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 Houstonās 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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(C) Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia
Chamillionaire's Myspace
Picture Perfect
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You peeping me take a picture
You peeping me take a picture (You should take a photograph)
My life is real baby
You peeping me take a picture
You peeping me take a picture (You should take a photograph)
Cause by tomorrow yesterday gone be a throwback
You see it's real
They be like look at that
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
Introducing the truest voice of the South
It's who else but me fool
Don't let all that foolishness they feed you
On TV mislead you
Don't let all the magazines
And them papers out there deceive you
The cups that be used to sip
But Caucasian kinda like my tee do
You see that hand be glistening
You see the sedans we flipping
The hundreds of grands we getting
These units of scans we shipping
You see that Caddy tipping
Them thangs on that Caddy twisting
That paint and that candy dripping
That drank and that can is missing
That ain't a Cola though dry and you feeling sober
Boys trying to switch it over
Apply it up in a soda
Home of the Houston hustlers
Who grinding and hit the quota
Who fire and hit the doja
You high when you sniff the odor
Told ya you gotta have
A foreign or buy your slab
Afford it then buy it that's
Important without it now
You ain't gotta take college class
To see that we bout our cash
You not if you gotta ask
Let's take a pic by the slab hold up
You see my slab (You see my slab)
You see my candy slab (Slab)
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
You see my chick (You see my chick)
You see my chick is bad (Bad)
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
You see it's real (You see it's real)
They be like look at that
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
Photograph ph-ph-ph-photograph photograph
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
When I'm tipping they'll probably watch me
The cops will be paparazzi
And try to patrol my posse
We shining and glowing glossy
The jealous will try to top me
We keep it too real to copy
What I'm listening to ain't a floppy
That disc gone be screwed and chopped
All the ballers will ride to this
Deposit deposit slips
Buy the car and apply the fear
Raise the trunk an entire lift
Use to go to that Kappa
But Kappa ain't been as crunk
So I'm popping up at Daytona
On chrome and I'm popping trunk
Jamming that riding dirty
While riding beside the laws
And they staring over at me
Trying to scare me like I'm ma pause
Tell him now they know I'm ma crawl
All day in the robber cause
I'm trying to go wash the ride
Till them tires have whiter walls
You peeping him take a picture
That chrome and that paint official
You smoking then take a swisha
There's plenty just take em with ya
You chilling you ain't a sipper
Then I'm ma be hanging with ya
Take a hold of the grain and grip
Handful and smile for the pictures nigga
You see my slab (You see my slab)
You see my candy slab (Slab)
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
You see my chick (You see my chick)
You see my chick is bad (Bad)
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
You see it's real (You see it's real)
They be like look at that
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
Photograph ph-ph-ph-photograph photograph
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
You see the bling up on my bracelet
And the shine on my chest
Syrup in my styrofoam it's sweet with doja no cess
You done put it down with the rest
Time to roll with the best
Cause when you ride with the original
You ain't gotta guess
I'm the connection that you need
When they say it's a drought (Drought)
Cause it's not really a drought
Them other nigga just out (Out)
And I'm the plug you gotta have
When they say the river's dry (Why)
Cause it's not really dry
They just ran out of supply
I'm too fly for the clouds (Clouds)
Too down for the green grass
Better wear tinted lenses
If you look at my clean ass (Clean ass)
Catch me today with a cannon or a Kodak
Cause by tomorrow yesterday gon be a throwback
Candy still dripping 4's is still tipping
Wood grain grass steering wheel I'm still gripping
Repping for P A T the West and the East
And I'm repping for Pimp C
Till he get back on the streets it never cease
You see my slab (You see my slab)
You see my candy slab (Slab)
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
You see my chick (You see my chick)
You see my chick is bad (Bad)
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
You see it's real (You see it's real)
They be like look at that
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
Photograph ph-ph-ph-photograph photograph
Picture perfect nigga
You should take a photograph
My life is real baby
And just a song (And just a song)
Gripping that wood wheel baby
And riding chrome (I'm riding chrome)
This is for the real player
That get that doing (That get that doing)
Tell me how it feel baby
To see I'm I'm riding candy and chrome
Catch me today with a cannon or a Kodak
Cause by tomorrow yesterday gon be a throwback
Catch me today with a cannon or a Kodak
Cause by tomorrow yesterday gon be a throwback
Know I'm saying gripping wood
Riding through the hood and feeling good
Just like we say down in Texas it's already
You staring at me so hard
You need to go on do yourself a favor player
And take a motherfucking picture
The lyrics of Chamillionaire's song Picture Perfect depict a life of luxury and affluence. The song talks about how the rapper's life is real and picture perfect. He advises his audience to take a picture while they are peeping at him, which suggests that they will be able to take home a memory of his lavish lifestyle. He uses words like "sedans," "Caddy tipping," "paint and candy dripping," and "hundreds of grands we're getting" to show how wealthy he is. Chamillionaire also speaks about his ride, his candy, and his chick's striking looks. He speaks about how he's the real deal and lets people know that they should not fall for TV or magazines that mislead them with falsehoods.
