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
Freeway
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Diamond in the back with the sun roof open
Drivin Down The Freeway
Eyes real low just singing my song
Drivin Down The Freeway
Life already bad so I'm moving along, yeah
Drivin Down The Freeway
Blowin my smoke all by myself, just
[Chamillionaire:]
Koopa
She said that she ain't never been in an old school car in her life
And you will never, not with me cause you are not my type
That Houston breathes be feeling nice, I had to drop top twice
Showin roof because they couldn't afford the top drop price
Marvin Gaye is gonna play cause what it do to the soul
The music probably goin be chopped cause Watt's done screw it to slow
I love to see the sun come out, cause what it do to the 4's
And it's ready to bring the Lincoln out cause it's too new for the road
Key to the city with me with me as I cruise to the toe
And the handles never show not including with doe
And I swear the air up there is so populated with snow
A condition blowing code I'm bout to shoot em the stove
Complaining, saying I don't be in the hood chillin with them
But when I pop up with the top they like "What's up, Cham? "
He said "let me hold something" so I took my hand out
And then I pulled it out and he like "stuck up man"
Chunk the deuce to all the haters, pictured us as a fluke
Haters better get on ya job like you was hired to do
Never open up your mouth and say that I ain't the truth
Cause you goin blow it like a fluke got stuck inside in your tooth
Ford chicks they love a Ford crosser I ain't traduce
Both of them they Europeans, get inside of the coupe
If you goin race me then I think you should be tying ya shoes
You hear that engine start roaring like a lion is loose
That's Right
[Chorus:]
Diamond in the back with the sun roof open
Drivin Down The Freeway
Eyes real low just singing my song
Drivin Down The Freeway
Life already bad so I'm moving along, yeah
Drivin Down The Freeway
Blowin my smoke all by myself, just
Drivin Down The Freeway
In Chamillionaire's song Down the Freeway, the artist takes us on a ride down the freeway, with a "Diamond in the back" and a "sun roof open." As he cruises down the highway, eyes low and singing his song, he reflects on life being bad and decides to move along. Driving down the freeway with no one but himself, Chamillionaire blows his smoke, lost in thought.
The song seems to be about escaping, driven by the freedom of driving down the freeway. It's about leaving behind the negative aspects of life and just enjoying the moment, with no one to impress or judge. The lyrics touch on the idea of not conforming and doing what's expected, as Chamillionaire sings about refusing to change himself to fit someone else's type.
The reference to Marvin Gaye's music and DJ Screw's remixing further adds to the idea of staying true to oneself and seeking enjoyment in the moment. In a way, the song embodies the artist's own philosophy. "Chunk the deuce to all the haters," he says, "pictured us as a fluke, haters better get on ya job like you was hired to do," emphasizing on the importance of self-confidence and ignoring naysayers.
Overall, Down the Freeway is a song about embracing one's own identity and breaking free from the barriers that hold us back. It speaks to the freedom that comes with driving down the freeway, and encourages listeners to let go of their fears and just enjoy the ride.
Line by Line Meaning
Diamond in the back with the sun roof open
I'm driving my classic car with some bling and a bit of fresh air
Drivin Down The Freeway
I'm cruising on the highway, taking in the moment
Eyes real low just singing my song
I'm relaxed and enjoying myself, singing along to some good tunes
Life already bad so I'm moving along, yeah
Things haven't been great, but I'm keeping on and looking ahead
Blowin my smoke all by myself, just
I'm smoking some weed and chilling all alone without any distractions
She said that she ain't never been in an old school car in her life
Someone said they've never ridden in a classic vehicle before
And you will never, not with me cause you are not my type
I'm not interested in spending time with people who don't appreciate my ride
Marvin Gaye is gonna play cause what it do to the soul
I love listening to Marvin Gaye because it just resonates with me emotionally
I love to see the sun come out, cause what it do to the 4's
I enjoy the sunshine because it highlights the beauty of my car
Key to the city with me with me as I cruise to the toe
I'm driving confidently and even have the key to the city with me
Complaining, saying I don't be in the hood chillin with them
People are upset that I don't hang out in their neighborhood with them
Never open up your mouth and say that I ain't the truth
Don't disrespect me by saying I'm not genuine or truthful
Chunk the deuce to all the haters, pictured us as a fluke
I'm waving goodbye to the haters who thought my success was a one-time fluke
Haters better get on ya job like you was hired to do
Haters need to focus on their own work instead of worrying about me
If you goin race me then I think you should be tying ya shoes
If someone wants to race me, they better be prepared and focused
You hear that engine start roaring like a lion is loose
My car's engine sounds powerful and impressive as I hit high speeds
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind