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
Famous
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the wall over there in the corner
Underneath the staircase that's the Hall of Fame
(In the hall) put your picture because you're (Famous)
You want it and you got it
(You know why) because you're (Famous)
You want it and you got it
(They gone ride) because you're (Famous)
And they'll try cause you know
They gone see the platinum pinky ring that's on your finger
They gone see you pull up in the old school with the swangers
All your friends will tell ya that you're goin through some changes
Tryin to count your pockets
Tryin to see what your change is
Cause you're (Famous)
You want it and you got it yeah you got it
Come on man look
You can't believe a groupie
She'll be telling you that she wanna
Go and tell the media that you took the nookie from her
Daughter and the mother
Both smarter than a mother
Blonde is the color dye their hair
Then they act like Dumb and Dumber
Lookin for the pipe
You just tryin to be a plumber
They got to be the DJ for them
To say that you was drummer
Be famous if you wanna
You gonna be worse than Jeffrey Dahmer
Everybody wonder how could you decapitate your Hummer
For summer after summer
One will have to be your number
Cause they gone say your done
If you come any number under cause you're (famous)
Be famous if you wanna
They shootin at the club
And they gonna name you as the gunner
Cause you're (Famous)
Be famous if you wanna
I hope you got a lawyer that could beat it like a drummer (Famous)
The one the only hey homie
Fame ain't the problem it's the one's that phony
The game ain't the problem just the ones before me
Hate on your brothers yet claim they OG's
But deal your worst hand who gone fold me
This where the platinum and gold be and Cham told me
They gone see the platinum pinky ring that's on your finger (I know)
They gone see you pull up in the old school with the swangers (Fo sho)
All your friends'll tell ya that you're goin through some changes
Tryin to count your pockets (Let's go)
Tryin to see what your change is
Cause you're (I'm Famous)
You want it and you got it (I got it) yeah (yeah) you got it
I started so far underground
Thought I'd never see the light
But I ain't even need the lime
I just had to see a mic
And now they got me in the mags
Baby don't believe the hype
Catch me at award shows
Boys can't perceive I'm nice
So I'm a put it in they face
Like proof of seeing Christ
Now guess who getting cake
Need proof you see the ice
I see ya finally graduated up to riding tour bus
All the groupies in it they gone tell you that it's the whore bus
Tell me how the heck can any groupie not adore us
Hoppin out the yellow Lamborghinis with the doors up
Haha you gone be buying Lamborghinis with your tour bucks (Yeah)
Then you'll probably say you're out of money when the tour's up (aw man)
Spend it on your jewels your arm lookin like a cool cup
Man we spend it on them tools too naw we ain't fool-ish
Cause God's plan man is already scripted
Can't jump the B-wagon and already missed it
Shit and if you missed it hey you just missed it
Dig it my style I already switched it (Already)
Young black and gifted
And if fame is a drug I need the whole World addicted
They gone see the platinum pinky ring that's on your finger (You missed it man)
They gone see you pull up in the old school with the swangers
All your friends will tell ya that you're goin through some changes (True)
Tryin to count your pockets
Tryin to see what your change is
Cause you're (I'm Famous)
You want it and you got it yeah you got it (I'm feelin it though)
Look tell the truth (Truth)
The game ain't as cool as I thought it'd be (Straight up)
They saw me in the Forbes
Everybody telling me they digging me
All my enemies say that a friend's what they consider me
I turn my back they take the knife and try to stab it into me
I'm pulling 'em off the lot where they at doin diddley
Squat and now I got plenty haters tryin to get at me
So what is you gonna do when they see you with me in Italy
And paparazzi pictures picture you as the epitome
A superstar literally following you like Brit-aney
How the heck you tell me you can handle that you kidding me
You're famous
The lyrics to "Famous" by Chamillionaire, characterize fame as a double-edged sword. The rapper's lyrics speak of the unending pursuit of fame and the danger that comes with it. The song’s opening lines ("In the corridor you see that / On the wall over there in the corner / Underneath the staircase that's the Hall of Fame (In the hall) / put your picture because you're (Famous)"), emphasizes that being famous is one of the ultimate goals people have. Chamillionaire goes on to detail the downside of fame: the scrutiny of the public eye, the paparazzi, groupies, envious friends, and the constant need to be on top.
In the middle of the song, Chamillionaire stresses that fame is a drug and one that people get addicted to quickly, which makes it hard for them to quit or get away from it. He then emphasizes the importance of being humble in the industry, stating that people who parade openly without being respectful to others usually never enjoy lasting success. The lyrics are a reminder that no one fame comes without paying a big price.
Line by Line Meaning
In the corridor you see that
You can see fame all around you.
On the wall over there in the corner
Even the Hall of Fame has a corner where you can put up your picture.
Underneath the staircase that's the Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame can be found even under the staircase.
(In the hall) put your picture because you're (Famous)
You can put up your picture in the Hall of Fame because you're famous.
You want it and you got it
You desired it, and now you have it because you're famous.
(You know why) because you're (Famous)
You know why you have what you wanted-- because you're famous.
(They gone ride) because you're (Famous)
People are going to want to associate with you because you're famous.
And they'll try cause you know
People will try to bring you down as well.
They gone see the platinum pinky ring that's on your finger
People will notice and envy your expensive jewelry.
They gone see you pull up in the old school with the swangers
People will see you driving an old classic car with oversized wheels.
All your friends will tell ya that you're goin through some changes
Your friends may say that you've changed due to fame.
Tryin to count your pockets
People will try to see how much money you've got as a result of fame.
Cause you're (Famous)
All of these things are happening to you because you're famous.
Come on man look
Listen to what I'm saying.
You can't believe a groupie
Don't trust groupies who may fabricate stories about being with you in a sexual manner.
She'll be telling you that she wanna
She will attempt to seduce you and claim that she wants you.
Go and tell the media that you took the nookie from her
She will try to sell a story alleging that you had sexual intercourse.
Daughter and the mother
Both the mother and daughter will come after you.
Both smarter than a mother
The mother and daughter are cunning and shrewd.
Blonde is the color dye their hair
They both have dyed blonde hair.
Then they act like Dumb and Dumber
Despite their intelligence they act foolishly.
Lookin for the pipe
They will try to find a man with a large penis.
You just tryin to be a plumber
You are just trying to fix a pipe, but they are trying to do something else.
They got to be the DJ for them
They will even try to control the music.
To say that you was drummer
They will even claim that you know how to play drums.
Be famous if you wanna
It's a warning, saying that fame will bring unwanted attention.
You gonna be worse than Jeffrey Dahmer
It could lead to a mentally disturbed individual committing atrocities.
Everybody wonder how could you decapitate your Hummer
People will wonder how someone could destroy their own expensive car.
For summer after summer
Doing it repeatedly for years.
One will have to be your number
One person will eventually bring you down.
Cause they gone say your done
After being brought down, people will say you're finished.
If you come any number under cause you're (famous)
If you fall from fame, people will abandon you.
They shootin at the club
People will target you even during public events.
And they gonna name you as the gunner
They will blame you as the one responsible for the chaos.
I hope you got a lawyer that could beat it like a drummer (Famous)
You will need a good lawyer to help you get out of trouble and remain famous.
The one the only hey homie
I am the one and only.
Fame ain't the problem it's the one's that phony
The fake people around you are the problem.
The game ain't the problem just the ones before me
The industry doesn't have a problem, just the shady individuals preceding me.
Hate on your brothers yet claim they OG's
They criticize others for being fake but claim to be real themselves.
But deal your worst hand who gone fold me
Even when someone is dealt a bad hand, they won't give up.
This where the platinum and gold be and Cham told me
This is where success and wealth can be attained, as Chamillionaire advised me.
They gone see the platinum pinky ring that's on your finger (I know)
People will continue to envy your expensive jewelry.
They gone see you pull up in the old school with the swangers (Fo sho)
People will see you driving a classic car with oversized wheels, continuing to be envious.
All your friends'll tell ya that you're goin through some changes
Friends may point out the behaviors you've changed due to fame.
Cause you're (I'm Famous)
All of these things are happening due to being famous.
You want it and you got it (I got it) yeah (yeah) you got it
You desired fame and now that you have it, this is all a part of the package.
I started so far underground
I began my career with little recognition.
Thought I'd never see the light
I had doubts that I'd become successful.
But I ain't even need the lime
I didn't need to be in the spotlight to be successful.
I just had to see a mic
All I needed was to get my music heard by others.
And now they got me in the mags
Now I get recognized by various magazines.
Baby don't believe the hype
Despite the fame, don't get caught up in the media gossip.
Catch me at award shows
People will see me attending different award shows.
Boys can't perceive I'm nice
Men are unable to comprehend how successful the singer is despite being nice.
So I'm a put it in they face
The singer will prove how successful they are.
Like proof of seeing Christ
The artist's success will be undeniable like seeing Jesus.
Now guess who getting cake
Now the artist is making a lot of money.
Need proof you see the ice
To prove their success, the artist will flash expensive jewelry.
I see ya finally graduated up to riding tour bus
The singer acknowledges someone's rise to success.
All the groupies in it they gone tell you that it's the whore bus
Groupies on the tour bus are seen as promiscuous.
Tell me how the heck can any groupie not adore us
It's impossible for groupies to not be attracted to successful individuals like the singer.
Hoppin out the yellow Lamborghinis with the doors up
Driving an expensive car with doors that lift upward.
Haha you gone be buying Lamborghinis with your tour bucks (Yeah)
The singer is teasing someone by saying they will eventually have enough money to purchase a Lamborghini.
Then you'll probably say you're out of money when the tour's up (aw man)
The artist is joking and saying that despite making a lot of money, it will be spent quickly.
Spend it on your jewels your arm lookin like a cool cup
People will spend money on expensive jewelry to show off their wealth.
Man we spend it on them tools too naw we ain't fool-ish
People will also spend money on guns to protect their wealth.
Cause God's plan man is already scripted
The singer believes that everything happens for a reason and is pre-planned by God.
Can't jump the B-wagon and already missed it
If there is a new trend, and you are late to jump on the bandwagon, you'll already have missed out.
Shit and if you missed it hey you just missed it
It's too late to join in, you already missed the opportunity.
Dig it my style I already switched it (Already)
The artist is confident that their style is unique and has already been changed.
Young black and gifted
The singer is young, African American, and talented.
And if fame is a drug I need the whole World addicted
The artist desires for the entire world to be addicted to their fame.
True
Agreement with the previous line.
You're famous
Being famous means dealing with both positive and negative attention.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATT SQUIRE, DAMON REINAGLE, KATY TIZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind