If you haven't been initiated, here's the quick story behind
Screwed and Chopped. "Screwed" means the tracks are slowed down, and "Chopped" means they're minimally remixed, usually with stutters and stops. The late
DJ Screw is often credited with inventing the "Screwed" style, and if he didn't, he was at least the first to popularize it. It's huge in the South with a diehard following, and it all relates to the hallucinatory effect you feel when you sip on too much cough syrup. Talk about subcultures! The best way to hear the genre is to pick up one of the numerous bootleg mix CDs available on the Internet or in independent urban shops. Maybe it's not as exciting as a bootleg, but
David Banner and Michael Watts of
Swishahouse have brought the sound to a major label (now for the second time) and their mix of
Banner's
MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water album makes for an easily obtainable introduction. It's a freakish listen with Watts slowing
Banner's roar down to a growl, but hearing
Twista's guest spot on "Like a Pimp" this way makes his hyper-rap intelligible for those who can't keep up. Just under 80 minutes of pitched-down, fractured rap is likely to drive most people crazy, but for those who can stand the trudging endurance test, there are some truly stunning moments. Watts removes some intros and outros, tightening up the album from "Like a Pimp" through "My Lord," with the transition from "Mama's House" to "Lil' Jones" being especially striking. By the end, you'll probably wonder if the album has run out of ideas or if you've just run out of patience, but there's no denying it's one of the most abnormal sounds to appear away from the avant garde, let alone brush against the mainstream. Plus, you'll know why Nyquil is such a hot seller all of a sudden. ~ David Jeffries