Houston Native Music Industry Mogul Michael "5000" Watts Dies at 52
Michael "5000" Watts, the visionary founder of Swishahouse, a record label that played a pivotal role in shaping the sound and business of Southern Hip-Hop, has passed away at the age of 52. According to his family, Watts died due to complications from an irregular heartbeat.
Watts' life was marked by a passion for music, which began as a DJ spinning mixtapes as a teenager. His hustle eventually led him to a weekend DJ position at Houston radio station 97.9 The Box, where he met fellow entrepreneur Ronald "DJ OG Ron C" Coleman in 1994. Together, they founded Swishahouse, a collective that helped popularize the chopped-and-screwed sound pioneered by DJ Screw.
Through Swishahouse, Watts discovered and elevated artists who would go on to become household names, including Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, and Mike Jones. His catalog includes influential projects such as Swisha '98, Choppin Em Up Part 2, The Day Hell Broke Loose, and The Day Hell Broke Loose 2.
The label's success was a significant factor in the platinum-selling albums of Mike Jones' Who Is Mike Jones? and Paul Wall's The People's Champ. Watts' impact on Texas Hip-Hop and the music industry as a whole cannot be overstated. Tributes have poured in from across the community, with artists such as Paul Wall and Slim Thug paying tribute to Watts' guidance, friendship, and enduring legacy.
A community event celebrating Watts' life and lasting legacy is currently in the works and will be announced on his social media platforms, according to his family. Watts leaves behind a legacy that forever altered the sound of Southern Hip-Hop and opened doors for generations of Texas artists to come.
Michael "5000" Watts, the visionary founder of Swishahouse, a record label that played a pivotal role in shaping the sound and business of Southern Hip-Hop, has passed away at the age of 52. According to his family, Watts died due to complications from an irregular heartbeat.
Watts' life was marked by a passion for music, which began as a DJ spinning mixtapes as a teenager. His hustle eventually led him to a weekend DJ position at Houston radio station 97.9 The Box, where he met fellow entrepreneur Ronald "DJ OG Ron C" Coleman in 1994. Together, they founded Swishahouse, a collective that helped popularize the chopped-and-screwed sound pioneered by DJ Screw.
Through Swishahouse, Watts discovered and elevated artists who would go on to become household names, including Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, and Mike Jones. His catalog includes influential projects such as Swisha '98, Choppin Em Up Part 2, The Day Hell Broke Loose, and The Day Hell Broke Loose 2.
The label's success was a significant factor in the platinum-selling albums of Mike Jones' Who Is Mike Jones? and Paul Wall's The People's Champ. Watts' impact on Texas Hip-Hop and the music industry as a whole cannot be overstated. Tributes have poured in from across the community, with artists such as Paul Wall and Slim Thug paying tribute to Watts' guidance, friendship, and enduring legacy.
A community event celebrating Watts' life and lasting legacy is currently in the works and will be announced on his social media platforms, according to his family. Watts leaves behind a legacy that forever altered the sound of Southern Hip-Hop and opened doors for generations of Texas artists to come.
just heard about the passing of Michael "5000" Watts 
he was a true OG in Houston's music scene, always pushing the boundaries with his innovative production style 
and label, Swishahouse played a massive role in shaping Southern Hip-Hop into what it is today 
I've got so much respect for the man's hustle 
from spinning mixtapes as a teenager to building a record label empire 
he left an indelible mark on Texas Hip-Hop and beyond 
can't wait to see how his community honors his memory at the upcoming tribute event 
He was like a pioneer, know what I mean? 
Pioneering chopped-and-screwed sound, discoverin' talent, and creatin' opportunities for artists to shine... that's somethin' to be revered 
And it's crazy thinkin' about how much influence Swishahouse had on Texas Hip-Hop 
Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Slim Thug... they all got their start through Watts' label 
It's gonna be a tough time for the community, but celebratin' his life and legacy is definitely the way to go 
... what a legend! He played such a huge role in shaping Houston's music scene and creating a platform for so many talented artists to shine 
I mean, who can forget Swishahouse and those iconic mixtapes? It's crazy that he started spinning mixtapes as a teenager and ended up changing the game 
... and now his legacy lives on through all the talented artists he helped discover & nurture 
. It's gonna be sad to see him go, but at least his memory will live on through all the music he helped create 
.
. A community event celebrating his life sounds like a great idea - gotta get everyone together and share those stories 
and now hes gone far too soon 
. He played a pivotal role in discovering and elevating artists like Slim Thug, Paul Wall, and Chamillionaire 