Why June 27 should be a Houston holiday for hip-hop fans

PHOTOS: DJ Screw and important figures in Houston hip hop

The legendary "June 27" was recorded at DJ Screw's house in Houston on June 27, 1996. The song has become ingrained in the city's music history and June 27 is celebrated on every Houston hip hop fans calendar.

Browse through the photos above for more shots of DJ Screw, as well as important figures in Houston hip hop. less The legendary "June 27" was recorded at DJ Screw's house in Houston on June 27, 1996. The song has become ingrained in the city's music history and June 27 is celebrated on every Houston hip hop fans calendar. PHOTOS: DJ Screw and important figures in Houston hip hop

The legendary "June 27" was recorded at DJ Screw's house in Houston on June 27, 1996. The song has become ingrained in the city's music history and The legendary "June 27" was recorded at DJ Screw's house in Houston on June 27, 1996. The song has become ingrained in the city's music history and ... more Photo: Screwed-Up Records Photo: Screwed-Up Records Image 1 of / 65 Caption Close Why June 27 should be a Houston holiday for hip-hop fans 1 / 65 Back to Gallery

Even though banks were open and we all were expected to show up for work as usual, June 27th is a Houston holiday, or at least it should be treated as such.

Despite what your poser friend might try to tell you, the date doesn't commemorate DJ Screw's birthday (July 20) or the day the Houston hip hop legend died (Nov. 16, 2000), it is simply the name of the most famous freestyle in the city's history – yes, more than Z-Ro's Mo City Don Freestyle, although that should be memorized in full for you to become an official Houston representer.

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There will be no line-for-line memorization of DJ Screw's June 27, because that's just not what you do with a song that checks in at more than 35 minutes and features seven lyricists.

June 27 actually is DeMo's birthday, and he was the second Screwed Up Click rapper on the microphone when the song was recorded at DJ Screw's house on June 27, 1996 - exactly 23 years ago today.

When Big Moe, Key-C, Yungstar, Big Pokey, DeMo, Haircut Joe and Kay-Luv stepped to the mic over a screwed-up sample of Kriss Kross' "Da Streets Ain't Right," surely they didn't realize the Houston history they were about to make.

DJ Screw released more than 300 mixtapes in his short career, but none sold more or were more popular than June 27.

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"Still to this day I freestyle to that beat at my shows, every show," Houston rapper Lil Flip said. "When that beat comes on, like when I put it on, the crowd just goes crazy. I end every show freestyling to that beat, man. It's a soundtrack to the Houston streets."

How ingrained is June 27 in Houston culture? More than 20 years after it was recorded, you can hear a handful of high school bands play the tune during high school football games on Friday nights.

DJ Screw – real name, Robert Davis Jr. – was a key figure in Houston hip-hop hop in the 1990s and was the creator of the still popular chopped and screwed DJ technique.

Browse through the photos above for a look at DJ Screw as well as some important figures in Houston hip-hop.