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
Hate It Or Love It Houston
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha-ha whooo, Southern Smoke
You're in the presence of the finest
I ain't gotta say it, you know who this is
DJ Smallz (Chamillitary mayn)
They pointing at me Smallz, man on fire
I'm not that bad right Smallz, ha-ha let's go
They could tell I was built to last, by the way I handled my past
Man it's gotta be hard, you giving haters a pass
I know, I should put a foot up your ass
Your realness been revoked, it's time to take off the mask
Yeah, cause I'ma show you how to do the game
Y'all ain't making no sense, like Pootie Tang
You doing what, well gon ahead and do your thang
After that comes the bang, like Coota mayn
Cooler than the cooler man, cause I'm not scary
Real recognize real, nigga I'm very
I ain't gotta chase shows, ain't necessary
Still wanna pay, to get me booked like a library
Dreams of being rich, turned to reality
Mo' money mo' problems, I'm rich and that's nigga's mad at me
If I was still broke, niggaz would see a badder me
Destiny is what it is, and what it had to be
Sipping Hennessey, with nothing to chase
And I fold him, like the stacks of money up in my safe
Use to say that I was rude, putting boys in they place
Back when Note and Flip, was putting diamonds up in they face
I was telling boys, F' you pay me
The whisper in my ear, was saying the same baby
Ok (ok), you crazy
For thinking I'ma sit here, and let you degrade me
In this story, I was looking like the bad guy
Everybody pointing fingers at me, when I pass by
So I must be the bad one, and that's why
I throw up the middle, when I use to tell they ass hi
But no, no Mr. Rogers here
You gotta love the way I rep, but you ain't gotta cheer
I'm in a Swiss hotel, is there a problem here
Compliment your Cris', you can sip because we're out of beer
Yeah, never cared for the Michelob
Put the bigger karat in my ear, couldn't fit my lobe
Tell my chick to come here, then I flip the strobe
Light cause tonight, is the night where you forget your clothes
After that, it's right back to going after cash
Then it's back to going hard, on the bastard ass
Murk him lyrically, or I can give that ass a pass
You're in the scope, like the staff down with Aftermath
[Hook]
Hate it or love it, "Sound of Revenge" gon drop
And I bet every dot, I will silence that talk
Houston's MVP, the ruler of the game is me
Chamillitary nigga, we will see
(*talking*)
Hol' up back at it again, it's your host for this evening
Chamillitary nigga, and we letting y'all know right now
This is the only tape, you should be playing
In your speakers right now, Southern Smo- (*coughing*)
In the song "Hate It Or Love It Houston", Chamillionaire boasts about his success, but also acknowledges the hate and criticism that comes with it. He declares himself as the ruler of the Houston rap game and MVP. He talks about overcoming obstacles in his past and rising to the top. Chamillionaire also addresses his haters, telling them to take off their masks and show their true selves. He proclaims that he doesn't need to chase shows and can still get booked like a library. He ends the song with a warning to his enemies, saying that they are in his scope and can be lyrically "murked" or given a pass.
Overall, "Hate It Or Love It Houston" is a powerful statement of Chamillionaire's success and dominance in the rap game, as well as his ability to overcome adversity and stay true to himself despite hatred and criticism from others.
Line by Line Meaning
They could tell I was built to last, by the way I handled my past
I have shown through my actions in the past that I am resilient and durable.
Man it's gotta be hard, you giving haters a pass
You must find it difficult to ignore hateful comments made towards you.
I know, I should put a foot up your ass
I understand that I may need to take aggressive action against those who disrespect me.
Your realness been revoked, it's time to take off the mask
You are no longer being true to yourself and need to be honest with your intentions.
Yeah, cause I'ma show you how to do the game
I am confident that I can demonstrate how to succeed in the music industry.
Y'all ain't making no sense, like Pootie Tang
Your actions or words do not have any logic or reasoning, similar to the character Pootie Tang.
You doing what, well gon ahead and do your thang
If you believe your actions are right, then do what you feel is necessary.
After that comes the bang, like Coota mayn
Your actions will have consequences, similar to the rapper Coota Bang.
Cooler than the cooler man, cause I'm not scary
I am more composed and confident than others, and do not scare easily.
Real recognize real, nigga I'm very
Authentic people can identify others who are genuine, and I am one of those people.
I ain't gotta chase shows, ain't necessary
I do not need to excessively pursue concert performances.
Still wanna pay, to get me booked like a library
Despite not needing to chase performances, I still would like to be paid for my appearances.
Dreams of being rich, turned to reality
My aspirations to become wealthy have come to fruition.
Mo' money mo' problems, I'm rich and that's nigga's mad at me
Although I have achieved wealth, some people are resentful of my success.
If I was still broke, niggaz would see a badder me
If I had not achieved financial success, I would present as a much more negative version of myself.
Destiny is what it is, and what it had to be
My current position in life was predetermined by fate.
Sipping Hennessey, with nothing to chase
I am enjoying a drink of Hennessey without any pressing obligations to attend to.
And I fold him, like the stacks of money up in my safe
If someone were to try to challenge or disrespect me, I can handle them swiftly and with ease.
Use to say that I was rude, putting boys in they place
In the past, I was known for being confrontational and putting others in their rightful spot.
Back when Note and Flip, was putting diamonds up in they face
During a time when rappers Note and Flip were flaunting their jewelry, I was acting confrontational.
I was telling boys, F' you pay me
I was confident enough to demand payment from others without fear of repercussions.
The whisper in my ear, was saying the same baby
My intuition was telling me the same thing - to demand payment from those who owed me.
Ok (ok), you crazy
An affirmation that I am behaving irrationally.
For thinking I'ma sit here, and let you degrade me
I will not allow others to disrespect me or make me lose esteem.
In this story, I was looking like the bad guy
From an external perspective, it may seem like I am the one causing the conflict.
Everybody pointing fingers at me, when I pass by
People may blame me for any negative situations occurring within the music industry.
So I must be the bad one, and that's why
I have been relegated to the role of the antagonist in this narrative.
I throw up the middle, when I use to tell they ass hi
In the past, I used to greet people with waves or salutations, but now I display a more confrontational gesture.
But no, no Mr. Rogers here
I will not behave in a kind, gentile manner like the character Mr. Rogers.
You gotta love the way I rep, but you ain't gotta cheer
Although I represent my city well, it is not necessary for them to outwardly show their support for me.
I'm in a Swiss hotel, is there a problem here
I am currently staying in a Swiss hotel, but question if there are any issues at hand.
Compliment your Cris', you can sip because we're out of beer
If you have any remaining compliments toward our Champagne, feel free to drink more as we lack beer.
Yeah, never cared for the Michelob
I have never developed a taste for Michelob beer.
Put the bigger karat in my ear, couldn't fit my lobe
I have upgraded the size of my diamond earring so much that it no longer fits comfortably in my lobe.
Tell my chick to come here, then I flip the strobe
I signal to my partner to come to my location, then I begin to switch up the lighting in the venue.
Light cause tonight, is the night where you forget your clothes
The atmosphere I am crafting is so exciting that people will forget to worry about their appearances.
After that, it's right back to going after cash
After having fun for a bit, I immediately revert back to the pursuit of wealth.
Then it's back to going hard, on the bastard ass
I will continue to work fiercely and aggressively to succeed, even towards those who may have wronged me.
Murk him lyrically, or I can give that ass a pass
I have the ability to outperform and embarrass others in the rap industry, or be forgiving and move on.
You're in the scope, like the staff down with Aftermath
You are on my radar and I am paying attention to your actions, much like the staff working with Aftermath Records.
Hate it or love it, "Sound of Revenge" gon drop
My upcoming album, "Sound of Revenge", is highly anticipated but may generate mixed reviews.
And I bet every dot, I will silence that talk
I have full confidence in my album's ability to be successful and highly regarded.
Houston's MVP, the ruler of the game is me
I am one of the most valuable players in the Houston music scene and have a significant influence on the culture.
Chamillitary nigga, we will see
I am from the group Chamillitary and we will wait to see how my album is received.
Contributed by Isabella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.