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
Everybody Hates a Snitch
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Verse 1:]
Mayne wassup partna whut it dew what the buisness is
You need ta holla at me I ain't seen ya in a minute kid
Got info fo me my information I'm givin it
We can conversate but the hustlas we know the divid b
Sheer sentences talkin about the sentences
Tellin em so we cud get us some benefits
Then walkin round pretending like we are innocent
I ain't really got that much time to do crime
I would rather have them give em some crime and reduce mine
I'm a tell on them so I'm bound ta do fine
And anotha rappers gonna go down and do time
Don't trip cause they ain't gon do a thing when they see us
Sometimes they acting like they hard but be as soft as a penis
See ya'll don't even know my snitching game is the cleanest
I was in the locker room an told on gilbert irenis
Knew he was a... target the moment I met him
As soon I see the police comin you know that I'm bailing
How do you think that these rappers even becomin felons
Anybody got a problem with me then I'm tellin
I was on the bus with lil weezy out on the road
And the reason that I told on him so they'd give me parole
And I ain't tryna go to jail cause I ain't really swole
And they be doin things in there you just don't wanna know man
[Chorus:]
Let me tell you a story bout the one we call snitch
Snitches tellin on you an it's your fault you can't trip
Hating and gossiping ya hang around the same chicks
But you don't know who it is so ya know ya can't diss
Snitches really the reason everybody ain't rich
When the police show up it's the one that ain't pissed
And if you feel like your on your hustle game ya can't slip
I'm a tell you the reason that everybody hates snitch
[Verse 2:]
Mayne I'm the reason that tiger woods ain't about the woods
He was workin one of my chicks so I got em good
She stopped messin with me for him she was hollywood
I told her id set him up and she thought I could'ntdo it
Fooled you trick I'm a professional
Cause snitch on anotha snitch an I bet he will never know
If you thinking illegal thought I'm snitchin from head to toe.
If you smellin like baby powder il say your smuggling blow
No it wasn't me I didn't do it man I didn't do it
Ask me any question you want and we can get into it
I spill whatever ya want like I'm made with leaky fluid
Bein an imformant for years but I don't think they knew it
I gotta partna that did I didn't think he'd do it
I didn't wrap it and packages they smuggling to brew it
Didn't inhale but I shall tell you who blew it
Any name ya wanna know il write it down and include it
Wassup
The lyrics of "Everybody Hates a Snitch" by Chamillionaire describe the behavior of a snitch, who is someone that betrays others by providing information to the authorities in order to seek benefits or avoid punishment. The song highlights the negative impact of snitching on the community and how it prevents people from succeeding in their endeavors. The artist boasts about his snitching skills and how he managed to get away with it while implicating others.
In the first verse, Chamillionaire explains how he deceives other hustlers by pretending to be innocent and offering them his help. He suggests that he would rather snitch on them to reduce his own criminal charges, putting the blame on someone else. He claims that he snitched on Gilbert Arenas and Lil Wayne, showing no remorse for his actions. In the chorus, he emphasizes the harmful consequences of snitching and how it prevents people from becoming wealthy and successful.
In the second verse, Chamillionaire describes some of the tricks that he uses to obtain information from people and frame them for crimes. He mentions that he set up Tiger Woods because of jealousy, and that he has been an informant for years without being detected. He even implies that he would snitch on his own partner. The song ends on an ambiguous note, leaving the listener to judge the character of the snitch.
Overall, Chamillionaire's lyrics provide a cautionary tale about the dangers of snitching and how it erodes trust in society. The song sparked controversy when it was released, with some people criticizing Chamillionaire for promoting snitching, while others praised him for exposing the hypocrisy of the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Mayne wassup partna whut it dew what the buisness is
Greetings friend, what's the situation and the purpose of this meeting?
You need ta holla at me I ain't seen ya in a minute kid
It has been a while since we last spoke, what do you want to tell me?
Got info fo me my information I'm givin it
I have some information that may benefit you, and I'm willing to share it.
We can conversate but the hustlas we know the divid b
We can talk, but let's keep our profitable connections separate.
Sheer sentences talkin about the sentences
We're speaking in code about illegal activity.
Of the street hustlas we know really the menaces
The criminals we associate with are dangerous individuals.
Tellin em so we cud get us some benefits
We're exposing their illegal activity in order to gain an advantage.
Then walkin round pretending like we are innocent
After snitching, we act like we are unaware of the activity.
I ain't really got that much time to do crime
I don't have the time or desire to commit crimes myself.
I would rather have them give em some crime and reduce mine
I'd rather shift the blame to others and lower my own risk of being caught.
I'm a tell on them so I'm bound ta do fine
By snitching, I'm ensuring my own safety and avoiding punishment.
And anotha rappers gonna go down and do time
My snitching will lead to another rapper being incarcerated.
Don't trip cause they ain't gon do a thing when they see us
We're not at risk of being caught, because they won't do anything when they see us.
Sometimes they acting like they hard but be as soft as a penis
People may act tough, but they're actually weak and vulnerable.
See ya'll don't even know my snitching game is the cleanest
I'm exceptionally good at snitching, and it goes unnoticed.
I was in the locker room an told on gilbert irenis
I betrayed Gilbert Arenas by telling authorities about his wrongdoing.
Knew he was a... target the moment I met him
As soon as I met him, I knew Gilbert Arenas was a potential target for snitching.
As soon I see the police comin you know that I'm bailing
If I see the police approaching, I'll run away to avoid getting caught.
How do you think that these rappers even becomin felons
Snitching is one way that rappers are caught and become felons.
Anybody got a problem with me then I'm tellin
I'll snitch on anyone who has a problem with me.
I was on the bus with lil weezy out on the road
I was riding the bus with Lil Wayne while on tour.
And the reason that I told on him so they'd give me parole
I snitched on Lil Wayne in order to be granted early parole.
And I ain't tryna go to jail cause I ain't really swole
I'm not physically strong, so I don't want to go to jail.
And they be doin things in there you just don't wanna know man
Prison is a dangerous and unpleasant place, with activities one should avoid.
[Chorus:]
Let me tell you a story bout the one we call snitch
This song is about individuals who participate in snitching.
Snitches tellin on you an it's your fault you can't trip
If someone snitches on you, it's your fault for being involved in criminal activity.
Hating and gossiping ya hang around the same chicks
Those who spread rumors and hate are often part of the same social group.
But you don't know who it is so ya know ya can't diss
You don't know who is snitching, so you can't confront them.
Snitches really the reason everybody ain't rich
Snitching often leads to criminal activity being exposed and wealth being lost.
When the police show up it's the one that ain't pissed
The person who isn't angry when the police arrive is likely the snitch.
And if you feel like your on your hustle game ya can't slip
When partaking in illegal activity, one must be vigilant and not make mistakes.
I'm a tell you the reason that everybody hates snitch
The reason why snitching is despised will be explained in this song.
[Verse 2:]
Mayne I'm the reason that tiger woods ain't about the woods
I'm responsible for exposing Tiger Woods' infidelity.
He was workin one of my chicks so I got em good
I got back at Tiger Woods for dating one of my former partners.
She stopped messin with me for him she was hollywood
My partner chose to stop associating with me and start seeing Tiger Woods.
I told her id set him up and she thought I could'ntdo it
I promised her that I could expose Tiger Woods' hidden affairs, and she didn't believe me.
Fooled you trick I'm a professional
I successfully exposed Tiger Woods' infidelity, proving my skills as a snitch.
Cause snitch on anotha snitch an I bet he will never know
I'm so good at snitching, even the other snitch won't figure out that I betrayed them.
If you thinking illegal thought I'm snitchin from head to toe.
If you're engaging in illegal activity, know that I'll snitch on you completely.
If you smellin like baby powder il say your smuggling blow
I'll falsely accuse you of smuggling drugs if I happen to smell baby powder on you.
No it wasn't me I didn't do it man I didn't do it
After snitching, I'll deny my involvement in criminal activity.
Ask me any question you want and we can get into it
Feel free to ask me anything, and I'll betray anyone to avoid punishment.
I spill whatever ya want like I'm made with leaky fluid
I'll disclose anything you want to know, as if I were constantly leaking information.
Bein an imformant for years but I don't think they knew it
I've been snitching for a long time, but no one suspects me.
I gotta partna that did I didn't think he'd do it
My former partner snitched on me, and I didn't expect them to.
I didn't wrap it and packages they smuggling to brew it
I didn't package the illegal substances, but I know who did and I'll snitch on them.
Didn't inhale but I shall tell you who blew it
I didn't consume the illegal substances, but I know who did and I'll snitch on them.
Any name ya wanna know il write it down and include it
I'll betray anyone you ask me to, and provide evidence to the authorities.
Wassup
What's new in your life?
Contributed by Layla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.