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.

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Chamillionaire's Myspace

I'm The One
Chamillionaire Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Intro]
I wanna just say, hi haters, hi haters
I know you missed me, I'm back
You know who I am
No introduction needed, ha-ha

[Chorus]
I'm the one that run the state

I'm the one that get the cake
I'm the one that isn't fake
(I'm the one that you should hate)
I'm the one that's living great
I'm the one that's getting paid
I'm the one that's in your face
(I'm the one that you should hate)

[Verse 1]
Tell your girl, I love hangin' with her I sure ain't gonna miss her
She a hopeless romantic and I sure ain't gonna kiss her
Chain gettin' thicker, my chain got a flicker
Diamond so large I photoshop my chain in the picture
So many ways to tell you how I'm paid
To tell you 'bout my swangs, paralyze(?) a new blade
Tell you I might go (Geico) and tell you how much I saved
I put up my cars in line and it's gonna look like a parade
Diamonds got 'em leaning grabbin' these fightin' with my ear
Lettin' bet the top look like my drop fightin' with the air
Leanin' in my whip it's like my posture fightin' with the chair
Me and two chicks in the whip playin' truth or dare
Yeah

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
You can hate me, you can hate me, you can hate me (hi hater, hi hater)
I'm the one that you should hate
You can hate me, you can hate me, you can hate me (hi hater, hi hater)
I'm the one that you should hate

[Verse 2]
Let's erase my history, my Grammy and my platinum sales
Let's erase the motorcycle and the seat that comes with scale
And subtract a lot of millions from my bank account as well
Then you probably still will be a hater, hatin' I can tell
Every time that you reply, when you talkin' you a lie
Any plan to go against Chamillionaire, suicide
Every verse is supafly, confidence is supa high
Stupid I, ain't gonna let you stop me hater, move around
I'm getting money baby and gonna get plenty mo'(whoa!)
Just to had to let you know
(I'm the one that you should hate)
They said I couldn't make it, they said I wouldn't blow (blow)
But look who run the show
(I'm the one that you should hate)

[Chorus]

Hi haters, hi haters
(I'm the one that you should hate)

Hi haters, hi haters
(I'm the one that you should hate)

Overall Meaning

In Chamillionaire's song "I'm the One," the rapper speaks directly to his haters, boasting about his success and wealth despite their doubts and criticisms. In the chorus, he proclaims himself as the one who runs the state, gets the cake, and is living great. He also acknowledges that he is the one that his haters should hate.

In the first verse, Chamillionaire boasts about his financial success, including his thick and flickering chain, large diamonds, and his savings from switching to Geico insurance. He further emphasizes his wealth by stating that his car collection is so extensive that it looks like a parade. In the bridge, he repeats that he knows his haters hate him but states that he is the one they should hate.

In the second verse, Chamillionaire challenges his haters to erase his achievements, including his Grammy and platinum sales, expensive motorcycle, and millions in the bank. He contends that despite these things being removed, they would still be haters. He also calls out their lies and confidence, describing them as "supafly" verses his own "supa high" confidence. He asserts that he will not let anyone stop him and that he is continually making money despite any doubts.

Overall, Chamillionaire's "I'm the One" is an assertive and confident song that seeks to silence haters who don't believe in his success. It's a message of triumph and overcoming adversity in the face of doubters and critics.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanna just say, hi haters, hi haters
I'm acknowledging the people who hate on me and want to see me fail.

I know you missed me, I'm back
I've been gone for a while, but now I'm back to show everyone what I'm capable of.

You know who I am
I'm a well-known artist and I don't need an introduction.

I'm the one that run the state
I'm the one who's in control and has power over the state.

I'm the one that get the cake
I'm the one who's making a lot of money and getting rich.

I'm the one that isn't fake
I'm authentic and genuine, and don't pretend to be someone I'm not.

(I'm the one that you should hate)
My success might make some people jealous or envious and they might hate on me for it.

