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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(C) Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia
Chamillionaire's Myspace
Gun Smoke
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
1 and a 2 and a 3 (Nobody!)
And a 1, and a 2 and a 3 (Nobody!)
And a 1, 2, 3 (Nobody!)
And a 1 and 2 and a 3! (Nobody!)
[Bridge ]
What ya mean? (Put ya mug on)
What you mean? (Put ya mug on)
What you mean? (Put ya mug on)
.. What you sayin'? What you mean? (Put ya mug on)
.. What you sayin'? What you mean? (Put ya mug on)
[Chorus:]
Gun Smoke, when you hear me cockin' it back and me gun go
Booyakaa-Booyakaa leave you layin' on the floor, Yeah
Buck-Buck-Buck shots, come come now what you mean?
Pussy mad and blood clots, Gun Smoke
(repeat)
[Verse 1: Yung-Ro]
-Shh!, Poof, Nobody the ghost bitch
When it's gun smoke on the track, you know Yung Ro wrote this
Yeah, forever Color Changin' Click homie!
'cause I ain't the type to switch homie
Some the real niggaz never pick phonies
To roll with me, I ride 1 deep
Solo with a glock next to me
So many brothers wanna plex with me
And I'ma show em' all who's next to see
Peek-A-Boo, there's gun-smoke (Gunshots)
That's how my gun go, shots out to that Po-Yo
On the block like Rasaq on the mash for dough
And I'ma fly, cocky, ignorant dude
You don't wanna see me in a ignorant mood
Just trust me dog, sit and be cool
And we could see how fast your pivot move
..(bitch!), that's how I plex, execute em'
With a red-beam, not even Neo, can't dodge what I'm shootin'
So if you hatin', you better be expectin' some fire
From Nobody the Ghost, and the Mixtape Messiah
So what you sayin' slick, say it to my face
It's on the tip of my tongue, and I'm gettin' tired of it's taste
Hey!, that's not for you son, let me give you the truth son
You not the truth son, we the realest reppin' (Houston)
Color Changin' Click, we hot, ain't playin' mayne
Cockin' back I'm sprayin' man, I'm-I'm just sayin' mayne
What I gotta do to help you kids understand
Love Ro, if not for rap for what he is as a man
I'ma inspiration in the hood for niggaz that struggle
Quit complainin', singin' sad songs get up and hustle
Get ya money mayne, sleep later and hoes get nothin'
No love, no patience, no cash, hold up, just nothin'
In they face screamin' get money nigga, because I'm true to it
And it's nothin' let you tell it, it's somethin' you new to it
And I'ma keep makin' you bitch niggaz mad at me
Say Koopa, fuck rap, niggaz can't fuck with my mentality
[Cham: Hahaha, yeah]
[Ro: G'yeah]
[Cham: Yeah, yeah]
[Ro: Nobody the Ghost man]
[Cham: Sho']
[Ro: Uh-Uh, yeah]
[Cham: It's Koopa]
[Ro: It's that Mixtape, M-Mixtape, M-Mixtape Messiah]
[Verse 2: Chamillionaire]
Yeah, I'm the man the chief, look how I handle weak
Ass niggaz who thinkin' that they could have my streets
I'm wavin' my weaponary at a random sweep
Anybody that want it, can get a can of beef
Why you kissin' and tellin' my lil spanish freak
She kissin' and tellin' me how the bang it sleep
If it's someone else it's playin' it's weak
It's a problem who gonna go handle it (it's me)
Real niggaz be sayin' what type of man is he
Is the nigga a fraud? Nigga let me see
I know the nigga a lesser man then me
If he said to them instead of me
You makin' some noise, it don't jam to me
So the game is currently gon' depend on me
I'm the nigga that gave you a 50 jammin' street
If I bomb on the nigga, I'ma fantal beef
Give a damn if I loose a couple fans a week
'cause niggaz that's real is gonna stand with me
Give a damn if I loose a couple friends a week
'cause I ride to the end, and it'll end with me
And some pretend to be, friends but they just fakin' the feeling
You know he fake, and you fakin' it with him
And the nigga be thinkin' his fakin' is hittin'
Who the hell is makin' this niggin'
Feel like he ready to slander me
Like he ain't never gon' have to be
Dealin' with the uh Majesty
Chamillionaire yeah, I'm makin' a livin'
You fakin' a livin', and I don't give a damn who's house you in
I bring the roof down like it's weights in the ceiling
[Cham: Haha, yeah]
[Ro: Yeah]
[Cham: Chamillitary man!, respect the name, respect the game, respect yeah already]
"Gun Smoke" by Chamillionaire is a rap song that features two verses from Chamillionaire and Yung-Ro. The song is essentially a boastful track displaying the rappers' authority and superiority in the music industry. Employing several imageries of gun smoke, the song drives a message that anyone who takes these rappers lightly will suffer the consequences. The intro suggests that nobody can mess with the rappers, and the gun smoke is a metaphor for the power they possess.
Verse 1, performed by Yung-Ro, talks about his abilities as a writer and his preference for working alone. He boasts about his music and promises to demonstrate his prowess against anyone who tests him. Ro assures his continued success by warning his haters to prepare for some fire. He also encourages listeners to be true to themselves and to find inspiration in his music. The second verse performed by Chamillionaire is comparably more aggressive than the first. He boasts about his status as a rapper-to-beat and his ability to handle any opponent. The overall message of the song is that if you mess with the Color Changin' Click, you will have to deal with the consequences, and these consequences are not pretty.
Line by Line Meaning
Shh!, Poof, Nobody the ghost bitch
Listen closely, disappear, I am Nobody, the ghostly rapper
When it's gun smoke on the track, you know Yung Ro wrote this
When there's a tense atmosphere in the music, you can be sure I, Yung Ro, created it
Yeah, forever Color Changin' Click homie!
Yes, I am a part of the forever loyal Color Changin' Click group, my friend!
'cause I ain't the type to switch homie
Because I am not the kind of person who changes alliances, my friend
Some the real niggaz never pick phonies
Real individuals never choose fake people, my friend
To roll with me, I ride 1 deep
If you want to associate with me, I prefer to be alone, my friend
Solo with a glock next to me
I'm alone, but I always have a handgun beside me, my friend
So many brothers wanna plex with me
Many people want to challenge me, my friend
And I'ma show em' all who's next to see
And I will prove to all of them who's next in line, my friend
Peek-A-Boo, there's gun-smoke (Gunshots)
Surprise, there's gun smoke and gunfire, my friend
That's how my gun go, shots out to that Po-Yo
That's how my firearm operates, shoutouts to the Po-Yo gang
On the block like Rasaq on the mash for dough
I'm on the streets hustling for money, comparable to Rasaq's drive
And I'ma fly, cocky, ignorant dude
I'm confident and arrogant, a knowledgeable individual
You don't wanna see me in a ignorant mood
You don't want to witness me when I'm in a confrontational state of mind
Just trust me dog, sit and be cool
Just have faith in me, my friend, stay calm and collected
And we could see how fast your pivot move
And then we can observe how quickly you change your stance, my friend
..(bitch!), that's how I plex, execute em'
...(bitch!), that's how I handle conflicts, I execute them, my friend
With a red-beam, not even Neo, can't dodge what I'm shootin'
With a laser sight, not even Neo from The Matrix can evade my bullets, my friend
So if you hatin', you better be expectin' some fire
So if you're hating on me, prepare for some intense retaliation, my friend
From Nobody the Ghost, and the Mixtape Messiah
From me, Nobody the Ghost, and Chamillionaire, the Mixtape Messiah
So what you sayin' slick, say it to my face
So, are you boldly stating your opinions? Say it directly to me, my friend
It's on the tip of my tongue, and I'm gettin' tired of its taste
I have something to say, and I'm becoming weary of holding it back, my friend
Hey!, that's not for you son, let me give you the truth son
Hey! Those words are not directed at you, young one, let me present you with the truth, son
You not the truth son, we the realest reppin' (Houston)
You are not authentic, son, we are the true representatives of Houston, my friend
Color Changin' Click, we hot, ain't playin' mayne
The Color Changin' Click group is on fire, we are not joking, my friend
Cockin' back, I'm sprayin' man, I'm-I'm just sayin' mayne
Preparing my gun to fire, I'm shooting, I'm just expressing myself, my friend
What I gotta do to help you kids understand
What actions must I take to make you young individuals comprehend, my friends
Love Ro, if not for rap, for what he is as a man
Appreciate Yung Ro, even if not for his music, for the person he is, my friends
I'm an inspiration in the hood for niggaz that struggle
I serve as a source of inspiration for individuals in challenging circumstances in the neighborhood
Quit complainin', singin' sad songs get up and hustle
Stop whining and singing sorrowful songs, get up and work hard, my friends
Get ya money mayne, sleep later and hoes get nothin'
Focus on acquiring wealth, my friend, sleep can wait, and women receive no benefits
No love, no patience, no cash, hold up, just nothin'
There is no love, no tolerance, no money, just emptiness, my friend
In they face screamin' get money nigga, because I'm true to it
In their faces I shout, 'earn money, my friend,' because I am committed to that lifestyle
And it's nothin' let you tell it, it's somethin' you new to it
And to you, it may seem insignificant, but it is something you are unfamiliar with, my friend
And I'ma keep makin' you bitch niggaz mad at me
And I will continue to anger you weak individuals, my friend
Say Koopa, fuck rap, niggaz can't fuck with my mentality
Listen, Koopa, forget about rap, no one can challenge my mindset, my friend
Yeah, I'm the man the chief, look how I handle weak
Yes, I am the leader, observe how I deal with those who are feeble, my friend
Ass niggaz who thinkin' that they could have my streets
These individuals foolishly believe they can control my territories, my friend
I'm wavin' my weaponary at a random sweep
I am brandishing my weapons in a haphazard manner, my friend
Anybody that want it, can get a can of beef
Anyone who desires it can receive a can of conflict from me, my friend
Why you kissin' and tellin' my lil spanish freak
Why are you revealing intimate details about my petite Hispanic lover?
She kissin' and tellin' me how the bang it sleep
She is disclosing to me how passionate our sexual encounters are
If it's someone else it's playin' it's weak
If she engages in similar activities with someone else, it is considered inferior, my friend
It's a problem who gonna go handle it (it's me)
There's an issue that needs to be addressed, and I am the one who will handle it, my friend
Real niggaz be sayin' what type of man is he
Authentic individuals might question the nature of his character
Is the nigga a fraud? Nigga, let me see
Is he a dishonest person? Well, let me determine that, my friend
I know the nigga a lesser man then me
I acknowledge that he is inferior to me, my friend
If he said to them instead of me
If he made those comments about others instead of me, my friend
You makin' some noise, it don't jam to me
You're making noise, but it doesn't concern me, my friend
So the game is currently gon' depend on me
Therefore, the outcome of the situation will rely on me, my friend
I'm the nigga that gave you a 50 jammin' street
I am the individual who provided you with a high-quality song, my friend
If I bomb on the nigga, I'ma fan the beef
If I attack this person aggressively, it will intensify the conflict, my friend
Give a damn if I lose a couple fans a week
I don't care if I lose a few fans each week, my friend
'Cause niggaz that's real is gonna stand with me
Because real individuals will continue to support me, my friend
Give a damn if I lose a couple friends a week
I don't care if I lose a few friends each week, my friend
'Cause I ride to the end, and it'll end with me
Because I will support them until the very end, and it will conclude with me, my friend
And some pretend to be, friends but they just fakin' the feeling
And some individuals pretend to be friends, but they are simply feigning their emotions, my friend
You know he fake, and you fakin' it with him
You are aware that he is fake, yet you continue to pretend along with him, my friend
And the nigga be thinkin' he fakin' is hittin'
And this individual believes that he is successful at pretending, my friend
Who the hell is makin' this niggin'
Who the hell is encouraging this person, my friend
Feel like he ready to slander me
He appears to be prepared to defame me, my friend
Like he ain't never gon' have to be
As if he will never have to face the consequences, my friend
Dealin' with the uh Majesty
Dealing with the high importance and influence that I possess, my friend
Chamillionaire yeah, I'm makin' a livin'
Chamillionaire, yes, I am making a living, my friend
You fakin' a livin', and I don't give a damn who's house you in
You are pretending to live a certain lifestyle, and I don't care whose house you're in, my friend
I bring the roof down like it's weights in the ceiling
I have the ability to cause chaos and destruction, similar to heavy weights falling from the ceiling, my friend
Contributed by Zachary B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joshua Hawkins
I’m still jamming this today. This will always be one of the hardest
vizionaire
shit jammin so hard 🔥
Joe Martinez
the only people that disliked don't know about these songs from back in the days
5665pitbull
Still bumpin in 2021 better than any new shit
Michael Marshall
2021 still slaps!
J Dubb
this still🔥🔥🔥🔥
Zay & Mike Moss
straight classic!
Rene Torres
Finally I found it now this ishh right here tho straight..🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Classic🔥🔥🔥🔥
much Luv&Respect from TEXAS..baby Not even Neo can Dodge what I'm shooting
💢💢💢💢💢💢🔫😎✌Whoa It's #Rasaq..Boii them memories tho
NorwalkOriginal
Ro killed it
Reyes Fam
Backyard parties back in the days when this came on.... Someone is getting beat up! Lol