Why Was Hip Hop Born in Houston?

Every city has a sound, a rhythm that is recognizable and unique. Houston is no different. Synonymous with hip hop, some Hustletown rap enthusiasts have even stated that the true birthplace of hip hop is none other that H-Town itself. While the notion of hip hop may have been conceived and grown in other cities, the Bayou city has seen hip hop realize it’s full potential. Hip hop may have been born elsewhere, but it was raised in Houston. Early Days Any conversation about H-Town rap has to begin with Geto Boys. The trio’s self titled debut album burst onto the scene in 1990, with the group’s unique, gritty style making waves. Described by some as ‘horrorcore hip hop’, the Geto Boys’ Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill each offered a different perspective on life in the city’s most underprivileged neighborhoods. The popularity of Geto Boys drew major attention to the city’s burgeoning rap scene. The group’s mainstream success paved the way for Texas hip hop’s next big act-- UGK. UGK’s debut album, The Southern Way, established H-Town as an epicenter of hip hop, and pioneered a new sound that would change hip hop forever. The dynamic duo of Pimp C and Bun B enjoyed massive popularity into the early 00’s, until Pimp C’s untimely 2007 death. Chopped and Screwed Arguably the most revered artist to come out of the Bayou City is the prolific DJ Screw. The creator of the ‘slowed down, screwed up sound’ pioneered a style that is now synonymous with Screwston hip hop. Born Robert Earl Davis Jr., Screw began slowing down tracks in the early 90’s and word of his chopped up style spread like wildfire. Artists lined up at his door to become a part of this hip hop revolution. Inviting rappers from the city’s Southside to rhyme on his tracks, Screw founded the Screwed Up Click and helped many up and coming rappers become big names in the city's rap scene. In November of 2000, he was found dead inside his recording studio. A coroner’s report blamed the death on another staple of the city’s rap-- purple drank, or prescription codeine cough syrup mixed with soda. Death couldn’t stop the reach of this groundbreaking artist’s influence, however. A resurgence of Screw’s popularity in the mid 2000s cemented his legacy. Today, he has been immortalized with numerous documentaries and a film, with a series about his life set to drop later this year. Additionally, Texas Governor Rick Perry named DJ Screw an official Texas Music Pioneer. Mid Aughts and Beyond The Mid 2000’s saw the city’s hip hop scene explode in a way that put the city on the map as a powerhouse for the genre. New artists like Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Z-Ro became heavy hitters for the Bayou City, while solo releases from elder statesmen like Bun B and Scarface proved that the Hustletown sound was built to last. The late 2000’s saw artists like Lil Keke and Chamillionaire, among others, bring home award show hardware and top Billboard charts. New artists like Kirko Bangz and Travis Scott now carry the torch, providing a natural progression for the subgenre with tracks like ‘Drank In My Cup’ and ‘HIGHEST IN THE ROOM’. Looking forward, H-Town hip hop has a strong future ahead with a new wave of artists taking advantage of digital media to gain fans and followers. Artists like Sauce Walka, Skeet Taste, Maxo Kream and Megan thee Stallion have gained big attention across numerous platforms. Houston, the city that hip hop calls home, will continue to be an epicenter of game changing hip hop.