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
Man Hold Up
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold up
Self-employed so I'm paying me
Stayin' true 'cause it stay to be
Won't loud part candy captain then get a ticket then pay the V
Rap 84 of the 83, ain't rhyme them and they end with me,
How you pay to get in the club, and then hate on the pressure y'all pay to see
Look at these whips we're riding in
Making ball and look easy baby, we don't practice like...
Sliding in I'm never super post when
I'm getting closer I'm just... the face
All the sinners star calling God,
All the rappers start calling Mace,
Drop sounding like an earthquake,
Trunk bound to make an earth shake
Every day is a movie for me, you like the destination on the first day
Telling me it's a birthday, new shoes and her persuade,
You should go appreciate the quire, I ain't the one you persuade,
She ain't worried of the hotel, I wouldn't even get to motel,
Mess around and take your girl from you then sell it to for the...
Oh... have her back, wont' love but I love the stacks
So I'm pulling up and then you know what
They looking at me like what is that
[Chorus]
Hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up
Hold up, hold up, hold up,
That's what they've been calling me,
Soon they see me roll up, roll up
Don't know what to call that
So they call, they call, they call it
Hold up, hold up, hold up,
That's what they call it.
Hold up, hold up, hold up,
That's what they call it.
Soon they see roll up, uh, roll up,
Don't know what to call that
So they call, they call, they call it
Hold up
Told Brad to send me a track,
He send me a track to sound like a trap,
I don't know normally do this,
But hey when I do it sound like the trap,
Competition left me in flat, I'm just hoping that you trap,
I'm just hoping you try to try me,
Get drag around by your suit tie,
You can catch me in the forn city,
They don't even know I rap,
First album when platinum so they ain't many places on my map,
Going golf in Iraq, going shopping in Dubai
She'll be asking the man forgives and gives me the gift form Dubai
Bottle water with a mouse trap, no rat can get to my cheese
Her... get no scraps get no bad like her ratches
Wanna book me for five G's,
Read the sign and say stop please,
Can't knock me, my trunk knocking,
My making woman looking knock me,
Call me but I'm unreachable, too trill to be speaker too
God loss in my own garage and they couldn't find me for a week or two,
My trunk are open like pickable,
Me I'm... to be sipping through,
Came to blue, all my speakers blue, but I turn em up and my speakers do.
[Chorus]
Hold up man, just hold up man,
Rap to state then pour down,
Chew up cheese then throw up grants,
Then guess some bread you know I'm jam,
It's lunch time, she got one friend, but just one fine,
One four, one dime, you already know which one is mine,
Tripping like Jessy Jay, see love and got me in the... day
If it comes between hoes and dough I drop off chick and then scoop you pay,
Might as well, I might as well, passing up dough is a major feel,
Take the trip to South Africa, but can't lead the the paper like... pill,
Realest rapper you have ever meet, she want n autograph on her fake breast,
Too young is just too dumb, girl slow it down and take a break twist,
Check it out when my lack is out,
Don't worry bout it, I ain't stressed,
Hot chocolate on my hallo tips they might mess around and get a taste test.
[Chorus]
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
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 © EMI Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glenn Cortell Johnson, Jerry Peters, Kejuan Waliek Muchita, Sean Puffy Combs, Troy Donald Jamerson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johnnie Day
This will bang in history books
Leo V
One of the hardest tracks ever.
LuckyMerc
sick beat
Armando Gonzales
It's ugk beat
Big C
the beat is banger
Y R
Ubah the name
Ubah
Ludacris beat