HOUSTON \u2013 Houston hip-hop pioneer DJ Michael \u201c5000\u201d Watts, best known for helping popularize the city\u2019s signature \u201cchopped and screwed\u201d sound, has died.<\/p>\n
Watts passing was confirmed in a statement from Swishahouse Records, of which Watts founded.<\/p>\n
The statement says Watts died Friday at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael \u201d5000\u2033 Watts was more than a founder, he was a movement. As the creator of Swishahouse Records, he helped define the sound, spirit, and global influence of Houston hip-hop,” the statement read. \u201cWatts expanded on Houston\u2019s chopped and screwed legacy, transforming mixtape culture into a worldwide phenomenon and giving a platform to voices that would go on to shape an era.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Houston-based DJ, producer, and founder of Swishahouse Records, Watts began his career in the late 1980s in the city\u2019s Homestead neighborhood. He first gained attention by creating mixtapes that quickly spread throughout Houston. In the 1990s, he shifted to a slower mixing style that helped shape what would become the iconic \u201cchopped and screwed\u201d sound, a style that helped put Houston\u2019s underground hip-hop scene on the global music map.<\/p>\n
Through Swishahouse Records, Watts played an important role in building the careers of several well-known Houston artists, including Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, and others. His mixtapes helped introduce local talent to wider audiences at a time when Southern artists often struggled to gain mainstream recognition.<\/p>\n
In addition to his work with Swishahouse, Watts was a longtime voice on Houston radio. As a familiar presence on 97.9 The Box, he helped guide the sound and culture of Houston hip-hop both on the air and behind the scenes, further cementing his influence on the city\u2019s music scene.<\/p>\n
Beyond his work as a DJ and producer, Watts was a respected and steady presence in Houston\u2019s music community, known for his long-standing commitment to supporting local artists and preserving the city\u2019s sound. His influence can still be heard in today\u2019s hip-hop, especially in the continued use of slowed and chopped vocal styles.<\/p>\n
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