DJ Screw
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Template:Infobox musical artist 2
DJ fuck up, 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 southside of the city to flow on his Screw tapes. This eventually led to the formation of the Screwed Up Click.
Born in Smithville, Texas 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). In addition to those, he released hundreds of mixtapes which are still available from his store Screwed Up Records and Tapes in Houston, Texas which opened in 1998. His mixtapes include titles such as "June 27th" and "The Final Chapter."
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, 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. 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, long-time Screwed Up Click member Z-Ro revealed in a 2006 interview that the autopsy performed on DJ Screw revealed a sample of methamphetamine mixed in with the codeine. Z-Ro, along with other S.U.C. members, has stated that Screw did not use meth, and fully believe that someone within their large group sabotaged Screw by slipping the substance into his codeine one night, leading to his death.
Partial discography
- "3 N' the Mornin' Pt. 1
- "3 N' the Mornin' Pt. 2" (exists in 2 versions, blue and red, blue is more with Houston artists such as ESG, Botany Boyz, Al-D, Point Blank, and red is more with Westcoast classic artists, such as 2Pac, Dr. Dre & Ice Cube, Spice 1, Ant Banks, Warren G or DJ Quik)
- "11.16.00" (the date of his death)
- "All Screwed Up, Vol. 2"
- "All Work, No Play"
- "As the World Turns Slow"
- Fully Loaded"
- "I Wanna Get High Wit Da Blanksta"
- "June 27 (DJ Screw album)|June 27"
- "N' 2 Deep"
- "Next Episode"
- "Playaz Nite"
- "Screw Tape In The Deck"
- "Sentimental Value"
- "Soldiers United 4 Cash Series"
- "Soldiers United 4 Cash Platinum Edition"
- "Stayin' Down"
- "The Final Chapter (DJ Screw album)|The Final Chapter"
- "The Legend (DJ Screw album)|The Legend"
- "Unconditional Love (DJ Screw album)"
- "WHERE IT ALL BEGAN APT-110"
See also
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)
- DJ Screw MySpace
- DJ Screw Lyrics