DJ Screw, born Robert Earl Davis, Jr. (October 20, 1971 – November 16, 2000)[1], 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. He was the main music mixer for the Screwed Up Click.
He was born October 20, 1971 in Smithville, Texas to Robert Earl Davis, Sr and Ida Davis. DJ Screw had lived in Smithville, Houston, and Los Angeles; at one point his father took him to Houston in order to keep him from trouble. He received his first turn table at age 10. 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.[2]
He became famous after releasing some of his famous "Screw Tapes" and unique phrases such as: "lay'in it dawn", and "kno~ what im saya'n". His music is looked up to these days by many lovers of hip-hop.
He began deejaying at age 13, and started his trademark slowed down mixes in 1984.[3] 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 1990s.[citation needed] 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[clarification needed] releases: "All Screwed Up, Vol. 1" (1995), "3 'N the Mornin Part 1" (1995), "3 'N the Mornin Part 2 Blue" (1996), "3 'N the Mornin Part 2 Red" (1998) 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." [4]
DJ Screw created "Chopped and Screwed" versions of famous rap songs. Some notable examples of these tracks include R. Kelly's "I Wish,"Will Smith's "Gettin Jiggy Wit It", The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Warning", 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 Z-Ro, Lil' Keke, and Big Moe, 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; fans, some driving from far away areas such as Dallas, lined by his door to receive his recordings.SO NOW YOU KNOW SCREW UP CLICK STAND UP H-TOWN SALUTE!!!!DJ SCREW..HERES THE
OFFICIAL DOWNLOAD LINE-UP:
UGK4LIFE(ORIGINALS) MIXED BY DJBIGTEXAS
PEOPLES CHAMP MIXED BY DJBIGTEXAS
A.B.N.(Originals) "IT IS WHAT IT IS" Mixed By DJBIGTEXAS
