Image via Complex Original
Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the death of Robert Earl Davis Jr., a.k.a. DJ Screw.
Taken too soon at the still-young age of 29, DJ Screw became a victim
of the culture he promoted when he overdosed on codeine (among other
drugs) on Nov. 16, 2000. But even in death, his legacy lives on. Best
known for his unique mixing technique, known as Chopped and Screwed, in
which he would slow a record down to a sluggish speed, Screw never lived
to see what was once a Houston phenomenon become a nationally
recognized style. So in memory of Screw and to salute his legacy, we put
together 10 Facts You Might Not Know About DJ Screw.
His First Turntables Were Bought At An Auto Store
In the documentary DJ Screw: The Untold Story, Screw’s parents talk about buying him his first turntables at the age of 10 from a Western Auto store. The Houston rap scene is synonymous with hopping in your candy-painted slab and riding around bumping DJ Screw’s music, so we guess it only makes sense that Screw bought his first turntables from a store best known for selling auto parts.
He Got His Name By Literally Screwing Records
No, not like that. Back when Screw was still learning how to scratch, he was a tough critic. According to one interview, when he found a record he didn’t like, he would literally take a screw and scratch up the record so no one could ever play it again. This led to his homies asking, “You think you’re DJ Screw or something?” Thus, a nickname was born and a legend was to follow.
Chopped and Screwed Comes From Smoking Weed, Not Sipping Syrup
Screw insisted throughout his life that the “Screw tapes” weren’t necessarily about sipping on syrup. It was about matching the flow of Houston, whether you were sipping or not. Screw originally wanted to slow down his records so that when he was smoking he and his boys could bob their heads real slow (pause) to the beat and understand what these dudes were talking about. He once broke down the logic behind it, saying, “You know, when you smoke weed, you laid-back and it slows you down. You don’t react fast, so the music sounded better slowed down.”
His Favorite Rapper Was C-Bo
DJ Screw worked with damn near every rap group in the Houston rap scene, but a rapper from Sacramento, Calif., C-Bo, was his favorite. We’re not quite sure why, but what Screw says is law. How are you gonna argue with a legend?
He Crowned Lil Flip “The Freestyle King”
Although C-Bo may have been his favorite rapper, we’re guessing he was mightily impressed by a young Lil Flip because he dubbed him “The Freestyle King.” Too bad Screw couldn’t talk Flip out of his pause-worthy debut album cover.
He Once Made A Personalized Mixtape For Glenn Robinson
Just in case we haven’t hammered the point home, Screw’s tapes were very popular. But they were also very personal. In fact, after former NBA star Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson heard one of Screw’s tapes, he sent him a personal request for his very own Screwed-up tape. This wasn’t uncommon for Screw; he used to fulfill personalized requests from all types of people from all over the country.
His Tapes Were So Popular, Police Thought He Was Selling Drugs
Rappers may love to rap about how they had fiends lined up for the dope they were supposedly once pitching, but how many can boast that they had people lined up for their actual music without some kind of major promotion? According to Screw, before he had his own store, he used to sell tapes out of his garage. But the demand for his tapes was so crazy that cars would be lined up around the block before he would open shop for the day. This is what led to the police kicking in his door, thinking he was selling drugs. Of course, he was just slanging music.
He Was A Workaholic
According to some counts, Screw was responsible for over 1000 mixtapes. And since he was active on the scene for a little over a decade, it’s fair to say he was making close to 100 tapes a year. Although he was officially said to have died of a codeine overdose, some of his friends insist that he worked himself to death. Sure, they may be in denial, but there’s no denying that Screw’s grind was crazy. And although his work ethic helped make him a legend, it also made his catalog difficult to access. If you’ve got hundreds of mixtapes to choose from, where does a new fan start?
He Once Turned Down A Deal With Priority Records
In the mid-’90s, Dave Weiner of Priority Records offered DJ Screw a major label deal. At the time, Priority was an independent powerhouse thanks to it’s partnership with No Limit and a roster that included the likes of Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and even Jay-Z. Although Screw wasn’t known nationally, he was a major player in the Houston rap scene, so he turned down the offer. Years later, Weiner would speak on the deal and Screw by telling MTV News, “It wasn't about the money for him; it was about doing what he wanted to do with his homeboys."
Drake’s “Nov. 18th” is an ode to DJ Screw’s “June 27th”
Screw may have been a regional icon in his lifetime, but his legacy lives on thanks to all the Houston rappers who still rep for him. However, his influence has spread all over the map. A diverse range of artists, including White Ring, Oneohtrix Point Never, and even Shamantis (who slowed down Justin Bieber’s “U Smile” by 800 percent to create a huge viral hit), have all obviously been influenced by Screw. And despite his pop tendencies, Drake is actually a huge Screw fan (he’s been quoted as saying, "Sometimes I feel guilty for how much I love Screw and the S.U.C."). In fact, Drizzy’s "November 18th" is actually an ode to one of Screw’s most famous freestyles, “"June 27th."