Long, Live DJ Screw

Though not a national holiday or international event, June 27th is historical in its own right thanks to the man who would shape Houston’s music scene forever.

Robert Davis better known to fans as “DJ Screw,” is the creator of the sub-genre of southern rap/hip-hop know as Screwed and Chopped. Davis helped put H-town on the map with his signature technique of slowing down songs from various hip-hop, rap and R&B artists and quickly repeating certain parts of a song to create the “chopped” effect enjoyed by so many.

Soon after he would form the Screwed Up Click consisting of Houston rap legends including Lil Keke, Big Moe, Big Pokey, and others.

During his reign, DJ Screw continued blessing the south with “Screwtapes,” cassette tapes filled with contributions from members of the Screwed Up Click and other artists performing with Davis’ screwed effect on each recording. Most memorable are his famous 35-minute freestyle June 27 and album 3 n’ the Morning.

DJ Screw was pronounced dead in a Houston recording studio November 16, 2000 from a codeine overdose. Almost several decades after his death, his memory continues to live on through H-town artists and DJs alike from Slim Thug, Z-ro, DJ Michael 5000 Watts, and DJ OG Ron C, and featured in songs from today’s chart-topping artists.

North side, South side, East side and West side, Houstonians prepare to pour a cup and turn their radios up to 979.9 The Box for a full day of hits to celebrate the life of DJ Screw.