Houston rap pioneer Michael “5000” Watts has been hospitalized due to “tremendous health problems.”
The Swishahouse founder’s family announced the health news on Instagram Wednesday as they asked his fans and friends for their thoughts and prayers to aid in his recovery.
Videos by PopCulture.com
“For the past week, Michael 5000 Watts has experienced some tremendous health issues that have caused him to be hospitalized,” the family wrote in a statement. “We are asking the community, fans, followers, and all that he has impacted to pray for him.”
The Watts family advised that hospital visits would be limited to people who had been pre-approved and assured that they would continue to share updates as they became available.
They added, “We appreciate the outpouring of love and support as we trust God for healing and favor.”
Watts’ wife, Tammie, told Houston’s Fox 26 that her husband had been admitted to the hospital “about a week ago,” explaining, “He underwent tremendous, tremendous procedures that had to take place. He is here with us, sedated, per doctor’s orders, just to give [his] body time to heal.”
“He’s here healing, we ask that everybody just continue to keep us in their prayers, keep my husband lifted in their prayers and our family as he recovers,” she continued.
Watts began his music career as a DJ in the 1980s, going on to popularize the city’s signature “chopped and screwed” sound pioneered by Houston’s DJ Screw.
In 1997, Watts founded Swishahouse with OG Ron C, and they began pumping out “Swisha Mixes” featuring artists including Lil’ Keke, Archie Lee, and Coota Bang on compilations. The Day Hell Broke Loose 2 was Swishahouse’s first mainstream success with the song “Still Tippin’” turning the hip-hop spotlight onto Houston in the mid-2000s.
In addition to his work with Swishahouse, Watts became a regular on Houston radio station 97.9 The Box, giving him even more influence on the city’s music scene. Watts also played a major role in boosting the careers of well-known Houston artists including Slim Thug, Paul Wall, and Mike Jones, and has long been an advocate for musicians on the local scene.
Most Viewed
-
(Credit: Liudmila Chernetska / Getty Images) -
'Grown Ups' key art (Credit: Sony Pictures) -
LOS ANGELES – CIRCA 1956: Rock and roll singer Elvis Presley with his arms around actress Yvonne Lime on the back of a motorcycle while filming the movie "Loving You" in circa 1956 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
"Enter Sandman" — Coverage of the CBS Original Series NCIS: ORIGINS, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network. Pictured: Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. -
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 02: (L-R) Milo Ventimiglia, Justin Hartley, Jon Huertas, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chrissy Metz, Chris Sullivan, Mandy Moore, and Sterling K. Brown attend the 39th annual PaleyFest LA – "This Is Us" at Dolby Theatre on April 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)
