The saying “drop it lower than chopped and screwed”  is associated with a genre of hip-hop music known as chopped and screwed. 

For millions of listeners, BTS was the first time they heard anything resembling chopped & screwed — and they didn’t even know it. Reintroduced a regional Black Southern hip‑hop technique to a worldwide audience

Used it in high‑budget, cinematic production

Made it feel modern instead of nostalgic

Connected Houston’s legacy to K‑pop’s global reach. That’s a huge cultural loop.

This technique involves slowing down the tempo of a song to create a hypnotic, drawn-out rhythmic foundation, often emphasizing lyrics and storytelling. It was pioneered by DJ Screw in Houston, who passed in 2000, but the style stayed and became a staple in the hip-hop scene. 

The style is characterized by its slow, deep basslines and the manipulation of audio playback, creating a unique sound that resonates with Southern hip-hop culture.

BTS is not doing it in the traditional DJ Screw way — no full 60 BPM slowdown or heavy chopping — but they’re clearly borrowing the aesthetic:

• Slowed vocals
• Lowered pitch
• Echoing repeats
• Dragged‑out transitions

For a lot of younger listeners, BTS was the first time they heard anything resembling chopped and screwed.

In Houston: a whole culture

Chopped & screwed everywhere —

• mixtapes
• car culture
• local radio
• DJ Screw’s legacy
• the Screwed Up Click

If you were in Houston, it wasn’t a trend; it was daily life.

Thank you DJ Screw