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
All Black
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(All black everything),
The game won't be the same,
I bring that major pain,
The game won't be the same,
Pockets fulla stacks,
Yup,
Walk around with heavy jeans,
Money on the line,
I'm a pick up when my celly rings,
Child, I'm ya destiny like Beyonce and Kelly Team?
Get her wetter than the weather that the broken levy bring,
She noticed my earring was way larger than a belly ring,
Betta take off that wedding ring,
Cause I don't want that head to sting,
Think you got the best head that the Dirty South has ever seen,
Than go down down,
Like that old-school song that Nelly sing,
All the plates on them say Kupa,
Foriegn cars,
Introduce ya,
That's Barack,
That's Michelle,
And that there is my Martin Luther,
All black hoopy train,
Wait for me to enter lobby,
All black Mazariti,
Hard body,
No Keyoti,
I ain't never met a Robert,
But I'm friends with a Deniro,
Also international,
I can get it in the Euro,
Girl I gotta real big ego,
Plus I'm colder than sub-zero,
Boy don't try to be a hero,
Shoot a bullet through a needle.
The lyrics to Chamillionaire's song "All Black" are a testament to the rapper's rise to fame and success. He comes in strong with "I bring that Major Pain, (All black everything)," indicating that he brings a new level of intensity to the music scene, decked out in all-black attire. The second line, "The game won't be the same" reinforces the message that with his arrival, things won't be business as usual. As the song continues, he talks about his wealth and success, describing his pockets as full of stacks and his heavy jeans as a result. He's constantly on the move, answering his phone immediately when it rings because he never wants to miss an opportunity.
Chamillionaire also references popular culture in these lyrics, comparing himself to Destiny's Child stars Beyonce and Kelly Rowland as well as musician Nelly. He's confident in his abilities and his overall persona, describing himself as "colder than sub-zero" and warning others not to try and be a hero. Overall, the lyrics of "All Black" showcase Chamillionaire's bravado and confidence in his abilities, while also giving listeners a glimpse into his successful and extravagant lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
I bring that Major Pain,
I am a powerful force to be reckoned with.
(All black everything),
My attire and accessories are all black.
The game won't be the same,
My impact will change the situation significantly.
Pockets fulla stacks,
I have a lot of money.
Yup,
Agreeing affirmatively.
Walk around with heavy jeans,
I carry a lot of cash on me.
Money on the line,
I have a lot to gain or lose financially.
I'm a pick up when my celly rings,
I will answer my phone when it rings.
Child, I'm ya destiny like Beyonce and Kelly Team?
Am I your fate like Beyonce and Kelly Rowland's group Destiny's Child?
Get her wetter than the weather that the broken levy bring,
I am very good at satisfying women.
She noticed my earring was way larger than a belly ring,
She saw that my earring is much larger than a belly button ring.
Betta take off that wedding ring,
You should probably remove your wedding ring.
Cause I don't want that head to sting,
I do not want to cause you pain during sexual activity.
Think you got the best head that the Dirty South has ever seen,
You believe you are the best at performing oral sex in the southern United States.
Than go down down,
Then perform oral sex on me.
Like that old-school song that Nelly sing,
Like the old-school Nelly song 'Tip Drill' in which he raps about strip clubs and sex.
All the plates on them say Kupa,
All of my cars have 'Kupa' on their license plates.
Foriegn cars,
My cars are foreign-made.
Introduce ya,
Allow me to introduce you to my acquaintances.
That's Barack,
That is Barack Obama, former US President.
That's Michelle,
That is Michelle Obama, former First Lady.
And that there is my Martin Luther,
This is my version of Martin Luther King Jr., who was a significant civil rights leader.
All black hoopy train,
A line of black vehicles waiting for me.
Wait for me to enter lobby,
They are waiting for my arrival in the lobby of a building or hotel.
All black Mazariti,
My Maserati car is black.
Hard body,
My car has a sturdy and strong body structure.
No Keyoti,
I do not drive a Toyota car.
I ain't never met a Robert,
I have never met anyone named Robert.
But I'm friends with a Deniro,
I am friends with actor Robert De Niro.
Also international,
I have connections and influence around the world.
I can get it in the Euro,
I can make things happen in Europe.
Girl I gotta real big ego,
I have a large and confident sense of self.
Plus I'm colder than sub-zero,
I am extremely cold-hearted and ruthless.
Boy don't try to be a hero,
Do not try to stand up to me or try to be brave against me.
Shoot a bullet through a needle.
I am very skilled with a gun and could hit a very small target.
Writer(s): Chamillionaire
Contributed by Victoria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SuperDudeWasTaken
mann!!!! this is dope!!! this beat just came out like 2 weeks ago... damn cham keeps his ears open
Screwston4Ever
"Get her wetter than the weather that a broken levee bring"...fuckin beast
shaynewiggers
man koopa is the sickest rapper alive got over 200 of his tracks on my ipod :D @budnlean this isn't even a mixtape mang, its his third album. his mixtapes are 1 through 7, hangin' wit mr. koopa, greatest verses, chamillitary, greatest hits, big business, the army, tippin down, and man on fire. while his albums consist of sound of revenge, ultimate victory and this one major pain. venom will be the fourth which YES it is coming out. as well as major pain 1.5 :)
Jalen
Ay this shit GO HARD KOOPA!!!!
sw1tchstyl3z
Soulja is alright but you gotta admit he have some of the dopest beats...and as of late he been stepping his bars up
Marina Hollister
J coles my top favorite rapper ever and I didnt think i'd be able to fit anyone into my top five cause of him but cham is easily my second.
Giovanni Da Savage
that boy killed that shit !
SmokeySmurf770
Damn, that was straight.
KillaKam94
He pushed th album back again, this time to June 15. THIS MAKIN ME MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jattpunjabi93
Venom still dropping on march 16? Major Pain is sickk