Michael “5000” Watts, the influential founder of the iconic Southern Hip-Hop record label Swishahouse, has passed away at the age of 52.
On Friday (Jan. 30), news broke that the Houston native died due to complications stemming from an irregular heartbeat. According to a statement shared on his Instagram account, Watts was “surrounded by loved ones” at the time of his passing.
“It is with profound sadness and heartbreak that we inform the public of our beloved Michael Watts,” read a post on the CEO’s Instagram account. The message went on to thank supporters and fans for the outpouring of love shown over the years. “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.”
Further details regarding his death were also shared with the public. “Mr. Watts developed a fatal heart rhythm called Torsades de Pointes causing a sudden cardiac death.” Watts is survived by his wife, Tammy Watts, five children, and two grandchildren.
A community event celebrating his life and lasting legacy is currently in the works and will be announced on his social media platforms, according to the family.
Born and raised in Houston, Michael Watts was a pivotal figure in shaping the sound and business of Texas Hip-Hop. He began as a DJ, selling mixtapes as a teenager and quickly built a reputation by spinning at local parties.
DJ Michael “5000” Watts performs at Club Glo in Houston, Texas, on December 31, 2005.
Julia Beverly/Getty Images
His hustle eventually led to a weekend DJ position at Houston radio station 97.9 The Box, where he met fellow Houston native Ronald “DJ OG Ron C” Coleman in 1994. Together, they founded Swishahouse, a DJ and rapper collective that helped propel the chopped-and-screwed sound—pioneered by DJ Screw—onto the national stage.
Through Swishahouse, Watts helped discover and elevate artists who would become household names, including Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, and Mike Jones. His catalog includes influential projects such as Swisha ’98, Choppin Em Up Part 2, The Day Hell Broke Loose, and The Day Hell Broke Loose 2.
DJ Michael “5000” Watts of Swisha House and rapper Paul Wall (Paul Slayton) on the set of the “Sittin’ Sideways” music video in Houston, Texas on May 10, 2005.
Julia Beverly/Getty Images
In 2005, Swishahouse entered a joint venture with Asylum Records, leading to platinum-selling albums like Mike Jones’ Who Is Mike Jones? and Paul Wall’s The People’s Champ.
Tributes poured in from across the Hip-Hop community. Paul Wall reflected on Watts’ impact, writing, “I wanna extend heartfelt gratitude for his guidance and friendship. My prayers and condolences are with his family during this difficult time. This is a tough loss for Texas, and for HipHop. Thank you Watts for everything.”
Slim Thug also shared his grief, stating, “I took the time to look back and reminisce last night and this morning we did it BIG!!! As a DJ u did an amazing job broke so many artist we made millions of mixtapes underground sold millions worldwide from SH.”
Michael “5000” Watts leaves behind a legacy that forever altered the sound of Southern Hip-Hop and opened doors for generations of Texas artists to come.
Celebrity DJ Michael 5000 Watts attends the screening of “Notorious” on January 12, 2009 in Houston.
Bob Levey/WireImage
