The history of Houston hip-hop

Though better known for space and Tex-Mex, Houston also contributed to the burgeoning hip-hop scene beginning in the 1980s.

While on tour, hip-hop pioneers favored Houston for its massive night clubs. Venues like Boneshakers and Rhinestone Wrangler capped out at 1300 people: significantly more than anywhere in New York.

Soon, Houston developed its own unique hip-hop sound. In the early ’90s, while other artists  competitively sped up lyrics and beats, Houston native DJ Screw slowed them down, creating the “screwed and chopped” subgenre. In the seven years before his death in 2000, he released 343 mixtapes.

– Chris Butsch