DJ Screw facts for kids

Quick facts for kids DJ Screw
Background information
Birth name	Robert Earl Davis Jr.
Born	(1971-07-20)July 20, 1971 Smithville, Texas, U.S
Died	November 16, 2000(2000-11-16) (aged 29) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Chopped and Screwed Southern hip hop gangsta rap psychedelic hip hop
Occupation(s)	Disc jockey rapper
Instruments	Turntables vocals sampler TR808
Years active	1983–2000
Labels	Screwed Up Bigtyme Wreckshop
Associated acts	Screwed Up Click Z-Ro Trae tha Truth UGK Lil' Keke Fat Pat Big Hawk Big Moe Big Pokey South Park Mexican

Robert Earl Davis Jr. (born July 20, 1971 – died November 16, 2000), known as DJ Screw, was an American hip hop DJ. He was from Houston, Texas. He is famous for creating the "chopped and screwed" DJ style. This style slows down music and adds special effects. DJ Screw was a very important person in the Houston hip hop scene. He also led a group called the Screwed Up Click.

Davis made over 350 mixtapes. He was known as a music innovator, especially in Texas. After he passed away in 2000, more people around the world discovered his music. His unique style has influenced many different artists since then.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Robert Earl Davis Jr. was born in Smithville, Texas. His father was a truck driver. His mother, Ida May Deary, moved around with young Robert. They lived in Los Angeles for a few years before returning to Smithville when he was nine.

When he was young, DJ Screw wanted to be a truck driver like his dad. But then he saw the 1984 movie Breakin', which was about break dancing. He also found his mother's turntable. These things made him interested in music. He started taking piano lessons and became very good. He could even play classical songs by ear.

Later, his interest changed to DJing. He would take his mother's records and "scratch" them on the turntable. This meant slowing down the record and then letting it speed up again to create new sounds. He bought his own records and practiced with his friend Trey Adkins, who would rap. One day, Trey called him "DJ Screw" because Robert Earl would sometimes scratch out records he didn't like with a screw. Robert Earl liked the name, and it stuck.

Music Career and the Screwed Up Click

DJ Screw started DJing when he was 12 years old in 1983. He began making his famous slowed-down mixes around 1990. By 1991-1992, this style became his main focus. At first, he made these mixes for friends. Soon, people wanted to buy them. His friend Toe offered to pay him ten dollars for a mix, and that's how his business started.

In the early 1990s, he invited rappers from Houston to perform on his mixes. This group of artists became known as the Screwed Up Click, or S.U.C. Many members of the S.U.C. are important figures in Houston hip hop. Some early members included Big Hawk, Big Moe, E.S.G., and Fat Pat. Later, artists like Z-Ro and Trae tha Truth also joined. DJ Screw's career grew when he signed with BigTyme Recordz.

Davis later moved to a house where fans would line up to buy his recordings. People would drive from far away cities like Dallas and Waco to get his music. He then opened his own store called Screwed Up Records and Tapes in Houston. This store has been shown in many music videos and documentaries. The original store closed, but it has since moved to a new location. There are now several Screwed Up Records and Tapes stores across Texas. Fans can also buy music and merchandise online.

Impact and Legacy

DJ Screw passed away on November 16, 2000. His influence on the Houston music scene and beyond has been huge. He is seen as a creative artist who made a truly unique sound. This sound is still growing and changing today. The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, even honored him as an official Texas Music Pioneer.

The Houston Press newspaper called DJ Screw's 1995 album 3 'n the Mornin' (Part Two) one of the best Houston rap albums ever. They said it helped shape Houston's hip hop culture. When Houston hip hop became popular across the country around 2004, many of the biggest artists were connected to DJ Screw's group, the Screwed Up Click. Many artists outside of Houston hip hop have also been influenced by his work.

The music style DJ Screw created has become a special part of Houston's culture. He also has a dedicated group of fans who call themselves "screwheads." A music festival and car show are held each year to honor DJ Screw. The first DJ Screwfest in 2006 had 200 cars and featured Houston hip hop artists.

The 2007 documentary film Screwed In Houston tells the story of Houston hip hop and how DJ Screw's "chopped and screwed" style influenced it. The film includes videos of him from just before he passed away. The University of Houston Libraries has a special collection called the DJ Screw Papers. It includes about 1500 vinyl records he owned, his original recordings, photos, and more. Some of these items have been made digital. A book about DJ Screw is also being written, and a movie about his life is being developed by Sony.

Discography

Albums Released During His Life

Albums Released After His Death

Official Screwtape Mixtape Series

The "Screwtapes" were mixtapes that DJ Screw made himself. He mostly sold them from his house or at shows. Many of his friends would freestyle and talk over the music. After his death in 2000, these mixtapes were re-released with "Diary of the Originator: Chapter" titles. They were not released in the order they were made. These works were created between 1993 and 2000. New chapters continue to be released.

Images for kids

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  DJ Screw