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

Just Smile
Chamillionaire Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[** Smile by Scarface (Instrumental):]
Yeah
[Verse 1: ~Chamillionaire~]
See you ain't home to raise your own because you stay on the job
And can't continue to pretend that you don't think it's a prob
You pray to God, she told her that her father work hard
Then her daughter told me that she never knew who he was
Well let's discuss, you used to be not used to the pain

Now the pressure in your blood sure is not new to your veins
You feel the flame but you just want the flame to be tame
Then the doctor tell you that the pain is gonna remain
So you sustain, successfulness just seems like a blur
Ask her who her baby father, she didn't know who they were
She wasn't sure, so everyday the baby with her
And not with him, the chance is slim but if it never occur
Then I assure, that you can trust that all your affairs
Will be eloquently handled by the homie upstairs
They came in pairs, let haters know you're hearing impaired
You don't worry about no problems, let them worry about theirs
And you should
[Chorus: Sample of Johnny P from Scarface's "Smile" (Chamillionaire)]
Smiiile (uh) for me
Won't you just smi-ile, for me (smile for me now)
Smiiile for me (uh)
Won't you just smi-ile (yeah), for me (uh, yeah)
[Verse 2: ~Chamillionaire~]
Your problems used to be behind you, now they gettin advanced
Soon as you get up on your feet, you'll see the problems just pass
You chasin cash, you not in school but you good at math
Wonder why the dough you add always end up as half
You 'bout to crash and givin up to you nothin new
And the second they just bettin, that's just what you gon' do
But it ain't true, today you'll be the pigeon that flew
It ain't a care up in the air, if it is then it's few
And you ain't through, 'cause you know that you gonna be fine
Today you gonna be on your grind, tomorrow gonna rewind
Let it rewind and you just can't go sit on the pine
It's like hustlin and grind in the new state of mind
'Cause it's the time, for you to just stop bein depressed
You realize that you the best and they gon' call you the best
You know the rest, 'cause even when your money is less
If you're rich with confidence, then you'll eventually get blessed
So you should
[Chorus: Sample of Johnny P from Scarface's "Smile"]

Smiiile for me
Won't you just smi-ile, for me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chamillionaire's song "Just Smile" speak about the struggles and hardships that people face in their daily lives, and how it is important to keep smiling through it all. The first verse talks about a woman who is raising her child alone because her husband works long hours, and how difficult it is for her. The lyrics encourage her to trust that God will take care of everything and that she shouldn't worry about the problems of others. The chorus of the song is borrowed from Scarface's "Smile" and features a sample of Johnny P urging listeners to smile.

The second verse talks about how problems never seem to end, but we must keep going and never give up. The lyrics encourage listeners to keep hustling and grinding, even if it means being in a new state of mind. The song encourages listeners to keep their confidence and remain positive even during times when the money is less, as eventually, blessings will come.

Overall, the message of the song is to keep a positive attitude and to keep smiling through the ups and downs of life.

Line by Line Meaning

See you ain't home to raise your own because you stay on the job
You are unable to be present for your family because of your work commitments.

And can't continue to pretend that you don't think it's a prob
You cannot deny that your absence is causing problems in your family.

You pray to God, she told her that her father work hard
You hope that your child understands and appreciates the efforts you put in for their wellbeing.

Then her daughter told me that she never knew who he was
Your child feels disconnected from you and does not have a close relationship with you.

Well let's discuss, you used to be not used to the pain
You were once able to handle difficult situations with ease, but not anymore.

Now the pressure in your blood sure is not new to your veins
The stress you are experiencing has become a regular part of your life.

You feel the flame but you just want the flame to be tame
You are aware of the intensity of your problems but just want them to be under control.

Then the doctor tell you that the pain is gonna remain
Medical professionals have informed you that your condition is not going to improve anytime soon.

So you sustain, successfulness just seems like a blur
You continue to persevere, but your goals and aspirations seem blurry and unattainable.

Ask her who her baby father, she didn't know who they were
A woman you know was unsure about the paternity of her child and was struggling to raise them alone.

She wasn't sure, so everyday the baby with her
Because of the uncertainties regarding the identity of the father, the mother had to take care of the child all by herself.

And not with him, the chance is slim but if it never occur
The likelihood of the child's father being involved in their life was very low, and it may never happen.

Then I assure, that you can trust that all your affairs
You can have faith that all your concerns will be taken care of by a higher power.

Will be eloquently handled by the homie upstairs
The reference to a 'homie upstairs' refers to God who is being trusted to handle everything.

They came in pairs, let haters know you're hearing impaired
You have people in your life who support you and are willing to stand up for you against any negativity.

You don't worry about no problems, let them worry about theirs
You shouldn't spend time and energy worrying about the problems of others, and they should deal with them on their own.

Your problems used to be behind you, now they gettin advanced
The problems you used to have are behind you, but new challenges are emerging that are more complex.

Soon as you get up on your feet, you'll see the problems just pass
Once you overcome your current challenges, you will realize that they were only temporary and not permanent.

You chasin cash, you not in school but you good at math
You are focused on your financial goals, and although you are not in school, you possess proficiency in mathematics.

Wonder why the dough you add always end up as half
You are puzzled as to why you are unable to retain a considerable amount of the money you earn.

You 'bout to crash and givin up to you nothin new
You feel like you are about to fall apart, and giving up is not a new feeling to you.

And the second they just bettin, that's just what you gon' do
People are expecting you to give up, and you do not want to let them win.

But it ain't true, today you'll be the pigeon that flew
Despite the doubts and expectations of others, you will overcome your challenges and come out stronger.

It ain't a care up in the air, if it is then it's few
There are not many things to worry about in life, and even if there were, you should not let them trouble you.

And you ain't through, 'cause you know that you gonna be fine
You are determined to overcome your challenges and are confident that everything will eventually be alright.

Today you gonna be on your grind, tomorrow gonna rewind
You are going to work hard today, so that tomorrow you can look back and see how far you have come.

Let it rewind and you just can't go sit on the pine
You cannot afford to just sit back and do nothing, and need to work hard to achieve your goals.

It's like hustlin and grind in the new state of mind
The attitude of hustling and working hard is a new state of mind and a new way of life.

You realize that you the best and they gon' call you the best
You recognize that you are capable of being the best and that others will acknowledge and recognize your success.

You know the rest, 'cause even when your money is less
You are aware of the fact that financial struggles will not deter you from achieving your goals.

If you're rich with confidence, then you'll eventually get blessed
Having self-confidence and belief in yourself is the key to achieving your desires and aspirations.

Contributed by Claire O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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