DJ Screw A life in slow revolution

In this sensational oral history, hip-hop historian Walker (Houston Rap Tapes) offers a riveting look at why "DJ Screw is the stuff of Texas legend." Born in Smithville, Tex., Robert Earl Davis Jr., aka Screw (1971--2000), was the progenitor of the now-famous "chopped and screwed" technique, which involves slowing down the tempo of a song and spinning the record at different points to create an entirely new remix. Weaving together interviews with family, friends, and collaborators, Walker traces Screw's ascent through the rap ranks: from his teenage years experimenting with turntables and his mother's LPs to the flourishing empire born from his underground cassettes in the '90s. Set against the vivid backdrop of Houston's hip-hop scene, the narrative's greatest appeal is its uncut treatment of Screw and his colossal influence: as rapper Will-Lean recalls, when Screw's 1996 track "Sippin Codeine" was released, "doctors around town started getting loose with prescriptions, and as the tapes gained popularity, so did the drug." (It was also Codeine--an overdose--that led to Screw's death at 29.) Though his life was cut short, Walker's meticulous account underscores the enduring legacy of the rapper's pioneering music and his awe-inspiring ability to capture "the sound of the streets." This engrossing work will fascinate fans. (May)

In this fascinating oral history chronicling the life of DJ Screw, written 22 years after his death, Houston rap historian Walker (Houston Rap Tapes) explores the artist's electrifying "chopped and screwed" technique and how it vastly changed Houston's trendsetting hip-hop culture. Walker relies on the vivid stories of Screw's family members and contemporaries and sorts through archived interviews to paint a detailed picture of Screw's techniques, his motivations, and his fearless experimentation. Readers learn how Screw discovered at a young age that he could manipulate the music of others, reinventing songs by slowing them down, mixing and scratching them, and often adding his own vocal shout-outs at the end. By 23 he was receiving attention outside of Houston, culminating in recognition at the 1999 Justo's Mixtape Awards. Screw converted his art form into a sustaining business, opening Screwed Up Records & Tapes and single-handedly extending the life of cassette tapes. VERDICT Walker's years of research and personal expertise about Houston's music scene will help cement Screw's legacy as an innovator who still inspires.--Lisa Henry

An ambitious love letter to one of Houston's beloved mixtape kings. Walker, a Texas native now based in New York and author of Houston Rap Tapes, gives us a definitive portrait of Robert Earl Davis Jr. (1971-2000), aka DJ Screw. Though the format might seem jarring at first, the narrative picks up as the rhythm and pace of the prose take over. With testimony from more than 100 people who knew DJ Screw well, the text offers an engaging, documentarylike conversation about his life and work. Screw began scratching up records at a very young age, and he became a breakaway sound alchemist after slowing down a recording of the 1985 Mantronix hit "Fresh Is the Word." From there, his artistry and popularity skyrocketed, and he continued to develop singular styles and methods. "Screw took everybody's favorite songs and ripped them wide open, tearing into the fabric of the original sound, decompressing, adding earth, adding sky, adding voice," writes Walker. "People describe songs on Screw tapes as being more emo-tional. Maybe that was the point--to open up the music until it bleeds." His mixtapes became some of the most sought-after music in the area; in one day, he could make up to $30,000 in tape sales. Eventually, Screw branched out into entrepreneurial ventures, including a record label and two stores. Although the testimony of others guides the book, during the useful transition sections, Walker's authoritative voice returns. Screw's friends credit his love of music with keeping him off the streets and out of trouble when he was young, but it couldn't save him in the end. His inability to sleep, poor diet, and substance abuse issues led to his death at age 29. More than two decades after his death, however, Screw's influence can still be heard and felt in Houston and beyond. An insightful portrait sure to engage DJ Screw's longtime fans and newcomers alike. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.