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
Oh No
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Top fell out the drop, crawling on 84's
Think of taking my slab, baby I don't think so
My heat under my seat, and I don't love you hoes
Living it like a G, but still I gotta lay low
Five percent or ten, but still my screens goin' glow
These haters be in my mix, and these boppers be on my dick
Every time I come round the corner
I'm from the land of opportunity, in God we trust
But haters in my mix, got me paranoid and disgust
I'm scoping out my side mirrors, when my car's in park
It's after dark, and my slab is fresh meat to these sharks
Boys thinking I been drinking, so I'm off my note
But I got seventeen surprises, tucked inside of my coat
See me strut through the parking lot, on 22's plus
It's a must I make all haters, eat my dust
Them jump-out boys, waiting trying to catch me slipping
I ain't tripping, grain ain't the only thing that I'm gripping
Boys jacking with these tow trucks, thinking they slick
But take a trip to South Lee, and end up in a ditch
They got my purple people eater once, the next day
I bought a Range Rover cash, and a new set of fronts
I've been on feet for months, I'm taking haters to lunch
Paul Wall and Trae, hit em with that one-two punch
Oh no, there go them Texas boys banging in a fo' do'
Top fell out the drop, crawling on 84's
Think of taking my slab, baby I don't think so
My heat under my seat, and I don't love you hoes
Living it like a G, but still I gotta lay low
Five percent or ten, but still my screens goin' glow
These haters be in my mix, and these boppers be on my dick
Every time I come round the corner
When I flip in my slab
I'm fin to beat they back off, like I was legs
Sitting low and tinted on chrome, gangstafied till I'm finished
I'm bout to diminish these haters, when my trunk start waving
Blue over gray, side of my drop with six T.V.'s I'm displaying
They hate that I'm shining, with the fifth wheel falling flying down the block
But if one of these haters, wanna jack me
Slugs goin' be flying, out the glock
I click for no reason, this season my slab is staining they brain
And I be known for getting reckless in Texas, gripping on grain
Forever be pimping, 84 tipping all through the South
Grilling boppers all through my tint, with diamonds all in my mouth
They all in my mouth, looking stupid when I burn right past em
'Cause some of these broads be living shife, and setting up for the jacking
But not today, 'cause Trae goin' be flipping on top of his game
We guerillas I'm mobbing with, ain't no stopping me man
When I'm in my fo' do' solo, the slab is bound to get tossed
And if you trying to be competition, then you bound to be getting lost
Oh no, there go them Texas boys banging in a fo' do'
Top fell out the drop, crawling on 84's
Think of taking my slab, baby I don't think so
My heat under my seat, and I don't love you hoes
Living it like a G, but still I gotta lay low
Five percent or ten, but still my screens goin' glow
These haters be in my mix, and these boppers be on my dick
Every time I come round the corner
Make way for the team, when the fo' do' be coming round the corner
These haters are goners, 'cause I'ma drop the top when I wanna
I know these jackers, better think before they reach out and touch
'Cause in back of the car is the Excursion, full of thugs that'll punch
I know they wanted to get me, but they don't know what I'm bringing
I pop the trunk and swing the block, while jamming Slow Loud And Bangin'
Trae and Paul Wall on a mission, and ain't no stopping it man
With my hand on my heat in my seat, and the other on grain
Mo' money mo' problems man, the legend is true
You better stay up on your toes, when you ride 22's
I'm rolling strapped, everywhere I go I'm watching my back
'Cause on my block, them jackers don't give a damn if I rap
People see me being friendly, and they think that I'm soft
But the truth is, my best friend is a sawed off
These haters in my mix, got me losing composure
But if they take one step closer, it ain't gon be kosher naw
Oh no, there go them Texas boys banging in a fo' do'
Top fell out the drop, crawling on 84's
Think of taking my slab, baby I don't think so
My heat under my seat, and I don't love you hoes
Living it like a G, but still I gotta lay low
Five percent or ten, but still my screens goin' glow
These haters be in my mix, and these boppers be on my dick
Every time I come round the corner
The lyrics to Chamillionaire/Paul Wall/Trae's song Oh No are an ode to the car culture that is prevalent in Texas, where a slab (a custom car with oversized wheels and custom paint job) is a status symbol. The song talks about the dangers that come along with the lifestyle of living like a gangster and the constant threat of violence from haters who want to jack their ride or harm them. With lines like "Living it like a G, but still I gotta lay low," and "My heat under my seat, and I don't love you hoes," it is clear that they are living a life of danger and are always ready to defend themselves.
The chorus of the song "Oh no, there go them Texas boys banging in a fo' do', top fell out the drop, crawling on 84's" is a nod to the car culture in Texas, where boys ride around in their slabs with the top down, drawing attention to their ride. The use of the phrase "banging in a fo' do'" is a reference to the car's sound system, which is so loud that it can be heard from a distance.
The lyrics also touch on the fact that fame and success can attract haters who will stop at nothing to harm them. The line "People see me being friendly, and they think that I'm soft, but the truth is, my best friend is a sawed-off" indicates that they are aware of the danger that comes with their lifestyle and are always ready to defend themselves.
Overall, the lyrics to Oh No are a reminder that living like a gangster comes with danger and that they must always be on guard against those who would harm them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh no, there go them Texas boys banging in a fo' do'
Uh-oh, those Texans are back in a 4-door car, playing their loud music.
Top fell out the drop, crawling on 84's
The top of the convertible car is down, and it's moving slowly on rims with big wheels.
Think of taking my slab, baby I don't think so
You're considering stealing my car? I highly doubt it.
My heat under my seat, and I don't love you hoes
I keep my gun hidden under my seat, and I don't care about you women.
Living it like a G, but still I gotta lay low
I'm acting like a gangster, but I still need to be careful and stay out of sight.
Five percent or ten, but still my screens goin' glow
My car windows are tinted, but my video screens are still visible.
These haters be in my mix, and these boppers be on my dick
I have enemies after me, and women are always trying to get with me.
Every time I come round the corner
Whenever I turn a corner while driving.
I'm from the land of opportunity, in God we trust
I come from America, a country where we have opportunities and trust in God.
But haters in my mix, got me paranoid and disgust
However, my enemies always around me make me feel nervous and disgusted.
I'm scoping out my side mirrors, when my car's in park
I'm constantly checking my side mirrors, even when my car is stopped.
It's after dark, and my slab is fresh meat to these sharks
It's nighttime, and my car is vulnerable to thieves.
Boys thinking I been drinking, so I'm off my note
Some people assume I'm drunk, so I'm not acting like myself.
But I got seventeen surprises, tucked inside of my coat
I have a weapon hidden in my coat, ready to surprise any attackers.
See me strut through the parking lot, on 22's plus
Watch me walk proudly through the parking lot, wearing big 22-inch rims on my car.
It's a must I make all haters, eat my dust
I'm determined to leave all my enemies behind and show them I'm better.
Them jump-out boys, waiting trying to catch me slipping
The police are always waiting to catch me breaking the law.
I ain't tripping, grain ain't the only thing that I'm gripping
I'm not worried, I'm holding onto more than just my steering wheel.
Boys jacking with these tow trucks, thinking they slick
Thieves are trying to steal my car using tow trucks, thinking it's a clever plan.
But take a trip to South Lee, and end up in a ditch
If they try to steal my car, they'll end up in a ditch on South Lee street.
They got my purple people eater once, the next day
Thieves once stole my purple car, but I bounced back and bought a new Range Rover and new rims.
I bought a Range Rover cash, and a new set of fronts
I bought a new Range Rover for cash and new rims for my car.
I've been on feet for months, I'm taking haters to lunch
I've been walking instead of driving, but now I'm successful and can treat my enemies to lunch.
Paul Wall and Trae, hit em with that one-two punch
My friends Paul Wall and Trae are ready to help me fight and give our enemies a surprising attack.
When I flip in my slab
When I drive my car around.
I'm fin to beat they back off, like I was legs
I'm ready to fight and push my enemies away as if I had two more legs.
Sitting low and tinted on chrome, gangstafied till I'm finished
My car is low to the ground with tinted windows and shiny rims, and I'm always going to be a gangster.
I'm bout to diminish these haters, when my trunk start waving
I'm going to intimidate my enemies when my car's sound system makes my trunk shake.
Blue over gray, side of my drop with six T.V.'s I'm displaying
My car is blue and gray, and I have six televisions inside displaying videos.
They hate that I'm shining, with the fifth wheel falling flying down the block
My enemies hate my success, and even the extra wheel on my car's back attracts attention.
But if one of these haters, wanna jack me
If any of my enemies try to steal from me,
Slugs goin' be flying, out the glock
They'll be met with bullets from my gun.
I click for no reason, this season my slab is staining they brain
I'm always carrying my gun, and now my car is making an impression in my enemies' minds.
And I be known for getting reckless in Texas, gripping on grain
I'm famous for being wild in Texas and holding onto my steering wheel tightly.
Forever be pimping, 84 tipping all through the South
I'll always be a pimp, driving with 84-inch rims all over the South.
Grilling boppers all through my tint, with diamonds all in my mouth
I'm wearing expensive jewelry in my mouth and impressing women through my car windows.
They all in my mouth, looking stupid when I burn right past em
They're staring at me with their mouths open when I drive right by them.
'Cause some of these broads be living shife, and setting up for the jacking
I must be careful because some women are untrustworthy and could be setting me up for theft.
But not today, 'cause Trae goin' be flipping on top of his game
However, today, my friend Trae is going to be an expert and on top of his game.
We guerillas I'm mobbing with, ain't no stopping me man
I work with a group of fighters, and nothing will stop our success.
When I'm in my fo' do' solo, the slab is bound to get tossed
When I'm alone in my four-door car, things are bound to get crazy.
And if you trying to be competition, then you bound to be getting lost
If you want to be my competitor, you won't stand a chance.
Make way for the team, when the fo' do' be coming round the corner
When our four-door car turns the corner, watch out.
These haters are goners, 'cause I'ma drop the top when I wanna
My enemies are finished because I'll lower the convertible top when I choose.
I know these jackers, better think before they reach out and touch
My enemies who want to steal from me should think twice before they try it.
'Cause in back of the car is the Excursion, full of thugs that'll punch
Behind me is a large SUV full of dangerous men who are ready to punch anyone who tries to steal from me.
I know they wanted to get me, but they don't know what I'm bringing
My enemies want to steal from me, but they don't know what weapons I have.
I pop the trunk and swing the block, while jamming Slow Loud And Bangin'
I open my trunk and turn up the music while driving around to intimidate my enemies.
Trae and Paul Wall on a mission, and ain't no stopping it man
My friends Trae and Paul Wall also have a plan, and nothing will stop us.
With my hand on my heat in my seat, and the other on grain
I have one hand on my gun and the other on my steering wheel.
Mo' money mo' problems man, the legend is true
Having more money causes more problems, and it's a true saying.
You better stay up on your toes, when you ride 22's
If you're driving with 22-inch rims, you better be ready for anything.
I'm rolling strapped, everywhere I go I'm watching my back
I'm always carrying my weapon, and I'm always on guard wherever I go.
'Cause on my block, them jackers don't give a damn if I rap
Thieves on my street don't care if I'm a famous rapper or not.
People see me being friendly, and they think that I'm soft
Some people assume I'm weak because I'm friendly and approachable.
But the truth is, my best friend is a sawed off
The truth is, I rely on my gun as my closest ally.
These haters in my mix, got me losing composure
My enemies are making me feel angry and lose control of my emotions.
But if they take one step closer, it ain't gon be kosher naw
If they keep bothering me, things will get ugly.
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: Frazier Othel Thompson III, Paul Michael Slayton, Hakeem Seriki, Quincy Whetstone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind