Houston’s hip-hop heart stopped beating on February 1, 2026, when news broke that Michael “5000” Watts, the pioneering DJ, producer, and founder of Swishahouse Records, had passed away unexpectedly at the age of 49. The cause of death has not been officially disclosed, but tributes from across the music industry and the city he helped put on the map have poured in nonstop, calling him the undisputed architect of the “Chopped and Screwed” sound that redefined Southern rap.
Born Michael Watts in Houston, Texas, he first gained underground fame in the late 1990s by slowing down and chopping up tracks from local rappers — a technique he perfected and popularized as “Chopped and Screwed.” The style — slowing the tempo, skipping beats, adding reverb and echoes — turned ordinary songs into hypnotic, syrupy anthems that captured the laid-back, codeine-fueled vibe of Houston’s South Side. Watts’s mixtapes, sold out of the trunk of his car and passed hand-to-hand, became the soundtrack of a generation.
In 1995, he co-founded Swishahouse with partner OG Ron C, turning it into the most influential independent label in Houston history. The roster included early stars like Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Lil’ Flip, and Slim Thug — many of whom credit Watts with giving them their first real platform. His signature ad-libs (“5000!” “Swisha House!” “Chopped and screwed!”) became cultural shorthand, and his influence spread far beyond Texas, shaping the sound of Southern hip-hop and inspiring producers worldwide.
Artists and peers reacted immediately. Paul Wall posted: “Rest in power, big bro. You gave me my start. Houston won’t be the same.” Chamillionaire wrote: “You taught us how to slow it down and still go hard. Legend forever.” Mike Jones shared a throwback photo with the caption: “5000 gave me the blueprint. RIP to the greatest to ever do it.” Even national figures like Drake and Travis Scott paid homage, with Travis calling Watts “the godfather of screwed-up Houston.”
The city itself mourned visibly. Candlelight vigils sprang up outside the original Swishahouse headquarters on Cullen Boulevard and at several South Side hotspots. DJs across Houston played chopped-and-screwed tributes throughout the night, slowing down Watts’s own classics in homage. Radio stations paused regular programming to air uninterrupted mixes of his work. Mayor John Whitmire issued a statement: “Michael Watts was more than a DJ — he was a cultural architect who gave Houston a voice that echoed around the world.”
Watts’s influence extended far beyond music. He was known for mentoring young talent, supporting local charities, and remaining deeply connected to the communities that first embraced his sound. In recent years he had been less visible in public but continued producing quietly and mentoring up-and-coming artists through Swishahouse’s digital channels.
The suddenness of his passing has left the industry stunned. No official cause has been released, and friends say he had shown no signs of serious illness. The news has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans who grew up on his mixtapes, many of whom shared old cassette tapes, burned CDs, and grainy club footage from the late ’90s and early 2000s.
“Is the ‘Chopped and Screwed’ sound ever going to be the same without its pioneer?” one viral post asked — a question echoing across social media. The answer, most agree, is no. Watts didn’t just create a style; he created a movement, a mood, a way of hearing music that became synonymous with Houston itself.
Tonight, Houston’s streets are quieter. Car stereos across the city are playing slowed-down tracks, windows down, bass rumbling low. The city that gave the world chopped and screwed is mourning one of its greatest sons — the man who taught it how to slow down, feel the rhythm, and let the music breathe.
Rest in power, Michael “5000” Watts. Houston will forever ride for you.
