Michael '5000' Watts is a rapper and a singer who was hospitalised for his deteriorating health conditions. He is the founder of the rap label Swishahouse and passed away on January 30, 2026.
Michael '5000' Watts is a rapper and a singer who was hospitalised for his deteriorating health conditions. The founder of the rap label Swishahouse passed away on January 30, 2026.
Michael shaped and changed the world of southern pop and rock from the streets to the international stage. He was a visionary who shaped his label and built a legacy of respect and fame, loved and cherished by all.
Watts breathed his last on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, as told by his team at the Swishahouse. His cause of death was a sudden cardiac arrest caused by Torsades de Pointes, a rare condition that gives the patient an abnormal and fatal heart rhythm. Michael had been hospitalised for a week over his condition. When his family released the statement of his hospitalisation on January 28, 2026, wishes and prayers came in from all over the community. The family said:
"It is with profound sadness and heartbreak that we inform the public of our beloved Michael '5000' Watts,"
The family requests privacy and no bother from the media in their time of loss. Born on June 7, 1976, in Houston, Michael began his career as a DJ, making mixes and creating rhythms. He is a known figure in Houston rap history because he brought in the Chopped and screwed sound originally created by DJ Screw to the national stage.
Michael was admitted to the hospital last year, where he underwent a major procedure. An image of him in a hospital bed was shared on his social media accounts, asking fans to pray for him as he goes through the procedure. Watts was taken care of by his wife, Tammie Watts, five children and two grandchildren. Details of his sudden demise are not yet revealed to the public and will soon be shared on his social media accounts.
Watts established Swishahouse in 1997 with Ron C, establishing a Northside counterpart to the city’s influential South Side, where the ‘chopped and screwed’ sound originated. The label started making and releasing ‘Swisha Mixes’ in the late 90s, which led to the release of 'Still Tippin', a track that originally appeared on Swishahouse’s The Day Hell Broke Loose 2.
In a statement released Friday, Swishahouse co-founder, OG-Ron C, called Watts a founder, visionary and “cultural architect” of the influential label, saying the team is announcing his passing with “profound sorrow.”
Through Swishahouse, Watts introduced and uplifted countless artists, DJs, and producers, shaping a brand built on authenticity, independence, and great cultural pride. The label came to represent innovation, hustle, and community, delivering era-defining mixtapes that changed radio culture and influenced generations of artists across hip-hop and beyond. His vision helped push Houston onto the global music stage and, as the statement notes, secured the city’s place as a lasting force in American music history.
Michael 5000 Watts' legacy will remember him as a pillar of the Houston rap society, a pioneer, and an influential personality who won fame, respect, and love in his life.
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