In his new book, DJ Screw: A Life in Slow Revolution, author Lance Scott Walker charts how DJ Screw — born Robert Earl Davis Jr. — developed his trademark sound and helped put the small and overlooked Houston hip-hop scene on the map...Walker spoke with nearly 150 of Screw’s friends, family members and associates, and his book is written as an oral history, letting the voices of those who knew him best take center stage...Cousins, siblings, childhood friends, rappers, producers and promoters share memories and anecdotes...However, unlike most other tributes that have surfaced in recent years, A Life in Slow Revolution pays special attention to the influence of Screw’s mother, Ida Mae, on her son’s early appreciation for music and his later development as an artist...Of all the family members, says Screw’s girlfriend Nikki Williams, Ida Mae 'deserves all the praise. She’s the one who made all the sacrifices'...A Life in Slow Revolution is a deeply researched and carefully curated work, devoting as much consideration to Screw’s own story as it does to those he influenced and those who influenced him.
An ambitious love letter to one of Houston's beloved mixtape kings...Though the format might seem jarring at first, the narrative picks up as the rhythm and pace of the prose takes 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...Although the testimony of others guides the book, during the useful transition sections, Walker's authoritative voice returns...An insightful portrait sure to engage DJ Screw's longtime fans and newcomers alike.
In this sensational oral history, hip-hop historian Walker offers a riveting look at why 'DJ Screw is the stuff of Texas Legend'...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...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.
