Family, friends honor DJ Michael '5000' Watts

Name: Family, friends honor DJ Michael '5000' Watts
Uploaded: 2026-02-05T15:57:21Z
Description: Houston hip-hop icon Michael "5000" Watts, the founder of Swishahouse Records and a pioneer of the "chopped and screwed" sound, has passed away following a recent hospitalization. A central figure in Texas music history, Watts is credited with launching the careers of stars like Slim Thug, Paul Wall, and Mike Jones, forever changing the landscape of Southern rap.

Houston hip-hop icon Michael "5000" Watts, the founder of Swishahouse Records and a pioneer of the "chopped and screwed" sound, has passed away following a recent hospitalization. A central figure in Texas music history, Watts is credited with launching the careers of stars like Slim Thug, Paul Wall, and Mike Jones, forever changing the landscape of Southern rap.

Posted February 5, 2026 9:57am CST