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
Come Down
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It feels good to wake up
And be able to do what you wanna do
When you wanna do it how you wanna do it
I mean that's just me
You know that's how I like to live
And I feel good be in that position
You know I know it's a lot of people out there
That look at me for guidance
On these major labels
And these this this industry
That we call the rap game but umm
I cain't tell nobody how to live they life
I just know how to live mine umm right now
This is the way I think it should be you know
For those of y'all that don't know I'm off Universal
I finally got away from all the politics
You know all the waiting
Ten years to put out a album
All the changing songs
All the trying to force artists
To make Pop music
You know that works for a lot of people
But that don't work for me
It stopped working for me
You understand what I'm saying
I made a lot of money with Universal
I went all across the world
And umm I got a brand now
And I'm still doing that
I'm still travelling all across the world
And still getting reach anywhere I want to
I just feel like this brand I want to control it
I want the stuff that you hear
To be what I want you to hear
And and my real voice instead of somebody else's voice
If you can't rock with that then I can't rock with you
I know most of y'all feel what I'm tryin to say
So to sum it up there will be no Venom album
I will not release none of the music I did with Universal
And y'all should be a thousand percent cool with that
Cause I'm a thousand percent cool with that
We starting over from scratch fresh new ideas
That's why I created Playlist Poison
I'ma release a whole bunch of records
From my website Chamillionaire dot com
I need everybody to keep on getting em
Keep on downloading em
Keep on putting em in your playlist
And what we gone do
Is rebrand this thing called Chamillitary
You know what am saying we gone get the army right
Before I put out this album called Playlist Poison
A full album a real album
And there will be a video for every song
We already in motion right now
We already done shot videos
We already getting the music right
I just want to make sure that it's a thousand percent fire
So nobody can deny my talent
So what you all can do for me is
Think about the future
Think forward right
Because a lot of y'all fans
Are always worrying about the past
You always talking about the old Koopa
You always talking bout the old Paul Wall and Chamillionaire
You always talking bout the old website
You always talk about everything in the past
Let's think towards the future and think of new ideas
And new things we can do to be creative
And we can do to crush the game mayne
Cause everybody else is doin the same thang
And for all y'all lames that's gone stay stuck in the past
Stay stuck in the past then
Put on your hirachis
Turn your jeans backwards
And jump like Kris Kross for all I care mayne
We in the future mayne
I'm tryin to think up new thangs mayne
I'm older now I'm not seventeen years old no more man
So everybody that's willing to grow with me, let's grow
What I need y'all to do is
Go out there and tell everybody
Everybody we need a movement man
We need over a million e-mail addresses man you know
We only as strong as the network
So let's stay active
We need active e-mail addresses
Active users and active fans
People out there spreading the word mayne you know
That's what y'all can do for me
Not complainin about why the rest of the world
Don't understand the greatness of
Chamillionaire and Chamillitary
Forget about them man who cares
As long as we getting money
As long as we feeding our families
And as long we makin the music that we tryin to make
Then everything's player yeah
So I leave you with this
All my soldiers that's been down
With me 13 14 year strong
Let's keep rolling man
I need you to log on to Chamillionaire dot com
I need you to live there
I need you to breathe there
I need you to be there yeah
Major Pain 2 coming soon
And who knows what else
Maybe I got somethin up my sleeve
I don't know
But until that album
Y'all know what it is
Playlist Poison
In Chamillionaire's song "Come Down," the rapper talks about his decision to break away from mainstream record labels to create and release his own music. He explains that he wants complete control of his brand and the music he puts out for fans. Chamillionaire expresses frustration with the music industry's politics and pressure to create pop music with Universal Music Group, but says that he has a brand now and is still able to travel the world and make money. He announces that he will not be releasing any music he created with Universal and instead will release a lot of music through his own website, Chamillionaire.com, under the name Playlist Poison. The ultimate goal is to rebrand Chamillitary and put out a full album with a video for each song in the near future.
Chamillionaire's bold move to separate from Universal Music Group and release his own music was met with mixed reactions from fans and critics alike. Some applauded him for taking ownership of his brand and creative output, while others criticized him for being disrespectful to the record label that helped launch his career. However, regardless of opinions, the move was a bold one that speaks to the changing landscape of the music industry and the power that artists have to take control of their own careers.
Line by Line Meaning
Never come down
The artist is determined to continue his success and feels he has reached a level he doesn't want to fall from.
It feels good to wake up
The artist is content with his current position and is excited to start each new day that will enable him to continue creating music.
And be able to do what you wanna do
The artist is grateful for the freedom he has to create the kind of music he wants without being controlled or influenced by others.
When you wanna do it how you wanna do it
The artist enjoys the creative control he has over his music, and he can create music that represents his voice and style.
I just know how to live mine umm right now
The artist acknowledges that he can only speak for himself and his experiences in the music industry, but he encourages others to follow his example if they can relate to him.
That works for a lot of people
The artist recognizes that the music industry is diverse and what works for one artist may not work for another. Pop music may work for some artists, but it doesn't work for him.
And umm I got a brand now
The artist has established a distinctive brand from his music, travels, and tours with Universal, which has opened up new opportunities for him.
I want the stuff that you hear
The artist wants his fans to hear music that is authentic and represents his distinct voice and style, rather than music controlled or edited by a major record label.
I will not release none of the music I did with Universal
The artist is cutting ties with Universal and has no plans to release any of his previous music with them as he aims to create under his authentic voice and style.
We starting over from scratch fresh new ideas
The artist is starting anew, with fresh ideas and brand-new music that he hopes will represent his creative vision and talent in the current music industry.
A full album a real album
The artist is preparing to release an entire album of new, original music that he hopes will represent his voice and style authentically.
And there will be a video for every song
The artist intends to produce a video for each of the tracks on the new album to signify the work and artistry that went into each song.
I'm older now I'm not seventeen years old no more man
The artist acknowledges that he has matured since his emergence on the rap scene, and he has grown older, wiser, and experienced.
Not complainin about why the rest of the world
The artist and his fans should focus on their journey and successes rather than worrying about how the rest of the world perceives them and their music.
As long as we getting money
The artist acknowledges that his music is his job and hopes that he and his team can generate an income and provide for themselves and their families.
Let's keep rolling man
The artist encourages his fans and supporters to keep moving forward, pushing ahead, and striving to continue making music they are passionate about.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind