DJ Screw Record Collection + Screwed Up Records & Tapes

dj screw record collection:

http://www.factmag.com/2011/09/15/university-of-houston-acquires-the-dj-screw-collection/

pictures of the collection:

http://www.ozonemag.com/2011/09/11/university-of-houston-libraries-acquires-dj-screws-records-collection/

screwed up records & tapes:

http://www.factmag.com/2011/07/01/dj-screws-houston-record-store-faces-closure/

I absolutely cannot stand this kind of music... sounds like someone playing a record at the wrong speed.

I'm also ashamed this style of 'music' originated in Houston...

  On 9/15/2011 at 5:06 PM, Joyrex said:

I absolutely cannot stand this kind of music... sounds like someone playing a record at the wrong speed.

 

I'm also ashamed this style of 'music' originated in Houston...

As hyped and beloved as it is, I can understand not getting the appeal whatsoever. It is someone playing the record at the wrong speed. And yes, purple drank and weed are usually key ingredients in the making and listening of chopped and screwed.

Now you can make "chopped and screwed" by fucking around in DAW, but originally the music was a new form of turntablism developed by DJ Screw. His stuff in particular is meticulously made, if you listen to it there's a lot of flanging that occurs and the "chopped" rhythms aren't done randomly, there's a pattern developed over many bars of music. There's real novelty to it.

It's kind of appropriate that it's from Houston, where the music scene is quite limited and sparse for such a huge city. The hip-hop scene is one of the most distinct and important outside of NY and LA. Austin has far more musicians and venues, but much of it is quite safe and typical. Houston has always had a noise scene since the 80s and produced bands like Red Krayola and artists like Jandek in the 60s and 70s. Up until it was forced to stop airing, Rice University had the only 24 hour experimental and underground radio station in the entire state. I dunno, I think chopped and screwed fits in quite well. I'm glad DJ Screw's material is being preserved and organised properly.

the concept is interesting room(s) to move into more complex electronics like the footworks. hop-hauntology?

Love this shit. Good to see people paying their dues. Reminds me of how I need to grab more of his stuff.

  On 9/15/2011 at 5:52 PM, troon said:

the concept is interesting room(s) to move into more complex electronics like the footworks. hop-hauntology?

Some of the better drag/witch-house has been influenced by it structurely:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZEx1AzJjNo&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZEx1AzJjNo&feature=related

I'm surprised more future bass/dubstep hasn't borrowed from the genre more often

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml6tyQqQTW4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml6tyQqQTW4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnYtcfxcZQs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnYtcfxcZQs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dqvswQlh1o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dqvswQlh1o

  On 9/15/2011 at 10:39 PM, joshuatxuk said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZEx1AzJjNo&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZEx1AzJjNo&feature=related

my favorite o0o00 trac

  On 9/15/2011 at 5:06 PM, Joyrex said:

I absolutely cannot stand this kind of music... sounds like someone playing a record at the wrong speed.

 

I'm also ashamed this style of 'music' originated in Houston...

this stuff is dope!

he intentionally plays the records at different speeds..... and cuts then and fucks with them "Screw style", that's the point......

'fraid we have to be disagreeing on this one here since I love some of this tunes :P

I for one love DJ Screw and Chopped and Screwed music in general.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPTUFTK5WSQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DfI0Xab0U8

I appreciate what the chopped and screwed style did to other genres of music. I like DJ Screw's music a lot too, but don't find myself listening to it as often as I do to the people who he may have influenced. For some reason, Hype Williams is coming to mind, though Witch House is probably more obvious a connection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Ltp-uEE9M

  On 9/15/2011 at 5:52 PM, troon said:

hop-hauntology?

interesting.

  On 9/17/2011 at 8:02 PM, KY said:

I appreciate what the chopped and screwed style did to other genres of music. I like DJ Screw's music a lot too, but don't find myself listening to it as often as I do to the people who he may have influenced. For some reason, Hype Williams is coming to mind, though Witch House is probably more obvious a connection.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Ltp-uEE9M

Yeah I think that Hype Williams song is a lot closer that most witch-house, aesthetically anyway.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAlzrknYU7g

^fucking love this one, I think it's a swishahouse joint though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAlzrknYU7g

This is probably the most concise and informative write-up of DJ Screw ever written. I looked up the author and he apparently freelances for Wire Magazine among other publications and he seems very well-regarded.

As someone who always found interest in DJ Screw and enjoyed his work this article not lays out exactly why he's so important (instead of typical circular arguments asserting his importance) but it also breaks down how much misunderstanding and misappropriation has emerged from his work versus being lumped together with the overall genre of "chopped n screwed."

My favorite revelation was the fact that DJ Screw worked exclusively with analog equipment. He mixed on turntables and recorded sets on cassette tape. I knew he put out tapes but I was unaware that they were an essential part of his sound. The hiss and analog method of his pitch-shifting makes his work distinct from imitators and current producers. His mixtapes would often have up to 4 tracks/dubs being mixed together, arguably making him a unheralded originator of mash-up DJ sets.

when i listen to screw i am usually scanning through it, hoping to find something unusual, like his phil collins retake or a particularly odd freestyle or beat. only occasionally do i actually listen to it and let it play. but i love screw.

  On 3/5/2013 at 2:12 AM, joshuatx said:

My favorite revelation was the fact that DJ Screw worked exclusively with analog equipment. He mixed on turntables and recorded sets on cassette tape. I knew he put out tapes but I was unaware that they were an essential part of his sound. The hiss and analog method of his pitch-shifting makes his work distinct from imitators and current producers. His mixtapes would often have up to 4 tracks/dubs being mixed together, arguably making him a unheralded originator of mash-up DJ sets.

one of the reasons i love listening to chopped/screwed stuff. it was a weird background to a lot of evenings/nights a decade or so ago, it was very popular for a while here in Louisiana a couple of local stations would play bits of DJ Screw's tapes, as well as have Fri/Sat night live mixes for hours on end (not by DJ Screw of course, but by local DJs) of chopped and screwed music. love this stuff.

i'm going to be starting a series of ambient releases which are inspired by/derived from chopped and screwed tapes. http://rorqual.bandcamp.com if anyone might be interested in it. only one demo version of a track up currently, but i'm just working on finishing touches of the tracks, track list and art and all.

  On 9/16/2011 at 1:32 AM, Redruth said:

 

  On 9/15/2011 at 10:39 PM, joshuatxuk said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZEx1AzJjNo&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZEx1AzJjNo&feature=related

my favorite o0o00 trac

Hi, Richard.

  On 3/5/2013 at 3:45 AM, auxien said:

 

  On 3/5/2013 at 2:12 AM, joshuatx said:

My favorite revelation was the fact that DJ Screw worked exclusively with analog equipment. He mixed on turntables and recorded sets on cassette tape. I knew he put out tapes but I was unaware that they were an essential part of his sound. The hiss and analog method of his pitch-shifting makes his work distinct from imitators and current producers. His mixtapes would often have up to 4 tracks/dubs being mixed together, arguably making him a unheralded originator of mash-up DJ sets.

 

i'm going to be starting a series of ambient releases which are inspired by/derived from chopped and screwed tapes. http://rorqual.bandcamp.com if anyone might be interested in it. only one demo version of a track up currently, but i'm just working on finishing touches of the tracks, track list and art and all.

Great track, love that rolling bass that comes in, sounds like a hellish drone version of Tha or something - it's dark as fuck but there's some beautiful tones that seep in and out. I could totally hear this being on a Tri Angle release.

Love these two mixsets ..

  On 3/5/2013 at 10:20 PM, joshuatx said:

 

  On 3/5/2013 at 3:45 AM, auxien said:

 

  On 3/5/2013 at 2:12 AM, joshuatx said:

My favorite revelation was the fact that DJ Screw worked exclusively with analog equipment. He mixed on turntables and recorded sets on cassette tape. I knew he put out tapes but I was unaware that they were an essential part of his sound. The hiss and analog method of his pitch-shifting makes his work distinct from imitators and current producers. His mixtapes would often have up to 4 tracks/dubs being mixed together, arguably making him a unheralded originator of mash-up DJ sets.

 

i'm going to be starting a series of ambient releases which are inspired by/derived from chopped and screwed tapes. http://rorqual.bandcamp.com if anyone might be interested in it. only one demo version of a track up currently, but i'm just working on finishing touches of the tracks, track list and art and all.

 

Great track, love that rolling bass that comes in, sounds like a hellish drone version of Tha or something - it's dark as fuck but there's some beautiful tones that seep in and out. I could totally hear this being on a Tri Angle release.

thanks! maybe i need to send it in to them. lol.....they're too clean, my shit is dirty. ha