The song portrays the life of luxury and extravagance in which Chamillionaire lived. Chamillionaire represents a part of modern youth culture, which is characterized by luxury, money, and an extravagant lifestyle. However, along with those themes, there's a deeper undercurrent - a subtext of discontent and later coming from Chamillionaire, he speaks on how wealth and status don't necessarily come without problems.
Line by Line Meaning
My life is real baby
I'm living a real life, not one that's made up or fake
You peeping me take a picture
If you're admiring me, take a photo to remember it
You should take a photograph
It's worth capturing the moment visually
Catch me today with a cannon or a Kodak
Take a picture of me with any kind of camera
Cause by tomorrow yesterday gone be a throwback
Tomorrow will come soon and today's pictures will be memories of the past
You see it's real
I'm the real deal
They be like look at that
People often stare at me
Picture perfect nigga
I'm the epitome of a perfect image
Introducing the truest voice of the South
I'm Chamillionaire, the voice of authenticity from the southern U.S.
It's who else but me fool
As if there could be any other person with the same level of realness
Don't let all that foolishness they feed youOn TV mislead you
Don't fall for the fake images that are portrayed on television
Don't let all the magazinesAnd them papers out there deceive you
Don't believe everything you read in magazines or newspapers
The cups that be used to sipBut Caucasian kinda like my tee do
The cups we use to drink are similar to those used by Caucasians, but we still have our unique style
You see that hand be glisteningYou see the sedans we flippingThe hundreds of grands we gettingThese units of scans we shipping
We're making a lot of money and it shows in the bling on my hand, the cars we're driving and the units we're shipping
You see that Caddy tippingThem thangs on that Caddy twistingThat paint and that candy drippingThat drank and that can is missing
My Cadillac is customized with a unique paint job and spinning rims, and we've finished our drinks
That ain't a Cola though dry and you feeling soberBoys trying to switch it overApply it up in a soda
We're not drinking cola, but rather a stronger drink which can be added to a soft drink for a covert, stronger concoction
Home of the Houston hustlersWho grinding and hit the quotaWho fire and hit the dojaYou high when you sniff the odor
Houston is home to people who work hard and meet their targets, but also to those who smoke marijuana and get high from the smoke
Told ya you gotta haveA foreign or buy your slabAfford it then buy it that'sImportant without it now
You need to have a foreign car or a car of your own, and it's important to be able to afford it
You ain't gotta take college classTo see that we bout our cashYou not if you gotta ask
You don't need to take a course to realize that we are all about making money, and if you don't understand that, you're not a part of this
Let's take a pic by the slab hold upYou see my slab (You see my slab)You see my candy slab (Slab)You see my chick (You see my chick)You see my chick is bad (Bad)You see it's real (You see it's real)Photograph ph-ph-ph-photograph photograph
Let's take a picture by my car, which is customized with a bright, candy-colored paint job, and my attractive date
When I'm tipping they'll probably watch meThe cops will be paparazziAnd try to patrol my posseWe shining and glowing glossy
When I'm riding around in my customized car, the police might keep an eye on me and try to keep us in check, but we still look good
The jealous will try to top meWe keep it too real to copyWhat I'm listening to ain't a floppyThat disc gone be screwed and chopped
People who are jealous of me will try to outdo me, but no one can copy my authenticity, and what I'm listening to isn't a cheap copy but a quality, slowed and chopped disc
All the ballers will ride to thisDeposit deposit slipsBuy the car and apply the fearRaise the trunk an entire lift
Rich people will listen to this song while driving their cars, which they've paid for with large deposits; they're also so proud of their cars that they will raise the trunk with the press of a button
Use to go to that KappaBut Kappa ain't been as crunkSo I'm popping up at DaytonaOn chrome and I'm popping trunk
I used to go to a particular social club (Kappa), but as it's no longer as fun, I'm now appearing at other events, where I show off the shine of my car
