Fans and friends gathered the night of Thursday, June 9, at House of Blues for the Swisha House reunion and DJ Michael 5000 Watt’s birthday celebration. The Northside native and founder of the label attracted a house full of Houston hip-hop heads to see the old- and new-school label mates perform.
Acts included Slim Thug, J-Dawg, Lil Keke, Lil Young, Lucky Luciano, Chingo Bling, DJ Chose, Surreal, Hazel E, Treal Lee and many more. Other Swisha House attendees, such as OG Ron C, DJ Big Red, Coota Bang, Felo, and Magno, came to support the label as well.
“This is a legendary moment and day at this birthday and reunion of Swisha House. If you’re not here, then you weren’t anywhere,” OG Ron C, co-founder of Swisha House, said. The sea of Swisha House fans reminisced as Watts, T-Gray and Go DJ Mankind spun all their in-house classics and more. MC Kane was also present to pump up people. “I remember when we were first putting this thing together. It was just a great time. I am very glad to be here, to see where it came from and to still be a part of it,” DJ T-Gray said.
Lil Keke, who signed with Swisha House in 2005, graced the stage by serving up tracks such as 1997 hits “Southside” and “Still Pimpin Pens.” “I am here supporting Watts and the Swisha House reunion, doing my thing,” Lil Keke said. Watts later enjoyed being serenaded by surprise guest Sophia Fresh. The trio came out to sing “Happy Birthday” with a little added flavor and caused a satisfying smirk on Watt’s face.
While label heavy weights Paul Wall and Camillionaire were absent, crowd favorite Slim Thug held it down with a solid set. Thugga’s stage presence, towering 6’6’’ stature and boss-like demeanor, shut it down for the fans as always. A tough act to follow, J-Dawg of The Boss Hogg Outlaws captivated the audience with his banger “First 48.”
“I am out her representing for my boy Michael 5000 Watt’s b-day bash and the reunion,” Slim Thug said. “I came in the game with these dudes at only 17 years old not even thinking this far. It’s a good feeling.”
The evening’s host, DJ Big Red, expressed his sentiments about the reunion and paid homage to the birthday man himself. “I was here from the beginning, and I’m still here 20 years later because that’s how we put it down. Swisha House means everything to me,” he said. –callye peyrovi
Photos by Alex Green
