DJ and producer Michael “5000” Watts, the visionary founder of Houston’s influential Swishahouse Records and one of the architects behind the city’s globally recognized “chopped and screwed” sound, has died. He was 52.
Watts’ death was confirmed on January 30 at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, according to statements released by his family and Swishahouse Records.
In a message shared publicly, Watts’ family said he suffered a fatal heart rhythm condition known as torsades de Pointes, which led to sudden cardiac death. He passed away on Friday, surrounded by loved ones.
“We truly appreciate the love shown to Michael throughout his career, and we ask for continued prayers as we navigate through this very hard journey,” the family’s statement read.
Swishahouse Records also honored its founder, crediting Watts with shaping not only a label but an entire movement within hip-hop.
“Michael ‘5000’ Watts was more than a founder, he was a movement,” the statement said. “Beyond the music, Michael Watts was a mentor, a cultural curator, and a builder of opportunity. He believed in ownership, creativity, and the power of storytelling through sound.”
Born and raised in Houston, Watts became a central figure in the city’s rap scene during the late 1990s, helping define an era when Southern hip-hop was expanding beyond regional borders.
In 1997, he co-founded Swishahouse as a grassroots mixtape operation based in North Houston. What began as a local hustle quickly grew into one of the most important platforms in Texas music, elevating artists and spreading Houston’s sound nationwide.
Swishahouse became synonymous with the “chopped and screwed” style, a technique that slows tracks down and manipulates beats into a hypnotic, heavy rhythm. Watts helped bring that sonic identity from neighborhood car systems to international audiences, influencing generations of DJs, producers, and rappers.
Over the years, Watts’ impact extended far beyond mixtapes. He became a symbol of Houston’s independent spirit.
