's infamous Screwed Up Click in 1997. However, Screw wasn't the only one to pick up on Z-Ro's talent, and what followed over the next five years were a string of independent albums, which were considered by fans and critics around the world to be Down South classics.http://www.rapalotrecords.com
John Edward Hawkins (November 1, 1969 – May 1, 2006), better known as Big Hawk or H.A.W.K was a rapper from Houston, Texas and a founding member of the late DJ Screw's rap group the Screwed Up Click. He was also the older brother of Fat Pat, who was killed in 1998. Hawk, 36, was recently married and had two young sons. Hawk released his solo album, "Under Hawk's Wings" on Dead End Records in 2000 and had recorded with Lil' Flip, Lil' Keke, Big Moe, Z-Ro and was featured on the Lil' Troy hit "Wanna Be A Baller." He was respected in the Houston underground rap scene and appeared on numerous mixtapes from artists such as Paul Wall, Lil' Flip, Z-Ro, E.S.G., Lil' Keke and Big Pokey. After Screw's death in 2000, he was the main person responsible for keeping the S.U.C. together, so much so that his nickname was the Five Star General of the Screwed Up Click. He scored a regional hit with 2002's "U Already Know" and was recently featured on the popular single "Swang" by Trae that included a tribute to Fat Pat in 2005. His 2001 self-titled album reached No. 45 on Billboard's list of top R&B and rap albums. In 2006, Hawk, along with Clint Dempsey, aka Deuce, of the U.S. National Soccer team recorded a song for Nike's "Joga Bonito" World Cup soccer promotion called "Don't Tread". He was part of Pepsi's Yahoo! "Houston Mic Pass" with Lil' Flip, Chamillionaire, Trae, Chingo Bling, Bun B, Short Dawg, Magno and Mike D.[1]
Big Moe (born Kenneth Moore) is a rapper from Houston, Texas. Unlike most of the Houston rappers, who tended to offer a more harder approach like hardcore or gangsta style, Kenneth offered a slow and calm style. He both raps and sings, and his producers craft smooth, melodic tracks that bounce along at a leisurely pace. Like many of the Houston based rapper Big Moe began his career freestyling and making flows on DJ Screw's mix tapes before going to Wreckshop Records. Wreckshop Records released the Big Moe's debut album, City of Syrup in (2000), the title nodding to Houston's reputation for drinking codeine-laced syrup, which Moe pours from a Styrofoam cup on the album's cover. "City of Syrup" album featured his single, "Mann!" that Moe intended to be the South Side's answer to Black Rob's East Coast hit "Whoa!". After a year and half later, Moe returned with his second album, Purple World in (2002). It offered a who's who ensemble of Houston vocalists, two versions of Moe's breakthrough single, "Purple Stuff." Priority Records distributed the album, ensuring that it would be everywhere, from the street corners of Houston to the Wal-Marts of suburban America. Even MTV gave Moe's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory-themed video a few rotations. He has been featured in songs with Mike Jones, Z-Ro, Lil' O, Southside Playaz, and Big Pokey. http://www.dawreckshop.com/
Trae (born Frasier Thompson III on November 11, 1978) is a Southern rapper from Houston, Texas. With his cousin Z-Ro, he is a part of the underground rap group Screwed Up Click. Trae and Z-Ro, along with Trae's brother Dougie D, are the founding members of the group Guerilla Maab. Trae first gained exposure on the Houston rap scene when he appeared on Z-Ro's album Look What You Did to Me. In 2003, he began his solo career with the album Losing Composure. Same Thing Different Day (2004) and the acclaimed Restless (2006) soon followed. Trae is currently signed to Rap-A-Lot Records. He was featured in a video called Smash Exclusive: Houston Mic Pass with Lil' Flip, Chamillionaire, Chingo Bling, Bun B, Short Dawg, Big Hawk, and Mike D [1]. He also appeared on the official remix of Yung Joc's song "It's Goin' Down", which earned Joc national attention and became one of the biggest mainstream pop hits of 2006. Trae's trademark is a low, deep, guttural voice. His flow is very fast. In these two areas his style is somewhat reminiscent of Z-Ro's, as well as that of Flesh-N-Bone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Trae sometimes, though not always, mixes multiple vocal layers into his songs. "Real Talk" was featured on the soundtrack to the video game Madden NFL 07. Trae won an Ozone Award for Patiently Waiting Artist for Texas.
