TCB

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Still Tippin'

Of things you imagine Ray Benson is unlikely to say, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Swishahouse family!" is pretty high on the list. But there was Benson, hosting the Texas Chapter's first-ever Recording Academy Honors at the Austin Convention Center's swanky Ballroom A, introducing Swishahouse founder Michael "5000" Watts, at the turntables for a spin through the Houston label's biggest movers. Paul Wall struck up "Still Tippin'," Lil' Keke brought it to the "South Side," then the rest of Watts' roster (Yung Redd, Archie Lee, Crystal, E-Class, Coota Bang) came out to instruct the big-hairs in throwing the H-town hand sign known as "chunking up the deuce." Happily nodding along was Chronicle Editor Louis Black, a fellow honoree, with SXSW partners Nick Barbaro and Roland Swenson, and slipping in the back was ZZ Top, whose pal Billy Bob Thornton joked about being mistaken for Slim Thug in his introduction. The fourth recipient, Houston gospel superstar Yolanda Adams, had the biggest and best-dressed entourage, and the smoothest introduction from R&B maestro Jimmy Jam. Another friend of Swishahouse, Austin DJ Rapid Ric, talked about touring with Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, and Devin the Dude and how vinyl is too fragile to cart overseas. Ric will soon host the fourth volume of his Whut It Dew mix-CD series, duties previously handled by Chamillionaire, Bun B, and Trae. "I don't think a DJ has ever hosted his own mix CD before," added Ric's assistant Tony C. New Orleans' Robert Fortune Band, selected by Top hand Billy F. Gibbons, had selection-committee member Sara Hickman boogying to "Jesus Just Left Chicago"; afterward, Gibbons signed an autograph for a grateful waiter, and Barbaro remarked his award's accompanying Tiffany bag would be good for "regifting." Academy chairman and Austin City Limits producer Terry Lickona said the Dixie Chicks will fly home for a Dec. 6 taping, and Texas Music Office director Casey Monahan assured TCB he's down with Swishahouse: "I've thrown up the deuce before."