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 Know Ya Mad
Chamillionaire Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yes sir (Yes sir)
Chamillionaire (Chamillitary mayne)
Bun B (Bun B)
It's goin down (It's goin down I know ya mad)
Yes sir
Hypnotize Minds production (I know ya mad I know ya mad)

I know ya mad I I I know ya mad

I I I know ya mad I know ya mad
I know ya mad (I know ya mad)
I know ya mad (I know ya mad)
I know ya mad
Cause you hate that I'm not doing bad

Yeah I'm feeling great and
I know they wanna hate
Cause they hate to see me eating shrimp and steak
Yeah I know ya mad
I'm a demonstrate
How to deal with all the hate
While I'm reppin for my city and my state
I I I know ya mad

You know I'm chasing a milli (That's right)
Reppin my city (That's right)
Life is a gamble I told my city
Just give me them dice
Been getting scrilli
Back in your city like give me that twice
Stay getting cake
I know they hate I won't give em a slice
Up in the morning
Got them customers calling
I'm a hustler holic
Call me up and I'm on it
Stack them Barack Obamas
Stuff em up in my wallet
Yeah the car right behind me was way too much
But I bought it (To make ya mad)
I I I know ya mad
Every one of my whips is bad
Like Cam and Dash told Bill O'Reilly ya mad
How you get mad
You see me grinding and holding cash
You think I slept with ya mama
And went and told ya dad
I I I know ya mad that's why you mad at night
All you do is gossip
So I'm the reason you have a life
You can't compete with my fleet
So go pick a better fight
Got so many cars I couldn't track em all with a satellite (Hey)
You see them swangers poking
You see my trunk is open
Versace locking
Hoping that I'm gone end up broke and
I really hope you joking
What type of dope you smoking
You text message in exclamations to show emotion (Ha)

I know ya mad I I I know ya mad
I I I know ya mad I know ya mad
I know ya mad (I know ya mad)
I know ya mad (I know ya mad)
I know ya mad
Cause you hate that I'm not doing bad

Yeah I'm feeling great and
I know they wanna hate
Cause they hate to see me eating shrimp and steak
Yeah I know ya mad
I'm a demonstrate
How to deal with all the hate
While I'm reppin for my city and my state
I I I know ya mad

It takes a player to know a player
So let me greet ya
Welcome to 'The Land Of The Trill'
I'm happy to meet ya
Bun Beeder the trill O G
And not in the making (Making)
You see this dough that I be taking
And the broads that I'm breaking (Breaking)
We be bringing home the bacon
Ain't no faking over here though (here though)
Get mine in 2009 without dressing like a weirdo (Weirdo)
It's real off in these streets
But I don't never show no fear though
And it's still UGK 4 Life in case it wasn't clear bro
Funny when you got nothin nobody really cares
Like you don't even exist (Huh)
It's like you was never there (For real)
But soon as you get some bread
They looking at you sideways
Asking bout a shortcut and if you got some side plays
Tell em naw it's hard work (What)
They swear you lying
And then you got to start the case
Pleading and denying
Man you ain't got to explain yourself
Don't tell em player show em (Show em)
Then keep it moving G and act like you don't even know em
That's what's up

I know ya mad I I I know ya mad
I I I know ya mad I know ya mad
I know ya mad (I know ya mad)
I know ya mad (I know ya mad)
I know ya mad
Cause you hate that I'm not doing bad

Yeah I'm feeling great and
I know they wanna hate
Cause they hate to see me eating shrimp and steak
Yeah I know ya mad
I'm a demonstrate
How to deal with all the hate
While I'm reppin for my city and my state
I I I know ya mad

So you should love me baby (Let's go)
I'm putting it down
I get love from ladies
They love that I shine (Woo)
I be hustling daily I stay getting mine
So congratulate me (Let's go) or hate me now

Middle finger up to the industry
Every person I pass is shady
Said I ain't commercial enough
My label still have to pay me
Fakers is falling off (Yeah)
Realness would gravitate me
My (Wheels) is of (Fortune)
Yeah Vanna White should congratulate me
She find out my worth
And the pretty woman gon have to hate me
Flirted with money did it so well
That it had to date me
Police done got madder later
They see me and had to chase me
Trunk beating so hard
Pedestrians losing they balance baby
Pencil's a Desert Eagle
Promise my lead is lethal
No we ain't equal (That's right)
I'm hotter than desert people
Wallet's a scary movie
Stacking the root of evil
Come back tomorrow

My bank deposit gone get a sequel
I I I know ya mad

Overall Meaning

Chamillionaire's song "I Know Ya Mad" is about his success and how it has made people mad. The song features guest vocals from Bun B, and it was produced by Hypnotize Minds. Chamillionaire starts the song by acknowledging that people are mad and they hate him because he is not doing bad. He then goes on to talk about his success and how people are jealous of all the good things that are happening to him.

He mentions that he is feeling great and that he knows they want to hate him because they hate to see him eating shrimp and steak. He also says that he is going to demonstrate how to deal with all the hate while he is repping for his city and his state. Bun B joins him to rap about how he has been successful as well and how he is happy to be in "The Land Of The Trill."

Overall, "I Know Ya Mad" is a song about success and how it can make people jealous and resentful. Chamillionaire is proud of his accomplishments and isn't afraid to show it. He knows that people are mad, but he's not going to let their negativity hold him back.

Line by Line Meaning

Yes sir
Acknowledgement of what is being said

Chamillitary mayne
Nickname used by the artist

Bun B
Refers to the artist Bun B

It's goin down I know ya mad
The theme of the song is about rise to fame and success inspiring hatred.

Hypnotize Minds production
Name of the production house that produced the song

I know ya mad I I I know ya mad
Repetition of the phrase 'I know ya mad' signifies how the artist is fully aware of people's hatred towards him

Cause you hate that I'm not doing bad
The reason behind people's hatred towards the artist is his increasing success

Yeah I'm feeling great and
Artist expresses his satisfaction with his current state

I know they wanna hate
Artist acknowledged how people might want to hate him

Cause they hate to see me eating shrimp and steak
The idea that people hate to see others succeeding and eating luxury foods

I'm a demonstrate
The artist wants to show how to deal with hatred and criticism

How to deal with all the hate
Artist will try to teach how to face negativity

While I'm reppin for my city and my state
The artist is representing his city and state through his success

You know I'm chasing a milli (That's right)
Artist works towards earning a million

Reppin my city (That's right)
Artist represents his city with his music

Life is a gamble I told my city
The artist acknowledges that anything can happen in life

Just give me them dice
Artist wants to take a chance and try his luck

Been getting scrilli
The artist has been making money

Back in your city like give me that twice
Artist is confident enough in his earnings to ask for more

Stack them Barack Obamas
The artist stacks up hundred dollar bills with President Obama's face printed on them

Stuff em up in my wallet
The artist puts the money in his wallet

Yeah the car right behind me was way too much
Artist bought an expensive car, probably to show off his wealth

But I bought it (To make ya mad)
Artist bought the car even though it was expensive to annoy his haters further

Every one of my whips is bad
The artist has an expensive collection of cars

Like Cam and Dash told Bill O'Reilly ya mad
Refers to the artists Cam'ron and Damon Dash telling a Fox News anchor that he's mad in a TV interview

How you get mad
Artist is wondering why people hate him for his success

You think I slept with ya mama
Artist sarcastically implies that people might be hating him irrationally

And went and told ya dad
Artist emphasizes how irrational the hate is

That's why you mad at night
Artist is confident that haters spend nights thinking about him

All you do is gossip
The artist thinks haters have nothing better to do than gossip

So I'm the reason you have a life
Artist satirically implies that haters' whole life revolves around him

You can't compete with my fleet
Artist boasts about his collection of expensive cars that haters cannot compete with

So go pick a better fight
The artist suggests that haters should find a better use of their time

Got so many cars I couldn't track em all with a satellite (Hey)
Artist uses a hyperbole to describe the number of cars he owns

You see them swangers poking
Refers to the rims on his car which stick out

You see my trunk is open
Refers to the way the artist shows off his car

Versace locking
Describes the quality of the artist's car speakers

Hoping that I'm gone end up broke and
The artist thinks his haters want him to become broke

I really hope you joking
Artist hopes that haters aren't serious about wanting him to fail

What type of dope you smoking
Artist sarcastically questions the mentality of his haters

You text message in exclamations to show emotion (Ha)
The artist mocks the way haters use exclamations to express their anger

It takes a player to know a player
Artist implies that he knows haters since he used to be one once upon a time

Welcome to 'The Land Of The Trill'
'The Land of the Trill' refers to the rapper's home city, Houston.

Bun Beeder the trill O G
Bun Bee is referred to as the original gangster (O G) of Trill in Houston.

And not in the making (Making)
Bun Bee congratulates himself on being an established artist in the hip hop industry

You see this dough that I be taking
The artist refers to making money through his music career

And the broads that I'm breaking
Artist highlights the attention he receives from women

We be bringing home the bacon
The artists make a reference to getting paid a lot

Ain't no faking over here though (here though)
The artist implies that their claims are not made up and are based on reality

Get mine in 2009 without dressing like a weirdo (Weirdo)
The artist's way of suggesting that they have been successful without succumbing to stereotypical hip hop attire.

It's real off in these streets
The artist is acknowledging the harsh reality of the streets

But I don't never show no fear though
The artist says that they do not show fear in the face of danger or adversity

And it's still UGK 4 Life in case it wasn't clear bro
The artist is a huge fan of the Southern rap duo who goes by the name 'Underground Kingz', and pays homage by using their slogan.

Funny when you got nothin nobody really cares
The artist implies that people don't care for someone who is of no use

Like you don't even exist (Huh)
The artist feels like they are invisible and nobody cares for them in their tough times

But soon as you get some bread
Artist is implying that when one becomes successful and earns money, that's when they become the center of everybody's attention

They looking at you sideways
The artist thinks people become suspicious of one's success and might not take it at face value

Asking bout a shortcut and if you got some side plays
The artist thinks that others are curious about how he achieved his success and if he has done anything dishonest

Tell em naw it's hard work (What)
The artist implies that they have worked hard to achieve their current position

They swear you lying
Artist thinks that haters will call one a liar if they claim to have worked hard to achieve success

And then you got to start the case
The artist thinks that they must explain themselves to haters who doubt their success

Pleading and denying
The artist is trying to defend themselves to the haters who doubt their success

Man you ain't got to explain yourself
The artist implies that one does not necessarily need to justify their success to haters

Don't tell em player show em (Show em)
The artist wants haters to see the proof of his success with their own eyes

Then keep it moving G and act like you don't even know em
The artist implies that one should ignore haters and move on to achieve greater success

So you should love me baby (Let's go)
The artist infers that people should love him for his success

I'm putting it down
Artist is demonstrating his work ethic and commitment to success in his music career

I get love from ladies
The artist is in the attention of the female fanbase

They love that I shine (Woo)
The artist thinks female fans are attracted to him because of his success

I be hustling daily
The artist is consistently working towards success

I stay getting mine
The artist is proud of his consistent earnings and success

So congratulate me (Let's go) or hate me now
The artist doesn't care whether people support him or not but affirms that he will continue to keep working towards success

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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