DJ Michael Watts attends the One Time For The Benefit concert by the Ready Foundation, Inc and Je’Caryous Johnson at NRG Arena on January 17, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

Marcus Ingram/Getty Images

Michael “5000” Watts, a founder and CEO of the Houston rap collective Swishahouse, died Jan. 30, his family confirmed.

His family announced in a statement released on Jan. 28 that Watts had been hospitalized for the last week, being admitted after experiencing “some tremendous health issues.” In a statement released Friday evening, the family said Watts had developed Torsades de Pointes, a fatal heart rhythm.

“It is with profound sadness and heartbreak that we inform the public of our beloved Michael ‘5000’ Watts,” a statement from Watts’ family said. “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.”

Watts was born on June 7, 1976, in Houston, growing up in the Homestead area in the northeastern part of the city. He began DJing in the mid-1980s, making mixes and selling them in his neighborhood.

Watts is one of the most important figures in Houston rap history, being one of the forces responsible for bringing the “chopped and screwed” sound, which was created by DJ Screw, to the national stage.

Watts co-founded the rap collective Swishahouse in 1997 with OG Ron C, establishing a Northside counterpart to the city’s influential South Side, where the “chopped and screwed” sound originated. The label started making and releasing “Swisha Mixes” in the late ’90s, eventually leading to the release of “Still Tippin’,” which originally appeared on Swishahouse’s The Day Hell Broke Loose 2.

With the release of the now-legendary track featuring Slim Thug, Mike Jones and Paul Wall, Swishahouse went from a grassroots movement into a record-label empire, establishing Houston in the mainstream and making stars of its artists.

Watts was a regular presence in Houston and on the Houston airwaves, performing his Swishahouse Mixes regularly on 97.9 The Box.

Watts is survived by his wife, Tammie Watts, five children and two grandchildren. Details regarding a community event in honor of Watts will be announced on his official social media pages.