Jamming that riding dirtyWhile riding beside the lawsAnd they staring over at meTrying to scare me like I'm ma pauseTell him now they know I'm ma crawl
I'm blasting the song 'Riding Dirty' while driving alongside the police, who glare at me, and make me feel uncomfortable, but now they know I just crawl away (slow down and drive away), like a slow song being played
All day in the robber causeI'm trying to go wash the rideTill them tires have whiter walls
I've been driving around stealing cars all day, but I'm hoping to have enough time to wash and clean my car until the tires are white-walled
That chrome and that paint officialYou smoking then take a swishaThere's plenty just take em with yaYou chilling you ain't a sipperThen I'm ma be hanging with ya
My chrome rims and custom paint job are official, and if you're smoking something, you can take a swisher cigar with you; and if you're just chilling and not drinking, I'll still be hanging out with you
Take a hold of the grain and gripHandful and smile for the pictures nigga
Grab hold of the car's steering wheel and smile as we take pictures
You see the bling up on my braceletAnd the shine on my chestSyrup in my styrofoam it's sweet with doja no cess
I'm wearing a lot of jewelry, including a bracelet, and my chain is shiny, and I'm drinking a syrup beverage in a styrofoam cup; it's sweet and good, unlike low-quality weed
You done put it down with the restTime to roll with the bestCause when you ride with the originalYou ain't gotta guess
You've tried other people and they've let you down; it's time to ride with the best, me, because there's no need to guess
I'm the connection that you needWhen they say it's a drought (Drought)Cause it's not really a droughtThem other nigga just out (Out)And I'm the plug you gotta haveWhen they say the river's dry (Why)Cause it's not really dryThey just ran out of supply
I'm the person you need when others say there isn't enough supply (a drought) because the others are out, but I'm still connected and know where to get it
I'm too fly for the clouds (Clouds)Too down for the green grassBetter wear tinted lensesIf you look at my clean ass (Clean ass)
I'm too high up in my stylings to be in the clouds, but I'm still down to earth; and, because of how immaculately I'm dressed (and maybe because of how good my driving habits are), you'll need tinted lenses to not be blinded by the sheen of my outfit
Candy still dripping 4's is still tippingWood grain grass steering wheel I'm still grippingRepping for P A T the West and the EastAnd I'm repping for Pimp CTill he get back on the streets it never ceaseAnd just a song (And just a song)Gripping that wood wheel babyAnd riding chrome (I'm riding chrome)
My car is still colorful, I'm still steering it with a wood-grain steering wheel, and I'm still representing the West and East sides (of America) in honor of Pimp C, even after he's passed away; this is just a song, but I'm still riding in my customized car
This is for the real playerThat get that doing (That get that doing)Tell me how it feel babyTo see I'm I'm riding candy and chromeKnow I'm saying gripping woodRiding through the hood and feeling goodJust like we say down in Texas it's already
This song is for those who are really out there living and feeling alive, like me, riding around in customized cars with shiny rims and wooden steering wheels, feeling good as we take on the streets
You staring at me so hardYou need to go on do yourself a favor playerAnd take a motherfucking picture
You're staring at me really hard, so why don't you take a picture instead of just looking?
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERNEST C. JR. FRANKLIN, HAKEEM T. SERIKI, BERNARD JAMES FREEMAN, ERNEST ISLEY, MARVIN ISLEY, O'KELLY JR. ISLEY, RONALD ISLEY, RUDOLPH BERNARD ISLEY, CHRIS JASPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh Giedeman
one of the most underrated rappers of all time. I need some new Chamillionaire in my life!
Abubakarr Kargbo
Me hommes. Deep content
BlackCraft
Nah he's not lmao this song was my jam in middle school though lmao
Dylan Thompson
Chamillionaire is such a good lyricist, this was definitely one of or if not my favourite song of this sick album
Keyboardwarrior1990
Yeah this whole album was rawer then uncooked steak
Steven SagLibGem
@Keyboardwarrior1990 šš¤£š¤šš¤£š¤šš¤£šš¤£š¤
Stephan Davis
Hell yeah, I'm with you.
Qua Hoover
Yea I Know Chamillonaire š„š„š„ STIll one of my favorite Rapper's
vEL
ever heard of K-Rino ? canāt mention houston without mentioning him he put h town on the map together with the south park coalition
Sani Adamu
Song is pure gold