South Park Mexican, (Born Carlos Coy, October 5, 1970 in Houston, Texas) is a rapper, currently incarcerated for child molestation. His stage name derives from the South Park neighborhood in which he was raised. In 1995, Coy, along with his brother Arthur, founded his own record label, Dope House Records.[1] He later released his second album, Hustle Town, through his label with distribution in Houston under Southwest
Wholesale. In 2000 he signed a joint venture between his label and Universal Music Group which earned him a $500,000 advance and national distribution.[1]
Lil' Keke (born Marcus Lakee Edwards, 1976) is a rapper from Houston, Texas who is an emcee and member of the Screwed Up Click. Lil' Keke proved himself to be one of the Houston collective's strongest artists, strongly himself with the city's underground rap don of the south. Not only by appearing on countless "Screwed" DJ mixes but also a seemingly endless number of other albums to come out of the South, he also became one of Houston's most visible rappers, releasing solo albums for Jam Down Entertainment. Lil' Keke has become a well known rapper in Houston and continues to record albums annually. His song Southside was a success in 1998. In 2006 he came out with his single "Chunk Up The Deuce" which features Paul Wall and UGK, but in the video it only features Bun B not Pimp C. He currently is signed to Swishahouse Records.
The Geto Boys are a rap group from Houston, Texas, consisting of Scarface, Willie D and Bushwick Bill. They are known for ultra-violent lyrical content and socially conscious messages.Influenced by Run DMC and N.W.A., The Geto Boys earned noteriety for their lyrics dealing with violence, sex and death. Despite the explicit content of their songs, critic Alex Henderson argues that the group "comes across as much more heartfelt than the numerous gangsta rap ... wannabes who jumped on the gangsta bandwagon in the early '90s."[1] The Geto Boys broke new ground with their soulful southern sound (perhaps a precursor to the Dirty South style), which was produced by people like Johnny C, Doug King, their DJ Ready Red, and later John Bido (producer) N.O. Joe and Mike Dean. http://virginrecords.com/geto_boys/home.html
Originally, born in Washington D.C., Chamillionaire moved to Houston, Texas at the age of 4. After his parents, a Muslim father from Oyo State, Nigeria and a Christian mother separated in his early teenage years, Chamillionaire settled into a notoriously dangerous inner-city neighborhood in North West Houston called Acres Homes, which he elaborated upon during an interview with Houston's 104.9 KPTY on October 3. Rap and other forms of secular music, which his parents had highly opposed in their household, became very appealing to the young Hakeem Seriki. Inspired by local rap acts such as The Geto Boys, 8 Ball & MJG, and UGK, as well as other national acts such as N.W.A. and Public Enemy, Chamillionaire began to compose his own rhymes. http://www.chamillionaire.com/
Big Pokey (real name Milton Powell) is a rapper from Houston, Texas and is one of the original members of the Screwed Up Click. While rapping, he attended Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas and even tried out for the NFL at one point. Big Pokey hooked up with DJ Screw in the early '90s and started dropping rhymes on the DJ's many mixtapes.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Lil' Flip was discovered by DJ Screw. Screw influenced Lil Flip to rap at freestyle battles in order to gain respect in his Cloverland neighborhood [1]. At the age of 16 he was signed to Sucka Free Records, a local label founded by Daune "Humpty Hump" Hobbs and Lil' Flip himself. He was a part of the rap group H.S.E. (Hustlaz Stackin' Endz) and the group released an album that introduced Lil' Flip to the world. http://www.lilflipmusic.net/
