How a Houston teenager slowed down records to create a hypnotic, genre-defining sound
In short: Robert Earl Davis Jr., known as DJ Screw, transformed hip hop by manipulating turntable speeds to create a syrupy, slowed-down aesthetic. From his home studio, he birthed the chopped and screwed technique, influencing generations of artists and cementing a cultural legacy that remains deeply embedded in the Houston soundscape.
Born in 1971 in Smithville, Texas, Robert Earl Davis Jr. initially aspired to follow his father into long-haul trucking. However, after discovering his mother's turntable and experimenting with records by B.B. King and Johnnie Taylor, he found his calling. By 1990, he began developing his trademark slowed-down mixes, a style that prioritized atmosphere and texture over the standard tempo of contemporary hip hop. He earned the moniker DJ Screw after a friend noted he would deface records he disliked with a screw, a playful habit that belied the meticulous artistry he would later bring to his craft.
The sound evolved into a regional phenomenon, centered around the Screwed Up Click, a coalition of Houston emcees who freestyled over his hypnotic, decelerated instrumentals. These recordings, known as 'Screwtapes,' were initially sold directly from his house or at his shop, Screwed Up Records and Tapes. The music became inextricably linked to a specific Houston subculture characterized by the consumption of lean—a mixture of codeine cough syrup and soda—as well as elaborate vintage vehicles and opulent jewelry. Davis's influence eventually transcended regional boundaries, impacting experimental electronic artists and mainstream figures like Travis Scott.
Davis died on November 16, 2000, from a codeine overdose complicated by mixed drug intoxication, including Valium and PCP. Despite his premature death, his cultural footprint continued to expand. In 2005, a wider audience began to recognize his contributions, and he was later honored as a 'Texas Music Pioneer' by Governor Rick Perry. Today, his legacy is preserved through the University of Houston Libraries, which houses his papers and approximately 1,500 of his vinyl records. His work remains a subject of ongoing fascination, with film adaptations and documentaries continuing to explore the life of the originator of a sound that is still mutating today.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: DJ Screw
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