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 Run It
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I'm back for the victory
About to get on the road
They say I gotta sell records
But I ain't selling my soul
I won't sell it for platinum
And I won't sell it for gold
The game full of suckers
Now the Chamillinator's the general in control
So when I tell you I run it
It's because I run it
And you should run from it
You know you don't want it
Yeah rappers be talkin too much
Just like they rap for the Feds
I got a lot of little crumb
Snatchers that's after me bread
Notice that I said after
Cause that is back where I left
March 27 I'm dropping
That means you have to be scared
Yeah I'm cooking up something
In rap I'm Dennis the Menace
I put a G periodically
On the table like a chemist
My homie keep that metal
Right in your mouth like a dentist
The hateration is shrinking
Like the amount of your minutes
On your Sidekick Motorola your Nextel phone
They wanna know what's the business
I'ma let my neck tell homes
I drop the budget on what
You might think my neck sells loans
So far you can't reach me
Like when your Nextel roams
Like a tunnel in Amsterdam
Cham he got a dope flow
Your flow kinda SoCo
Chamillitary's the logo
The lizard will visit
So disrespect is a no no
Cause you know the fo fo will (Brrp) stick em like pogo
Pogo stick the hominess in the industry
Got me a little shaky about
Every rapper that isn't me
Ask anybody out there
Who think that he lyrically
Killing me and he dropping quicker
Than a Reggie Miller 3
Step in the label and I tell em give me my green
Then I send in famous and make em give to my team
I got that money and power kinda like Jimmy Iovine
A little more money than power
So they call me Jimmy High Cream
Or maybe Jimmy Hakeem
They respecting me why
Cause my sales are above
Ain't even next to the sky
I know a few backstabbers
But I'm not expecting to die
Cause I keep my eyes open
Like I'm expecting a knife
I run it in the underground
So y'all step to the side
It's like lightning the minute
My wrist and necklace collide
Magazines sneak this in
Tryna mess up my vibe
Now 1.3 million fans will accept your reply
Cause I run it
They all happy about the records I sold
Now I'm back for the victory
About to get on the road
They say I gotta sell records
But I ain't selling my soul
I won't sell it for platinum
And I won't sell it for gold
The game full of suckers
I know that they gotta go
Now the Chamillinator's the general in control
So when I tell you I run it
It's because I run it
And you should run from it
You know you don't want it
The lyrics to Chamillionaire's song "I Run It" are about his life as a street hustler and his loyalty to the streets. He describes how he runs the streets both day and night and how he can't stay away from his life as a Thug. Chamillionaire rep's his city and goes hard for the hood. He puts on for his city as Jeezy's song states but it's more significant than just the jewelry and the cars. The street recognizes him for who he is and what he stands for. He mentions being a certified G, and while running the streets, he still got that work if you got the right fee. Chamillionaire's authenticity is why he is respected in the streets. He puts himself on the line by always staying available, which is why the street niggas know him and have his contacts. He knows at any given minute he can come back, and they will be there.
The song talks about his desperation to survive the economic crisis facing America. He wonders where the money is at while emphasizing the importance of self-preservation in hard times. He even contemplates writing a book on how to survive in a recession. Chamillionaire represents the hood, and the streets miss him when he is gone. He continues to put out his music and has done that, even if he hasn't dropped anything in over three years. He knows that hard times have hit the US, and he even mentions Obama's policies, saying he is tired of selling crack. He wants to get out of that life, but as he mentions, if you're looking for me, ask the streets where I'm at.
Line by Line Meaning
I run the streets all night and day
I am constantly present in the streets, both during the day and night.
The hood love Thug
The neighborhood and its inhabitants are fond of individuals with qualities of a thug.
'Cause I still run the streets all night and day
The reason for my constant presence in the streets is that I still find it necessary to be here.
If you're tryna find me
If you are attempting to locate me, look for me in the streets.
I rep for my city, go hard for the hood
I actively represent my city and put forth intense effort for the betterment of the neighborhood.
Still posted on their block, what's good?
I remain present on the street corner where I am stationed, asking residents for updates on the current situation.
And I run, the streets all night and day
I have an enduring attachment to the streets and cannot bear to be away from them.
I can't stay away
I am too committed to my involvement in the streets to stay away for long periods of time.
They don't make too many niggas like me
People with my qualities and skills are rare and in short supply.
Bonafide hustler, certified G
I am a true hustler and possess the qualities of a true gangster.
Still got that work if you got the right fee
I have a steady supply of goods that I can offer to individuals with sufficient payment.
You thinkin' shit fake? Well, nigga, come see
If you are skeptical of the authenticity of my products or services, feel free to come see for yourself.
It's bigger than the jewels, it's bigger than the cars
The importance of my position and reputation is greater than material possessions such as jewelry and vehicles.
It's bigger than the fact that we fuckin' rap stars
Our status as successful musicians is not the only thing that defines us.
The street niggas know me, these boys got my contacts
The individuals who inhabit the streets are aware of my presence and have a way to contact me.
Knowin' any givin' minute I can come back
I have a reputation for unpredictability and am known to return to the streets at any moment.
I put a bitch on I-10 and tell her run that
I give a woman a job to do, such as transporting goods on interstate 10.
Give her 10 and tell her don't bring nuthin' back
I give her ten units of something, likely drugs, and instruct her not to return without some form of payment.
It's in my blood, I'm a Thug till I be deceased
My personality traits and habits are ingrained in me and will remain a part of me until I die.
It's hot on my block, somebody turn the fan on
The situation is tense and dangerous in the area where I reside; someone should do something to alleviate that stress.
I've been paid, I'm just tryin' to turn my man's on
I have acquired wealth and now wish to help my friends and associates achieve financial success as well.
N get my brains strong, streets miss me when I'm gone
I aim to maintain my mental strength, and if I were to leave the streets, it would be sorely missed by those who know me.
I put on for my city like Jeezy's song
I represent my city and show pride in it, much like the famous song by Young Jeezy.
Please believe me, Holmes, matter of fact, check my stats
I am telling the truth, and to prove it, one can examine my track record.
Ain't dropped in 3 years but I'm back
Although I have not released new music in three years, I am still present and active in the rap community.
Where the money at? That's the first question
As a hustler, my primary concern is the acquisition of money, and that is the first issue that I prioritize.
You better pack a strap, that's the first lesson
It is essential to carry a weapon for protection in the dangerous environment of the streets.
Hard times got the whole United States stressin'
The nation as a whole is struggling with the challenges of difficult times.
I'm writin' a book, how to survive in a recession
I am developing a guide on how to thrive and survive in the midst of an economic downturn.
Mr. Oboma, we so tired of sellin' crack
I am pleading with the President of the United States to assist in reducing the need for individuals to sell drugs for survival.
If you lookin' for me, ask the streets where I'm at
One can find me by inquiring with the local residents of the streets I frequent.
It's home sweet home where the D boys roam
I consider the streets my home and a place where drug dealers and other criminals often operate.
Movin' stone for stone or zone for zone
I am involved in the buying and selling of drugs, whether it be individually or in specific geographic territories.
All night gettin' it on till 6 in tha morn
I am up all night participating in illegal pursuits until early in the morning.
Tha shit I'm smokin' on, stronger than cologne
The drugs I am using are potent and have a strong scent.
You can probably smell the smoke threw your headphones
The scent of the drugs I am smoking is so strong that it can be detected through your headphones while listening to this song.
If you still broke better get your bread long
If you are still financially struggling, it is important to find ways to increase your wealth.
Call me on that burner 'cause them feds on my phone
Use a disposable phone to contact me, as the authorities are monitoring my phone activity.
And I'mma run the streets till I'm under my headstone
I will remain involved in the streets until I am dead and buried.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind