screw you

welcome to the screw head. a blog dedicated to the music of dj screw; a prominent figure in the rap scene up until his death in late 2000. although born in l.a., screw moved to houston at an early age and it is there he helped develop southern rap music. he has influenced everyone from lil' wayne to z-ro, and has created a movement based on his unique mix tapes and recorded freestyle sessions. this blog will focus on analyzing his music.

why do i want to analyze screw's music? isn't it just rap, like the stuff on the radio? hardly so. to me screw is the epitome of an artist. what he managed to do was capture an era and that is what a real artist does. he is known for creating a style known as "chopped and screwed" music. through this unique style he brought to the attention of the public several things. for one, he re-recorded rap standards modified and interpreted to his liking. and second, he illuminated the voices of lost and outspoken minorities. the raw emotion heard on many of these tracks is obvious.

when i listen to dj screw i can't help but be reminded of old blues records. there are many parallels between old-school blues and rap (more on that in a future post), but today the blues is thought of as an art form: appreciated and valued. the same can't be said about rap music currently, but i feel things will change many decades from now. i bring this up because many will dismiss my thoughts as useless ramblings. but obviously i feel otherwise and hope to educate those who wish to learn of his music, and to bring enjoyment to those in search of his recordings.

on a final note, i want to say that i've never been to houston nor do i claim to be “hard” or “ghetto”. i don't claim to be an expert on him neither. what i do have is a pair of ears, an opinion, and an analytical mind. with these tools i hope to interpret the music as i hear it. i hope you find something here you enjoy -- maybe a song you can relate too -- and that you read and listen with an open mind.

with that i'd like to leave you with an introductory piece of music. this track is the first track off of one of my most favorite screw tapes -- and one of his most well-known – and i think it sums up my feelings about his music. it’s a laid back instrumental with a monologue by e.s.g., a rapper closely affiliated to dj screw. e.s.g. warns the listener, “watch yo screw.” i've written enough for one post, so i'll let you figure it out why we must be warned. enjoy.