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.
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Chamillionaire's Myspace
Anywhere But Here
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder how long for this shit
Don't take me [?]
Moving through New York City in a black seven fifty
Like Batman moving through Gotham
Dodging pot holes as I gently move
Through Harlem with my wheels on slalom
Where they found Sean Bell and they shot him
Forty one times, he committed no crime
But I guess life ain't Times Square
But in the city that's gritty where the bottom is shitty
Where the mayor's a billionaire
You learn Manhattan keep on making it
And Brooklyn, keep on taking it
Cause life just ain't that fair
For the kids in the park, watching out for the Narcs
Putting Sour Diesel in the air
Trying to flip them a pass, that they got a couple back
And make them get the hell out of here!
Let the city peel away right from under you
There are too many clouds in the sky
I can hear them calling out to me
I can hear them calling out
Let the city peel away
There were too many ghosts in this town
I can hear them calling out to me, out to me!
I maneuver through the ATL in a black SL
With the goddess of a black female
This is black male Heaven with the ballers are professing
But to me home feels like Hell
Even though it's black cops from the mayors to the top
Black blood still gets spilled
They raided a house, no drugs were ever found
But a black grandmother laid killed
Like the dream of the King when the sniper took his life
On the balcony of Lorraine Motel
From now forthward, these young black boys
Seem to self-sabatoge they selves
Or maybe they're just smart, and they choose to go hard
Cause they know the good guy will fail
So you ask what happens to a dream deferred
Langston, well it kills itself... (Atlanta)
Let the city peel away right from under you
There are too many clouds in the sky
I can hear them calling out to me
I can hear them calling out
Anywhere but here
The song "Anywhere But Here" by Chamillionaire reflects the artist's desire to escape his current surroundings and explore different cities. The lyrics convey a sense of discontentment and frustration with the state of his environment. Chamillionaire expresses a longing to be anywhere else but where he currently is, suggesting that he is seeking a change and a fresh start.
The lyrics paint vivid pictures of specific cities, such as New York City and Atlanta, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects of each location. In New York City, he references the infamous shooting of Sean Bell, a young unarmed black man who was killed by police officers. This event serves as a symbol of the injustice and inequality that Chamillionaire believes exists in the city. He also mentions the struggles faced by those living in impoverished neighborhoods, where drugs and violence are prevalent.
In Atlanta, Chamillionaire addresses the presence of black police officers and the tragic killing of a black grandmother during a raid. These events highlight the ongoing issues of racial profiling and excessive force within the community. Through his lyrics, Chamillionaire suggests that even in a city that may seem like a haven for black success (referred to as "black male Heaven"), there are still deep-rooted problems and hardships that need to be addressed.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna be anywhere, anywhere but here
I desire to be in any other place except for the current location
I wonder how long for this shit
I contemplate the duration of this unpleasant situation
Don't take me
Please do not keep me in this place
Moving through New York City in a black seven fifty
Navigating through the streets of New York City in a luxurious black BMW 750
Like Batman moving through Gotham
Similar to how Batman stealthily moves through the fictional city of Gotham
Dodging pot holes as I gently move
Avoiding road imperfections as I navigate smoothly
Through Harlem with my wheels on slalom
Driving through Harlem with my car maneuvering in a zigzag fashion
Pain in my eyes as I'm passing the place
Feeling emotional distress as I drive past the location
Where they found Sean Bell and they shot him
Referring to the incident where Sean Bell was fatally shot by police
Forty one times, he committed no crime
He was shot forty-one times despite not having committed any criminal offense
But I guess life ain't Times Square
Life is not as glamorous and perfect as Times Square portrays it to be
But in the city that's gritty where the bottom is shitty
In a city characterized by toughness and where the situation for those at the bottom is terrible
Where the mayor's a billionaire
Referring to the fact that the mayor of the city is a billionaire
You learn Manhattan keep on making it
You understand that the wealthy district of Manhattan continues to prosper
And Brooklyn, keep on taking it
While Brooklyn faces ongoing challenges and difficulties
Cause life just ain't that fair
Life is not equitable or just
For the kids in the park, watching out for the Narcs
Referring to the children in the park who are vigilant for law enforcement officers
Putting Sour Diesel in the air
Smoking a specific strain of marijuana called Sour Diesel
Trying to flip them a pass, that they got a couple back
Attempting to exchange drugs with them, receiving some in return
And make them get the hell out of here!
Causing them to leave the area abruptly
Let the city peel away right from under you
Allow the city to gradually distance itself from your surroundings
There are too many clouds in the sky
The presence of numerous difficulties or obstacles
I can hear them calling out to me
I perceive a distinct beckoning or summoning
Let the city peel away
Allow the city to gradually separate from the current situation
There were too many ghosts in this town
Referring to the haunting memories or past experiences in this location
I can hear them calling out to me, out to me!
I am able to perceive their persistent calls distinctly
I maneuver through the ATL in a black SL
I skillfully navigate the streets of Atlanta in a black Mercedes SL
With the goddess of a black female
Accompanied by an exceptionally attractive black woman
This is black male Heaven with the ballers are professing
Referring to a place where successful black men enjoy their status and flaunt their wealth
But to me home feels like Hell
Despite the allure of this place, it feels like a place of torment for me
Even though it's black cops from the mayors to the top
Acknowledging the presence of black law enforcement officers in positions of power
Black blood still gets spilled
Despite this, instances of violence involving black individuals still occur
They raided a house, no drugs were ever found
A raid was conducted on a residence, yet no illegal substances were discovered
But a black grandmother laid killed
However, a black grandmother lost her life during the incident
Like the dream of the King when the sniper took his life
Similar to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., where a sniper ended his life
On the balcony of Lorraine Motel
Referring to the location where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated
From now forthward, these young black boys
From this moment forward, these young black males
Seem to self-sabatoge they selves
Appear to undermine or harm themselves
Or maybe they're just smart, and they choose to go hard
Alternatively, they may be intelligent and intentionally pursue a difficult path
Cause they know the good guy will fail
Because they believe the morally upright person will ultimately be unsuccessful
So you ask what happens to a dream deferred
Therefore, you inquire about the consequences of delaying or neglecting a dream
Langston, well it kills itself
In response, Langston, the dream itself ends up being destructive
Let the city peel away right from under you
Allow the city to gradually separate itself from your surroundings
There are too many clouds in the sky
The presence of numerous difficulties or obstacles
I can hear them calling out to me
I perceive a distinct beckoning or summoning
I can hear them calling out
I am able to perceive their persistent calls
Anywhere but here
In any location except for the current one
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: Jaime Meline, Michael Santigo Render
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sunionbro Of Astora
Damn I didn’t know Chamillonaire was featured too! Thanks!
janboblarry
Thanks for the Cham version.
Jpat Stingy Benji's
Slept on!
Pellymods 47
2020
Pellymods 47
@Thats Right!!! same dawg here I am in 2022. Wishing they had this version on Spotify
Thats Right!!!
this my joint