I'm the one that's living great
My life is awesome and I'm enjoying everything that comes with success.

I'm the one that's getting paid
I'm making a lot of money and getting paid well for my work.

I'm the one that's in your face
I'm visible and always around, you can't ignore me even if you want to.

Tell your girl, I love hangin' with her I sure ain't gonna miss her
I'm flirting with someone's girlfriend and I don't care if I never see her again after that.

She a hopeless romantic and I sure ain't gonna kiss her
The girl is falling for me but I have no interest in reciprocating those feelings.

Chain gettin' thicker, my chain got a flicker
My chain is getting bigger and more expensive, and it's so shiny it flickers.

Diamond so large I photoshop my chain in the picture
The diamond on my chain is so huge that I have to photoshop it in pictures to make it fit.

So many ways to tell you how I'm paid
I have a lot of ways to explain how much money I'm making.

To tell you 'bout my swangs, paralyze(?) a new blade
I could tell you about my expensive cars and how I'm upgrading them, or buying new ones.

Tell you I might go (Geico) and tell you how much I saved
I could brag about how much money I saved on car insurance with Geico.

I put up my cars in line and it's gonna look like a parade
I have so many expensive cars, if I line them up it'll look like a parade.

Diamonds got 'em leaning grabbin' these fightin' with my ear
My expensive diamond earrings are so heavy that they make people lean and grab onto them.

Lettin' bet the top look like my drop fightin' with the air
The convertible car I'm driving looks like it's fighting with the air because it's so fast and sleek.

Leanin' in my whip it's like my posture fightin' with the chair
The way I'm leaning back in my expensive car is so comfortable it's like my posture (or the car) is fighting with the seat.

Me and two chicks in the whip playin' truth or dare
I'm having fun with two women in my car and we're playing the game Truth or Dare.

You can hate me, you can hate me, you can hate me (hi hater, hi hater)
I'm repeating that haters can keep on hating, I don't care.

(I'm the one that you should hate)
My success attracts haters, but that doesn't shake me, I know what I'm worth.

Let's erase my history, my Grammy and my platinum sales
If you take away all of my accomplishments and success, I'm still confident in myself and my abilities.

Let's erase the motorcycle and the seat that comes with scale
Even if you take away my expensive possessions like my motorcycle, I'm still successful and happy.

And subtract a lot of millions from my bank account as well
Even if you take away a lot of my money, I still have enough to live a comfortable life.

Then you probably still will be a hater, hatin' I can tell
Even if you try to bring me down, I'm still going to be successful and wealthy, and that will make some people hate me.

Every time that you reply, when you talkin' you a lie
Whenever you criticize or hate on me, you're probably lying, because I know my worth and what I've achieved.

Any plan to go against Chamillionaire, suicide
It's foolish to try to compete with me or oppose me, because I'm confident in my own abilities and worth.

Every verse is supafly, confidence is supa high
I have a lot of confidence in my music and my rapping skills, and I know I'm good.

Stupid I, ain't gonna let you stop me hater, move around
I'm not going to let haters bring me down or dissuade me from continuing to be successful. They should just move on.

I'm getting money baby and gonna get plenty mo'(whoa!)
I'm already making a lot of money, but there's always room for more success and wealth.

Just to had to let you know
I'm reminding people that I'm successful and wealthy, in case they forgot or didn't know.

(I'm the one that you should hate)
I know my success attracts haters, but I'm not afraid or ashamed of it.

They said I couldn't make it, they said I wouldn't blow (blow)
People doubted my abilities and thought I wouldn't be successful in the music industry.

But look who run the show
I defied expectations and proved everyone wrong, now I'm one of the most successful artists out there.

(I'm the one that you should hate)
Some people hate me because of my success, but that doesn't bother me, I know who I am and what I've achieved.

Hi haters, hi haters
I'm saying goodbye (hi) to haters, in a mocking or dismissive way.

Contributed by Ava H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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