Hakeem Seriki (born November 28, 1979 in Houston, Texas) is a Grammy Award … Read Full Bio ↴Hakeem Seriki (born November 28, 1979 in Houston, Texas) is a Grammy Award nominated rapper, member of The Color Changin' Click and founder of Chamillitary Entertainment. Better known as Chamillionaire, he also uses nicknames such as The Mixtape Messiah, King Koopa, Color Changin' Lizard, Chamillinator, Chamillitary Mayne, Major Payne and The Truth From Texas. He began rapping in 1998, releasing mixtapes and a collab album with fellow Houston rapper Paul Wall. He released his debut album, The Sound of Revenge, in 2005, and his sophmore release, Ultimate Victory, in 2007. He plans to release his yet untitled third album at the end of 2009 or early 2010.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------
(C) Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia
Chamillionaire's Myspace

Hold up
Chamillionaire Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hold up hold up
If you got change for a Dollar
In your pocket right now
Then it's time to exit the club
If you've been sipping out the same cup
Since you got here and now you swallowing ice (Woo)
Then it's time to exit the club
If you made one toss

And all the money you had disappeared
Then please step to the rear
Then it's time to step your game up

Ch-ch-cheah
Ch-ch-cheah
Ch-ch-cheah (Chamillitary mayne)

Got a couple grand hold it up (Up)
With your left hand and say man hold up (Man hold up)
Boys in the front blowing up (Up)
With the fat stacks in the club that's us (Man that's us)
My boys got the club sewed up
Stacks so fat that they can't fold up (Can't fold up)
The girls in the club know us (Us)
Because we act bad every time we show up (Sho nuf)

Yeah you know it's on tonight
I got em stripping for my tip when
I'm in Harlem Nights ($5 Tuesdays nigga uh yeah)
And I got on all this ice (Woo)
I just came from Johnny the Jeweler
Better guard your sight (Just paid Johnny partner uh yeah)
In Dallas Gentlemen's
These other boys is holding ones
We holding Benjamins (That's real talk uh yeah)
Go ahead and send em in
Cause we so rich them haters sick
But ain't no medicine (Them haters sick uh yeah)
Police harassing us
Who's vehicle is this
Is somethin that you've asked enough (For real uh yeah)
Groupies for passing just
We kick em out that candy door
They come right back to us (Come right back to us already uh yeah)
The golden plaques was up
But I saw gold and that was old
So I got platinum plus (Revenge uh yeah)
Bring it if you bad enough
But if you not get up outta here or back it up (Back back it up)
Uh Pimp C OG's
So I'm a balling by that bar in here
Like he told me (That Sweet Jones uh yeah
My nigga drinks on me
I got some dough you can get throwed
Like the homie Bun B (Throwed throwed uh yeah)
They wanna be like me
I'm in that lot I'm hopping outta candy ESV's (Uh yeah)
She tried to kept on me
That's when I spot my trunk and swang it
Like T R A E (swang and I swang and I swang to the left uh yeah)
Don't act like y'all forgot
That I've been making Houston hits legit
As Rap A Lot (What up International Red)
Uh yeah let off the gas and stop
If you still spinning like them mix show DJ's
Add the box (What up home of the boys uh yeah)
We watching Magnavox the car TV's is big enough
Boys in the back can watch (Already uh yeah)
They want my cash to stop
But it won't stop (It won't stop)
Cause I stay grinding till my casket drop (Now run it back uh yeah)
They want my cash to stop
But it won't stop (Ch-cheah)
Cause I stay grinding till my casket drop (Chamillitary mayne)
They told me that talk is cheap
But broke hoes be sure talking
Used to be moonwalking
Now those be strobe walking
Broke hoes for sure calling
Fo fos and fos crawling
Don't play with my paper
Get a broke nose and oh darling show stopping
Sure starving hungry for fetti like it's fettuccine
Got a problem they see me
Cause I'm ma solve it believe me
Better be good at magic
And bottle the baddest genie
Had to holla at Jay
Cause the neck just look better blingy wanna be me
I'm just too real to be duplicated
If you don't know me yeah you never met me
Then you should hate it
You can have an opinion
But I ain't one to debate it
If you riding spinners stop it
That nonsense is overrated
Even if you on dubs
Especially if you on hubs
Them sixes is stationary
But somethin that you will love
Shout out to the blue and cuz
Shout out to my B and bloods
We ain't tryna be gangster for real
We just doin us
Yeah we getting that paper
If you say that we're not
It's obvious you residing
Somewhere up under a rock
Got em staring outside
They love how the trunk pop
Like Block E N T is me
They be all on my Yung Joc
Reppin them hard blocks
Where them hustlers they all ready
Your lady all hung up on you
Now she calling your boy's celly
And that's because y'all petty
My paper's for sure heavy
Don't play cause that boy deadly
With hands like that boy Freddie

Got a couple grand hold it up (Up)
With your left hand and say man hold up (Man hold up)
Boys in the front blowing up (Up)
With the fat stacks in the club that's us (Man that's us)
My boys got the club sewed up
Stacks so fat that they can't fold up (Can't fold up)

The girls in the club know us (Us)
Because we act bad every time we show up (Sho nuf)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Chamillionaire's "Hold Up" describe his success as a self-employed rapper, making "bombs" with his music and enjoying the fruits of his labor. He boasts about his talent, referencing his ability to rap 84 out of 83 rhymes and the fact that sinners start calling on God when they hear his music. The chorus repeats the phrase "hold up" which could be interpreted as a warning to those underestimating his ability or a nod to his success that has caused others to stop and take notice. He also talks about traveling to exotic locations like Dubai and South Africa and being unbothered by those who try to knock him off his game.

The lyrics of "Hold Up" seem to focus on Chamillionaire's success and grind, as well as his ability to maintain focus amidst detractors. The song also carries a message of empowerment as he encourages listeners to not let anyone stand in the way of their goals. In summary, the song celebrates the struggles and triumphs of being self-employed and an independent artist, with Chamillionaire showcasing his talent and ambition through his lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Hold up
Stop and pay attention

Self-employed so I'm paying me
I work for myself and get to keep all the money

Stayin' true 'cause it stay to be
I'm remaining true to myself because it's the right thing to do

Won't loud part candy captain then get a ticket then pay the V
I won't drive a fancy car and get a ticket for being too loud and then have to pay the fine

Rap 84 of the 83, ain't rhyme them and they end with me
I've written 84 bars in this song, more than the typical 16 bars, and I'm the best because the other rappers can't keep up

How you pay to get in the club, and then hate on the pressure y'all pay to see
You pay to get into the club and then complain about the pressure of being there when that's exactly what you paid for

Now we got mob block live again
We're back and better than ever

Look at these whips we're riding in
Look at the expensive cars we're driving

Making ball and look easy baby, we don't practice like...
We make playing basketball look easy because we don't need to practice

Sliding in I'm never super post when
I'm not very confident when I'm sliding into something

I'm getting closer I'm just... the face
I'm getting closer and getting recognized for my face

All the sinners star calling God,
All the sinners start calling out to God for help

All the rappers start calling Mace,
All the rappers start calling out for Mace to come save them

Drop sounding like an earthquake,
The bass drop in my music sounds like an earthquake

Trunk bound to make an earth shake
The bass in my car's trunk is so loud that it makes the earth shake

Every day is a movie for me, you like the destination on the first day
My life is like a movie every day, and for you it's like reaching your destination on your first day

Telling me it's a birthday, new shoes and her persuade,
She's telling me it's her birthday and trying to convince me to buy her new shoes

You should go appreciate the quire, I ain't the one you persuade,
You should go appreciate the choir, because I'm not the type of person you can persuade easily

She ain't worried of the hotel, I wouldn't even get to motel,
She doesn't care about staying in a fancy hotel, and I can't even afford to stay in a motel

Mess around and take your girl from you then sell it to for the...
I might steal your girlfriend and then sell her to someone else

Oh... have her back, wont' love but I love the stacks
I might return her to you, but I don't love her, I just care about making money

So I'm pulling up and then you know what
I'm arriving and you know what's about to happen next

They looking at me like what is that
They're looking at me with confusion

Hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up
Stop and pay attention

Hold up, hold up, hold up,
Stop and pay attention

That's what they've been calling me,
That's my nickname or what people call me

Soon they see me roll up, roll up
When they see me arrive in my car they know who I am

Don't know what to call that
They don't know what to call me or how to describe me

So they call, they call, they call it
They call me by a name that they hope is fitting

Told Brad to send me a track,
I asked Brad to send me a song to rap over

He send me a track to sound like a trap,
He sent me a song that sounds like trap music

I don't know normally do this,
I don't usually rap over this kind of music

But hey when I do it sound like the trap,
But when I do it, I still do it well

Competition left me in flat, I'm just hoping that you trap,
My competition is lacking, and I'm hoping that you're up to the challenge

I'm just hoping you try to try me,
I'm hoping that you challenge me to a rap battle

Get drag around by your suit tie,
I'll beat you so badly that you'll be dragged by your tie

You can catch me in the forn city,
You can find me in the city where people go to have affairs

They don't even know I rap,
People don't even know that I'm a rapper

First album when platinum so they ain't many places on my map,
My first album went platinum, so I've visited most places

Going golf in Iraq, going shopping in Dubai
I'm traveling all over the world for leisure

She'll be asking the man forgives and gives me the gift form Dubai
She'll be asking her boyfriend to forgive her for cheating and then give me a gift from Dubai

Bottle water with a mouse trap, no rat can get to my cheese
I'm using a mouse trap to protect my water bottle; no one is going to steal from me

Her... get no scraps get no bad like her ratches
She doesn't get any leftovers or bad things like the other women

Wanna book me for five G's,
Someone wants to pay me $5,000 for a performance

Read the sign and say stop please,
They should read the sign that says 'stop' and reconsider paying me

Can't knock me, my trunk knocking,
They can't hate on me because my car's bass is so loud

My making woman looking knock me,
My success is attracting beautiful women

Call me but I'm unreachable, too trill to be speaker too
People are trying to contact me, but I'm too cool and unattainable to respond

God loss in my own garage and they couldn't find me for a week or two,
I got lost in my own garage and no one could find me for a week or two

My trunk are open like pickable,
My car's trunk is open and accessible like a pickable lock

Me I'm... to be sipping through,
I'm trying to relax and sip on something

Came to blue, all my speakers blue, but I turn em up and my speakers do.
My car's speakers have blue rims, and when I turn up the volume, the bass is so loud that my speakers vibrate

Rap to state then pour down,
I'm rapping so hard I'm sweating

Chew up cheese then throw up grants,
I'm earning a lot of money and then spending it all quickly

Then guess some bread you know I'm jam,
I'm spending money on food and I'm enjoying it

It's lunch time, she got one friend, but just one fine,
It's lunchtime, and I'm hanging out with a girl who has one friend who is attractive

One four, one dime, you already know which one is mine,
One of the girls is a 14/10, which means she's extremely attractive

Tripping like Jessy Jay, see love and got me in the... day
I'm falling in love unexpectedly, which is making me trip like Jessie J

If it comes between hoes and dough I drop off chick and then scoop you pay,
If I have to choose between women and money, I'll drop the chick and take the money

Might as well, I might as well, passing up dough is a major feel,
I might as well take the money, because passing it up is something I would regret

Take the trip to South Africa, but can't lead the the paper like... pill,
I'm taking a trip to South Africa, but I can't forget to make money

Realest rapper you have ever meet, she want n autograph on her fake breast,
I'm the realest rapper she's ever met, and she's asking for my autograph on her fake breast

Too young is just too dumb, girl slow it down and take a break twist,
She's too young to understand things well, and she needs to relax and take it easy

Check it out when my lack is out,
Come see me when I'm not dressed up

Don't worry bout it, I ain't stressed,
Don't worry, I'm not stressing out

Hot chocolate on my hallo tips they might mess around and get a taste test.
I have hot chocolate on my lips, and someone might get a taste by accident

Hold up man, just hold up man,
Wait a second

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS