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
Hero
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You betta tell em the hardest
You hate on me then you retarded
I'm a get mine reguardless
I'm seein the rap the games needin me to come back to the mixtapes
And relieve them
Fans geekin Rap sales peakin hey in need of someone to believe in
I'm seein that they ain't me I'll wreck pollo beat for no apparent reason
So I'm cockin back and squeezin
Look at the fans talkin bout who spit better lines
I don't know what they doin but Prepare for mines
I don't just spit a line better than kevin federline
You better tell I'm really better than who ever rhyme
Hold up let me out this chair
Hear ya'll talkin bout ya hustles ain't no profit there
Hear ya talkin bout ya deals but that ain't profit square
Ya'll get lil royalties I get profit share
So um What up 50, what up buck what up lupe what game
What up jeezy, luda what up Ti what up wayne
Just cause I say they name don't mean I'm insane
Cause I'm shoutin out all the artists that make me step up my game
If I say I'm better than 50 his fans gonna complain
If I say I'm better than wayne his fans will do the same
I don't wanna ruffle feathers so maybe I should explain
Maybe it's MOE Me over Everythang
I'm better than you know who so better that it's a shame
I'm better than lil mama I'm better lil zane
I'm better than lil blang imbead it in your brain
I'm better than every rapper that rap with a lil name
You should be pissed that I'm pissed
I know some of my past records was a hit or miss
Don't try to twist up my ish and twist it into a diss
If you gon twist up what said then you should twist it this
Lauren London can get kissed on the lips
And bill O' Reilly and Don Imus can get hit with a fist
Hakeem I'm the dream stop missin the swish
And MTV my name is what ya missed on the list
Wait let me rewind I really don't want them
To think I'm tryin to diss I realy just want them
To know I'm not the type that will take lauren to london
Matter fact lauren be lucky if I take her to lunch man
It's the king of the hill from the land trill
What up Elise can't you see I'm Movin in for the Kill
Either I could drop one song a year like a skillz
Or we could get off in the streets it's time to pay these bills
Gas prices gettin high and I'm knowin I got a fleet
I'm Skinny than a mutha I'm knowin I gotta eat
So any rapper out here that no that they got a beat
Better never ever allow the instrumental to leak
I'm in the studio everyday and I'm lettin em loose
Black and decker in the trunk it ain't nothin but tools
Wanna run a money marathon it ain't nothin to prove
My closet lookin like a stadium it's nothin but shoes
J millz I ain't forgot about the cover you Gave me
I appreciate it G I'm still one of them crazy
Rebels out the texas and I'm runnin em daily
Now I'm back off in the streets like F u pay me
For jackin the texas swagger famous hand me the dagger
Nah nevermind cause these fakers don't even matter
Mixtape messiah 4 august 27th
And this just a throw away
I got a drive full of em let's go
Yea they get offended by words but You can tell it's fear
They say ball til you fall the fall is never near
They all say that they ball but Who you tellin dear
I manage a whole lotta money like kenneth crear
Manage a whole lotta money like shaka zulu
You think that I ain't good at ramen you out ya noodle
Safe sex mayne ya label tryin to prostitute you
I'm on the grind up earlier than the cockadoodle
What up killer mike it's grind time mayne
Rap game in my aim I'm like bang bang bang
Only rappers gettin mad the ones who Can't maintain
Now the rap is gettin back to the mixtapes mayne
First they tried to hate when I left said I'm history
Came back they tellin me they miss me
Twenty g's for this watch are you sick G
A .com on my arm this is 50
Hataz talkin actin like they some motormouths
And I'm a automatic start and turn ya motor off
Crib big mtv can't even show the house
Cause it would take 30 minutes for them to show the couch
F sales (what ya mean) bank account is great
Wreckin it since 98 and never took a break
Until recently throwin my rob back in the lake
Rap game tried to give me kibbles till I took the stake
Stop barkin baby I'm not starvin
Gettin bucks you crazy I'm millwalkin
Ya concience is talkin about caution
Slit ya wrist (slit) I'm Sharper than al sharpton
Koopa -Easy
In the song "Hero" by Chamillionaire, the rapper declares his readiness to enter the rap game with a bang. He asserts his prowess as a rapper, calling out other rappers who can't maintain their relevancy, and expresses his frustration with fans who compare him to other artists. Throughout the lyrics, Chamillionaire emphasizes his superiority as a rapper, taking down anyone who tries to challenge his dominance. He also pays tribute to fellow artists who have inspired him, acknowledging their influence on his own rap style.
The theme of this song centers on the idea of success and how to achieve it in the rap game. Chamillionaire uses "Hero" to highlight the competitive nature of the industry and how it tests artists' mettle. Through his lyrics, Chamillionaire encourages aspiring rappers to be their best selves and not let anyone hold them back.
Overall, "Hero" is a song that celebrates the drive and determination required to succeed in the rap industry. Chamillionaire uses his lyrics to inspire and motivate others, sharing his own experiences as someone who has been there and come out on top.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm ready to get it started
I am prepared and eager to begin
You betta tell em the hardest
You should inform them that I am the best
You hate on me then you retarded
If you hate on me, then you are foolish
I'm a get mine reguardless
I will achieve success no matter what
I'm seein the rap the games needin me to come back to the mixtapes
I observe that the rap industry needs my return to mixtapes
And relieve them
And provide them with relief
Fans geekin Rap sales peakin hey in need of someone to believe in
Fans are enthusiastic, rap sales are rising, they need someone to have faith in
I'm seein that they ain't me I'll wreck pollo beat for no apparent reason
I realize that they are not on my level, I will dominate any beat without any specific motive
And I think it's huntin season
And I believe it is the time to hunt
So I'm cockin back and squeezin
So I am preparing to shoot and attack
Look at the fans talkin bout who spit better lines
Observe the fans discussing who delivers better lyrics
I don't know what they doin but Prepare for mines
I don't understand what they are doing, but I am ready for my turn
I don't just spit a line better than kevin federline
I don't only deliver better lines than Kevin Federline
You better tell I'm really better than who ever rhyme
You should make it known that I am truly superior to any rapper
Hold up let me out this chair
Wait, let me stand up and speak
Hear ya'll talkin bout ya hustles ain't no profit there
I hear you all discussing how your hustles do not bring profit
Hear ya talkin bout ya deals but that ain't profit square
I hear you talking about your deals, but they do not result in fair profits
Ya'll get lil royalties I get profit share
You all receive small royalties, while I receive a share of the profits
So um What up 50, what up buck what up lupe what game
So, what's up 50 Cent, what's up Young Buck, what's up Lupe Fiasco, what's up The Game
What up jeezy, luda what up Ti what up wayne
What's up Jeezy, what's up Ludacris, what's up T.I., what's up Lil Wayne
Just cause I say they name don't mean I'm insane
Just because I mention their names doesn't mean I am crazy
Cause I'm shoutin out all the artists that make me step up my game
Because I am acknowledging all the artists that motivate me to elevate my skills
If I say I'm better than 50 his fans gonna complain
If I claim to be better than 50 Cent, his fans will express their disagreement
If I say I'm better than wayne his fans will do the same
If I claim to be better than Lil Wayne, his fans will react similarly
I don't wanna ruffle feathers so maybe I should explain
I don't want to cause controversy, so perhaps I should clarify my intentions
Maybe it's MOE Me over Everythang
Maybe it's MOE, prioritizing myself over everything else
I'm better than you know who so better that it's a shame
I am superior to a certain individual to such an extent that it is disgraceful
I'm better than lil mama I'm better lil zane
I am better than Lil Mama, I am better than Lil Zane
I'm better than lil blang imbead it in your brain
I am better than Lil Blang, ingrain this fact in your mind
I'm better than every rapper that rap with a lil name
I am superior to every rapper who goes by a name with 'lil'
You should be pissed that I'm pissed
You should be angry that I am upset
I know some of my past records was a hit or miss
I am aware that some of my previous records were successful while others were not
Don't try to twist up my ish and twist it into a diss
Do not attempt to distort and turn my words into a disrespectful message
If you gon twist up what said then you should twist it this
If you plan to manipulate what I said, you should manipulate it in this way
Lauren London can get kissed on the lips
I am willing to kiss Lauren London on the lips
And bill O' Reilly and Don Imus can get hit with a fist
And Bill O'Reilly and Don Imus deserve to be punched
Hakeem I'm the dream stop missin the swish
Hakeem, stop missing the shot, I am the dream in basketball
And MTV my name is what ya missed on the list
And MTV, my name is what you overlooked on the list
Wait let me rewind I really don't want them
Wait, let me backtrack, I truly do not want them
To think I'm tryin to diss I realy just want them
To believe that I am attempting to disrespect them, I simply want them
To know I'm not the type that will take lauren to london
To understand that I am not the kind of person who will take Lauren London to London
Matter fact lauren be lucky if I take her to lunch man
In fact, Lauren London would consider herself fortunate if I took her out for lunch
It's the king of the hill from the land trill
I am the king of the hill from the real and authentic land
What up Elise can't you see I'm Movin in for the Kill
What's up Elise, can't you see I am making moves to achieve great success
Either I could drop one song a year like a skillz
I can either release one song per year like Skillz
Or we could get off in the streets it's time to pay these bills
Or we can engage in street activities to earn money and cover our expenses
Gas prices gettin high and I'm knowin I got a fleet
Gas prices are increasing, and I am aware that I own a fleet of vehicles
I'm Skinny than a mutha I'm knowin I gotta eat
I am slimmer than ever, but I know I still need to consume food
So any rapper out here that no that they got a beat
So any rapper out here who knows they have a good beat
Better never ever allow the instrumental to leak
Better make sure the instrumental never becomes available without permission
I'm in the studio everyday and I'm lettin em loose
I am in the studio every day and I am releasing my music
Black and decker in the trunk it ain't nothin but tools
I have a Black and Decker toolset in my trunk
Wanna run a money marathon it ain't nothin to prove
If you want to compete in a money marathon, there is nothing to prove
My closet lookin like a stadium it's nothin but shoes
My closet resembles a stadium, filled with nothing but shoes
J millz I ain't forgot about the cover you Gave me
J Millz, I have not forgotten about the cover you provided for me
I appreciate it G I'm still one of them crazy
I am grateful, my friend, I am still one of those crazy individuals
Rebels out the texas and I'm runnin em daily
Rebels from Texas, and I am dominating them daily
Now I'm back off in the streets like F u pay me
Now I am back in the streets, demanding to be paid
For jackin the texas swagger famous hand me the dagger
For stealing the Texas swagger, hand me the dagger of fame
Nah nevermind cause these fakers don't even matter
No, nevermind, these fakes are insignificant
Mixtape messiah 4 august 27th
Mixtape Messiah 4, available on August 27th
And this just a throw away
And this song is just a throwaway, not of significant importance
I got a drive full of em let's go
I have a hard drive full of songs, so let's go
Yea they get offended by words but You can tell it's fear
Yes, they become offended by words, but you can tell it's actually fear
They say ball til you fall the fall is never near
They say keep playing basketball until you fail, but the failure is never close
They all say that they ball but Who you tellin dear
They all say that they are great at basketball, but who are they trying to convince
I manage a whole lotta money like kenneth crear
I handle a substantial amount of money, just like Kenneth Crear
Manage a whole lotta money like shaka zulu
Handle a considerable amount of money, similar to Shaka Zulu
You think that I ain't good at ramen you out ya noodle
You believe I am not skilled at defeating you, but I will prove you wrong
Safe sex mayne ya label tryin to prostitute you
Be mindful of safe sex, your record label is attempting to exploit you
I'm on the grind up earlier than the cockadoodle
I am continuously working hard, waking up earlier than the rooster crowing
What up killer mike it's grind time mayne
What's up Killer Mike, it's time to work hard, man
Rap game in my aim I'm like bang bang bang
I am targeting the rap game, like the sound of gunshots
Only rappers gettin mad the ones who Can't maintain
Only the rappers who can't sustain their success are getting angry
Now the rap is gettin back to the mixtapes mayne
Now the rap industry is returning to the importance of mixtapes
First they tried to hate when I left said I'm history
Initially, they tried to hate on me when I left, claiming I am forgotten
Came back they tellin me they miss me
When I returned, they are telling me they missed me
Twenty g's for this watch are you sick G
I paid twenty thousand dollars for this watch, are you mad?
A .com on my arm this is 50
I have a .com tattooed on my arm, representing 50 Cent
Hataz talkin actin like they some motormouths
Haters talkin' and acting as if they have a lot to say
And I'm a automatic start and turn ya motor off
And I'm like an automatic car starter, shutting down your engine
Crib big mtv can't even show the house
My house is so large that MTV can't even capture it fully on camera
Cause it would take 30 minutes for them to show the couch
It would take them 30 minutes just to show the couch
F sales (what ya mean) bank account is great
Forget sales (what do you mean), my bank account is doing fantastic
Wreckin it since 98 and never took a break
Dominating the rap game since 1998 and never resting
Until recently throwin my rob back in the lake
But recently, I decided to throw my robe back into the lake
Rap game tried to give me kibbles till I took the stake
The rap game tried to offer me small rewards until I took what I truly deserved
Stop barkin baby I'm not starvin
Stop complaining, baby, I am not hungry
Gettin bucks you crazy I'm millwalkin
I am earning money, which you find crazy, but I am celebrating with the millwalk dance
Ya concience is talkin about caution
Your conscience is advising caution
Slit ya wrist (slit) I'm Sharper than al sharpton
Slit your wrist (slit) I am more intelligent and sharper than Al Sharpton
Koopa -Easy
Chamillionaire, representing his nickname 'Koopa', says it's easy for him
Contributed by Sebastian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lcarter52
is it just me or is this lowkey better than the original?
YouReallyDontKnow
Lloyd banks and Cham should make a song together. Both lyrical but in different ways, I think it would be dope.
HalfOgre
50 cant come to h town anymore z ro and trae showed up at his hotel and he wouldnt come out same with lloyd banks for dissing big moe
Grant Lausier
not many rappers can keep up with dude, always been my favorite always will be too bad he don't make music no more
Online Lunatic
He just did a verse on Trae tha truth I'm on remix
Online Lunatic
He invested his money into a technology company now he's Richer then he's ever been off rap. He said he will give his homies from h town verses now and then but he wants to focus being a ceo of his new technology company
Justin Panizo
Ya Cham is the truth! Texas mane
Qua Hoover
Yea I Know Chamillonaire went in on this song 🔥🔥🔥
Alarine
for real? daamn cant wait
Rachan Bishop
When I first heard this I was in awe he simply killed it.