After his parents, a Muslim father from Oyo State, Nigeria and a Christian mother from the United States, separated in his early teenage years, Chamillionaire settled into a notoriously dangerous inner-city neighborhood in North Houston called Acres Homes, which he elaborated upon during an interview with Houston's 104.9 KPTY on October 3. Rap and other forms of secular music, which his parents had highly opposed in their household, became very appealing to the young Hakeem Seriki. Inspired by local rap acts such as The Geto Boys, 8 Ball & MJG, and UGK, as well as other national acts such as N.W.A. and Public Enemy, Chamillionaire began to compose his own ponies.
At a young age, Chamillionaire along with fellow rap music artist and childhood friend Paul Wall, had decided to make music their careers. One day while promoting themselves at a Texas event, Paul Wall and Chamillionaire ran into Michael 5000 Watts, a popular mixtape DJ from the Northside. After proposing to do promotions for Watts' company, the Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watts' studio and convinced Watts to allow them freestyle on an intro to Watts' radio show on Houston’s 97.9 The Box. Watts, who himself was convinced to rap on the record, enjoyed the freestyle so much that he put the verses on one of his mixtapes. The freestyle became so popular in the streets that Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became regular staples on Houston's mixtape circuit, appeared on several of Watts' mixtapes, and became permanent members of Swishahouse.
Although Paul Wall and Chamillionaire were making much noise in the streets by rapping on Watts' mixtapes, they, along with several other members of the Swishahouse, became frustrated with the lack of money they were receiving from the mixtapes. After fellow member Slim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed and started their own mixtape group known as The Color Changin' Click. Each successive mixtape released by The Color Changin' Click led to more business opportunities; the most notable of which being a contract to do a full album for Paid in Full Records. A one album contract was then negotiated between the Color Changin' Click and Paid in Full's label head, DJ Madd Hatta from 97.9 The Box, and the CCC's first album, Get Ya Mind Correct, would go on to sell over 100,000 copies.
The sale of all these albums without the backing of a major deal caught the attention of several major labels wanting to sign Chamillionaire and Paul. Chamillionaire and his labelmates decided to remain independent, however, until the right deal came along. While working on his second album with the Color Changin' Click, Chamillionaire began to have creative differences with Paul Wall, so much so that it was decided that the two emcees should each release solo albums that would be packaged together. When Chamillionaire became dissatisfied with how things were being resolved, he left Paid in Full and his almost complete album after fulfilling his contractual obligations to focus on promoting his mixtape label Chamillitary instead. As a kid, Chamillionaire was a big fan of MANKind, also known as Big June.
Chamillionaire's Myspace
This kid from Houston, Texas has some nerve. That's what came to mind as you watched an MTV special in early 2005 showcasing H-Town's commercial and artistic re-emergence on the rap scene. Following his brazen freestyle, the focused and much-heralded MC known as Chamillionaire faced a national audience and launched a swagger-filled proclamation on camera: "I'm the truth from Texas..." While such boasting may seem par-for-the-course in the prideful 25-year-plus history of hip-hop, the latter ambitious statement aptly describes Chamillionaire. It's the reason why he earned the lofty alias "The Mixtape Messiah," a title Cham was crowned after independently selling over 100,000 copies of the Get Ya Mind Correct album, and by selling thousands of his numerous mix tapes. It's why the former member of Houston's legendary mix-tape power Swisha House garnered coverage in such major hip-hop publications as Source and XXL without the backing of a major deal. When the Houston lyricist set off a major label bidding war to distribute his Chamillitary Records, it became abundantly clear throughout the 'hood and the music industry Chamillionaire is indeed the truth.
With his major-label debut The Sound Of Revenge set for release on Universal Records, Chamillionaire is poised to take his place among Houston's current hip-hop elite, including the new generation of rhyme-spitters such as Lil' Flip, Slim Thug, Mike Jones and Paul Wall, as well respected vets UGK and Scarface. "You call out a lot of rappers and ask them why they are the best and they are going to tell you everything but the music," Cham laughs. "They will tell you that they are the best because they have some nice rims, a chain, and a mansion." He then adds in a straight-no-chaser tone, "You've heard all the hype about Chamillionaire; that he's sick with the lyrics, sings hooks, and represents the streets and the clubs. But I just want to come as close as possible to living up to my reputation."
Chamillionaire recruits an impressive list of talent on his debut effort, including Lil' Flip, Bun B, Scarface, and Krayzie Bone, as well as in-demand producers Scott Storch (50 Cent), Mannie Fresh (Lil' Wayne, Baby, Juvenile) and Cool & Dre (The Game). But, it's his work with Atlanta studio kings The Beat Bullies (1Big Boi/OutKast) that sets the tone for much of The Sound Of Revenge's diverse platform. "They understand me," Cham says of the in-house producers. "There are a lot of producers that have dope beats, but they don't know me as an artist. [The Beat Bullies] being from Atlanta, can take it to the strip clubs, the streets and to the radio."
The name Chamillionaire represents the unique style that defines the talented urban artist, and his ability to change and adapt on the fly, forcing people to respect the true breadth of his talent. And just as this MC moniker exemplifies, Chamillionaire is anything but predictable and most certainly versatile. "Picture Perfect" featuring Bun B comes off as a lyrical nod to the classic 'hood swagger of UGK, while the Beat Bullies'-anchored "Radio Interruption" showcases Cham's prowess for walking the blurred line between street praise and mass appeal. The storytelling brilliance of "No Snitching" (Cool & Dre), finds Cham detailing the unwritten laws of 'hood politics. On the Scott Storch produced "Turn It Up," Cham tag-teams with freestyle king Lil' Flip as they spit over an infectious track that is Houston's answer to a summer club banger. And the soulful "Here Comes The Rain" finds Chamillionaire exploring the daily struggles of life with heartfelt lyricism and ghetto angst.
"It's a very personal song and the title says it all," Cham says of the revealing track. "In a person's life the rain symbolizes the struggles we all go through. Whether you are dealing with losing a loved one or your rent is due on the 1st, but it's the 3rd and you don't have it. I'm just talking about surviving the tough times."
Chamillionaire has definitely seen his share of struggles on his road to redemption. Born to a Muslim father and Christian mother, secular music was banned in his household. Chamillionaire was barely a teenager when he moved to a low-income neighborhood in the notorious North Side of Houston, following the separation of his parents. By the early '90s, however, rap rebels such as NWA, Public Enemy, as well as hometown heroes The Geto Boys, 8-Ball & MJG and UGK would inspire a young Hakeem to write his own rhymes.
-------------------------------------------------------
(C) Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia
Chamillionaire's Myspace
Act Right
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You like that? I know
Now real talk, as I was saying I always had a way with words
Used to make straight A′s in Spanish
El gusto es mio, Igualmente,
Ha ha ha,
You gon' light them candles? Let′s get romantic
Psyche!
I'm ghettoer than ghetto
I'm never sentimental
She gon′ get a medal
If I can′t make her forget a fellow
I medal with the mental
I'm better with the trouble
I pull strings
And grip the wood like the name Jippetto?
The seats foxy brown
The car′s super fly
Somebody badder?
I tell you to tell the truth or die
I bust you in ya eye
Keep thinkin that's a lie
You′ll be pissed on like Allen I
Go 'head and try
I can′t afford the prize
I ain't gon' need to know
Ain′t got a finance
Cause I don′t need ya bro
My money go up high
It's looking like the slopes
But it ain′t going down
I bet my money float
They say that Koopa broke
Funny, tell another joke
Can't han with the king
Get another rope
Eany Meany Miny Mo
Grab a rapper by the throat
Anyone that you think is dope
And that′s the rapper I'm a choke
I always been the coldest
Ain′t never seen a coat
I'm sharper than a marker
When I ain't even wrote
I′m badder than these rappers
When I ain′t even woke
My verses super clean
Just finished eatin soap
Won't give her my money
I′ll let you see it though
I call it sarcasm
"Look at me I'm broke"
Laying on the cantoni
Cause my crib is dope
Let me show you the view
Like a tv remote
Ain′t a family guy
No, my name ain't Stewart
Gotta be colourblind
To say the chain ain′t blue-ish
Show ya how to do it
Caveman Music
Cause I make look so easy
That a caveman could do it
She's see the new imparlour?
She askin me to call her
I'm like the end of the week
She beggin′ for tomorra
She be like "Yeah daddy"
She know that I′m a baller
So many grans
My kids gon' call me grandfather
I ain′t got a seat
Don't try to play me, please
But I know it′s a lot of woman
Tryna have my trees
You can have the leaves
Pointed at your teeth
Don't tell me that you like it
Until I tell you "leave"
You hear that "Ding"
There goes my door
They look up to
Like a basement do a top floor
I had a lot of friends
But now I′m not poor
So they are not here
They mad I got more
So I gotcha girl, get in my car
Dunno what it is, whatcha waitin here for?
Get it understood that I'm only one deep
When I be swinging (Just act right)
So, when I be swinging (Just act right)
When I be swinging (Just act right)
Cause I be rollin solo when I'm only one deep
So, when I be swinging (Just act right)
In the song Act Right by Chamillionaire, the rapper boasts about his success and wealth while taking a dig at his haters who think he's broke. He talks about his skill with words, mentioning how he used to make straight A's in Spanish. He also claims to be "ghettoer than ghetto" and "sharper than a marker" without even having to write down his lyrics. He asserts that he is better than other rappers even when he's not fully awake or conscious. Chamillionaire also talks about his relationship with women, suggesting that they're only interested in him for his money and that he won't let anyone take advantage of him.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that Chamillionaire has made it big in the hip hop industry and that he will not allow anyone to take what he's earned. He acts confident and arrogant, brushing off anyone who has ever doubted him.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, Yeah,
Acknowledging the audience and getting their attention.
You like that? I know
Confirming the audience's enjoyment of the performance and boasting about the artist's skill.
Now real talk, as I was saying I always had a way with words
Asserting the artist's ability in language and communication.
Used to make straight A′s in Spanish
Demonstrating the artist's academic prowess, particularly in a foreign language.
El gusto es mio, Igualmente,Ha ha ha,
Showing off the artist's fluency in Spanish and humorously expressing reciprocated pleasure.
You gon' light them candles? Let′s get romanticPsyche!
Playfully teasing the audience by suggesting intimacy and then subverting the expectation.
I'm ghettoer than ghettoI'm never sentimentalShe gon′ get a medalIf I can′t make her forget a fellowI medal with the mentalI'm better with the trouble
Asserting the artist's toughness, lack of sentimentality, and ability to help a woman get over a previous relationship.
I pull stringsAnd grip the wood like the name Jippetto?The seats foxy brownThe car′s super flySomebody badder?I tell you to tell the truth or dieI bust you in ya eyeKeep thinkin that's a lieYou′ll be pissed on like Allen IGo 'head and try
Boasting about the artist's power and wealth with threats of violence and a reference to a classic blaxploitation film.
I can′t afford the prizeI ain't gon' need to knowAin′t got a financeCause I don′t need ya broMy money go up highIt's looking like the slopesBut it ain′t going downI bet my money floatThey say that Koopa brokeFunny, tell another joke
Joking about the perception that the artist is broke because of his unconventional wealth management and attitude toward money.
Can't han with the kingGet another ropeEany Meany Miny MoGrab a rapper by the throatAnyone that you think is dopeAnd that′s the rapper I'm a choke
Boasting about the artist's superiority over other rappers and willingness to harm them.
I always been the coldestAin′t never seen a coatI'm sharper than a markerWhen I ain′t even wroteI′m badder than these rappersWhen I ain′t even wokeMy verses super cleanJust finished eatin soap
Boasting about the artist's natural talent for rap and clever wordplay.
Won't give her my moneyI′ll let you see it thoughI call it sarcasm"Look at me I'm broke"Laying on the cantoniCause my crib is dopeLet me show you the viewLike a tv remote
Boasting about the artist's wealth and ironic reversal of expectations by pretending to be broke, and showing off luxurious possessions.
Ain′t a family guyNo, my name ain't StewartGotta be colourblindTo say the chain ain′t blue-ishShow ya how to do itCaveman MusicCause I make look so easyThat a caveman could do it
Boasting about the artist's unique style and skill, and simplifying it to the point of absurdity.
She's see the new imparlour?She askin me to call herI'm like the end of the weekShe beggin′ for tomorraShe be like "Yeah daddy"She know that I′m a ballerSo many gransMy kids gon' call me grandfather
Boasting about the artist's romantic conquests and wealth, with a humorous reference to future generations of his family.
I ain′t got a seatDon't try to play me, pleaseBut I know it′s a lot of womanTryna have my treesYou can have the leavesPointed at your teethDon't tell me that you like itUntil I tell you "leave"
Asserting the artist's independence and rejecting attempts to control him, particularly by women who only want his money.
You hear that "Ding"There goes my doorThey look up toLike a basement do a top floorI had a lot of friendsBut now I′m not poorSo they are not hereThey mad I got more
Boasting about the artist's success and wealth, and distancing himself from former friends who are jealous.
So I gotcha girl, get in my carDunno what it is, whatcha waitin here for?Get it understood that I'm only one deepWhen I be swinging (Just act right)So, when I be swinging (Just act right)Cause I be rollin solo when I'm only one deep
Boasting about the artist's ability to attract women and warning others to stay out of his way, especially when he's alone.
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.