At the beginning of the 2000s, the sound of car stereos and block parties surrounded Houston. Lowriders rolled down the streets, syrup was being poured into the cups, and a whole city was waiting on the right hip-hop anthem.
It was the time when Mike Jones joined Slim Thug and later, Paul Wall in launching ‘Still Tippin’s release. The single was officially released in late 2004, by which point it had been bubbling in Houston for years prior. It was released in various versions prior to its release, such as the one with Chamillionaire, but what made it into the world was a slow and heavy track that made H-Town seem to be moving as a unit.
The producer, Salih Williams, starts the story. He made the creepy foundation of ‘Still Tippin’ by cutting part of ‘William Tell Overture’ by Rossini into something hypnotic. The distorted strings and syrupy beat provided the record with an ambience that was threatening and mellow at the same time. Even Mike himself attributed the whole atmosphere to Salih, saying it was his brainchild that determined the direction. The rhythm was disturbing and yet expansive, the type of melody that gave you the impression that the entire town was riding along to it…