Yesterday (May 19), Drake announced the schedule for the second annual OVO-run Houston Appreciation Weekend (HAW), which kicks off tomorrow (May 21) with a Bun B tribute event and ends Sunday (May 24) with a Drizzy/Future "Jungle" show and a Boosie Badazz after-party.
Sounds like a helluva weekend, no doubt, but where are the Houston artists? Hopefully Bun will make a guest appearance on Thursday and, to be fair, Drake, Future, and Boosie have all taken their own influences from the city's storied hip-hop history. Perhaps we need a star like Drizzy to spread the necessary recognition but, still, you can't properly appreciate Houston without acquainting yourself with the likes of Scarface, Pimp C, Z-Ro, DJ Screw-- the list is endless.
We've provided you with 10 classic tracks to give you a brief insight into how H-Town changed the game and, to this day, remains one of the most important cities in hip-hop history.
Next, listen to the official HNHH HAW playlist, which features Houston's still-thriving young scene, with newer faces like Kirko Bangz, Travi$ Scott, the Sauce Twinz, and Maxo Kream. For all Drizzy's efforts, we've also given him one track-- albeit one beautifully chopped (not slopped) screw-mix from the masterful OG Ron C.
Grab your styrofoam cup, and tell us your favorite Houston tracks in the comments.
COVER
Geto Boys - "Mind Playing Tricks On Me" (1991)
One of the greatest hip-hop tracks of all time from Scarface, Bushwick Bill & Willie D., the first hip-hop group to put the South on the map.
We Can't Be Stopped
UGK - "Diamonds & Wood" (1996)
The inimitable duo of Bun B & Pimp C: Inventors of the Trill.
Ridin' Dirty
DJ Screw - Pimp Tha Pen (Lil Keke) (1996)
3 N the Mornin' (Part Two)
For all intensive purposes, the progenitor of the chopped & screwed sound. When everyone else was speeding up, Screw slowed it down, giving H-Town the most singular sound on the map.
Lil' Troy - "Wanna Be a Baller" (feat. Yungstar, Fat Pat, & Big T) (1998)
Sittin' Fat Down South
H-Town found the rare sound that produced hustler anthems that make you wanna cry.
Scarface - "My Block" (2002)
Aside from the Geto Boys, Scarface's solo work alone puts him in hip-hop's top-tier. One of the realest to ever do it.
The Fix
Devin the Dude - "Doobie Ashtray" (2002)
The Houston boys weren't afraid to sing on a record, never shying away from their eccentricities.
Just Tryin' ta Live
Z-Ro - "I Hate You Bitch" (2004)
Z-Ro is a criminally underrated Screwston legend who's still out there doin' it. Part of a generation that brought grown man music back to hip-hop.
The Life of Joseph W. McVey
Mike Jones - "Still Tippin" (feat. Paul Wall & Slim Thug) (2004)
Swishahouse, founded by screw DJ OG Ron C, brought a darker, icy sound to Houston. Everyone was sizzurped up to hits from one of these three guys in the mid-aughts.
Who Is Mike Jones?
Chamillionaire - "Turn It Up" (feat. Lil Flip) (2005)
Chamillionaire remains one of H-Town's most mainstream successes. He brought along OG Lil Flip to make this gem shine extra bright.
The Sound of Revenge
UGK - "Int'l Players' Anthem" (feat. UGK) (2006)
The definitive Southern anthem. No one took fair notice of UGK's early work, but they stopped sleeping after this one. Unfortunately, Pimp C would pass away a year later. R.I.P.
Underground Kingz