Houston Music

Here's the Screwed Up Click Take on ZZ Top's "25 Lighters" Cover

Rocks Off is a huge fan of DJ Screw and the Screwed Up Click. We also love and adore ZZ Top. So when ZZ reimagined the DJ DMD classic "25 Lighters" as "I Gotsta Get Paid" for their new record La Futura, we had to reach out to the DJ Screw protégé, the great DJ Lil' Randy SUC, for comment.

Rewind:

ZZ Top Sucks. There, I Said It.

Last Night: ZZ Top at Reliant Stadium

Rocks Off: ZZ Top just released a cover of DJ DMD's song "25 Lighters". What do you think of their version of the song?

Lil' Randy: I think the song is a big compliment to rap/hip-hop in the South. Rap is always using other genres of music so for a rock and roll group as big as ZZ Top to use a song from a Southern artist is a big compliment.

I know who ZZ Top is and I like a song or two by them. I can't really say there is anything I like about their version of the song. I just think it is good for music. I can say I never would have thought when DJ DMD made the song that 15 years later ZZ Top would make a rock and roll song out of it. WOW!

RO: I assume you've done your own Screwed versions of "25 Lighters."

LR: Of course I have! Hahaha. I slowed down "Gotsta Get Paid" by ZZ Top. I actually mixed the two songs together for DMD when he first gave the record to me. I'm thinking of doing a mix to show how far the phrase "25 Lighters" has gone. Where it started from to where it is now.

RO: When DMD gave which records to you? I think I speak for 47 percent of Houston when I say I've got no idea what the phrase "25 lighters" means.

LR: Ha! DMD gave me the ZZ Top record about six or seven months ago. It doesn't have a secret meaning; it comes from an 8Ball and MJG song where MJG says "I've got 25 lighters on my dresser, yes sir."

RO: Yeah, I know. What the heck is it about?

LR: Just a catchy phrase.

RO: So you do not know why he's got so many lighters on his dresser? My brother says it's because he's been partying too much and comes home with somebody else's lighter every night. Which would explain why he's in such a hurry to get paid.

LR: Is he serious?

RO: I think so. Doesn't it make sense to you?

LR: No. For one thing MJG says "I keep 25 lighters on my dresser." The "I gots to get paid." was added later by Lil' KeKe.

RO: My brother is always wrong.

LR: It came from MJG. Then Lil' KeKe said it on a Screw tape. Then DEA made a song from it. Then DMD made a song from it. Now ZZ Top.

RO: Have you played your mix of the ZZ Top song "I Gotsta Get Paid" on your [90.1 FM KPFT] show, Damage Control?

LR: Yes, I have.

RO: What did your cohosts DJ Chill and Zeak think about it?

LR: Chill said exactly what I said. Zeak is so unpredictable I can't even remember.


Follow Rocks Off on Facebook and on Twitter at @HPRocksOff.

KEEP THE HOUSTON PRESS FREE... Since we started the Houston Press, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Houston, and we'd like to keep it that way. With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls.
Creg Lovett
Contact: Creg Lovett