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
Rider
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a ri-i-der, I'm a rider
I'm too tough for y'all, and I will never fall
You can talk that talk, but I'ma walk that walk
And I'm riding, that's fa sho
I'm a surviiiii-iiii-vor, true survivor
If I walk out that do, and don't come back no mo
Let the liquor po, and let the people know
We them niggas getting hated by haters, we them niggas that done made it outrageous
Stack the money in the streets nothing honey nothing sweet, I'm sick my chips contagious
Animals none of y'all can't cage us, got me feeling like the Heat and the Lakers
Had to switch up my team but what do ya mean, we already traded them traitors
Spend a lifetime surrounded by fakers, in the night time you high 'cause it's safer
Spend a lifetime to grind and get paper, while all y'all crying I'm flying to Jamaica
Grinding steadily fine and cheddar he, know how to show ya the nine is deadly
Wanna be a pussy nigga fine then let it be, anybody crying that's around it's never me
Realer than the rest when it come to plex, get it off your chest if you so upset
Is that what it gon' be if it comes to yes, then I guess that day will become a mess
They messed up when they told me the sky's the limit,
'cause I'm married to my money nigga I'm committed
If it's gold at the end of the rainbow then my gang go, get up in the vehicles and ride to get it
I'm a nigga that made it up from the bottom, I'm a always get into a lil' drama
Y'all don't know what it means to be a rider, gotta deal with anybody that got a problem
I'ma put supreme in the Impala, I'ma put some cream up in the bomber
Jack it that's it nigga go get a dollar, looking for me I'm busy my nigga holla
[Chorus]
Got the weight on my shoulder like solo flex, do the drama myself that's solo plex
I don't know what you do fo' yo checks, but my part of the do' way mo' they less
I'm gripping wood I know I'm fresh, 'cause I am that CEO and yes
The mo' I make they more upset, but I'll be damned if a nigga don't show respect
Ask the streets in the South about the kid, and they gon' tell ya I be doing my thang
We could do the beef or we could do the peace, as long as you ain't speaking my name
My partna told me you was jocking homie, and my other boy said the same
The result of that when I approached the cat, I gotta hit him with the pain like bang-bang
Physically and mentally, a rider a nigga that'll tell 'em see
I bomb on your ass it was meant to be, because I told y'all niggas not to mess with me
Do you let the beef slide, and let it die down with all your deciding
In the streets they know Cha-millionaire be riding, Batman my heat riding like Robin
Tell 'em that I got 'em if he's on my team, 'cause loyalty's something that you're gonna need
Loyalty's something others don't believe, like a ghost that most suckers ain't known to seen
But you know that a rider can notice hating, and use it to fuel all the motivation
Success is something that's fa sho to make em, back down they don't then I'm gonna break em
"Rider" is frequently viewed as the most emblematic track from Chamillionaire's 2005 mixtape "The Mixtape Messiah." The rapper’s lyrics reveal him to be completely in tune with the streets and the challenges of making it out of troubled neighborhoods. Chamillionaire asserts that he is a true survivor, and he never shirks an opportunity to proclaim his strengths and his toughness. The lines "I'm too tough for y'all, and I will never fall / You can talk that talk, but I'ma walk that walk" serve as a testament to his emotions.
The verse about making it from the bottom reflects the theme of a rise to success against all odds, a definite structure of hip-hop music. Chamillionaire faces many challenges, but he doesn't want to lose clarity over negative energies. His determination and convictions make it clear that he won't let any negative comments or actions get in the way of his goals. He asserts what true loyalty and determination look like in life.
The song is noted to be one of the top rap songs of the year 2005. The beat for the song was produced by Play-N-Skillz. The sample used on this track is “Ride With Us” by Tha Eastsidaz off their 2001 release Snoop Dogg Presents Tha Eastsidaz. The phrase "Rider" appears in lyrics from Tha Eastsidaz's song, where Snoop Dogg raps, "I'm a rider, nigga, high 'til I die, HollaWestSide." Chamillionaire added a unique spin to the phrase and made it his own.
The lyrics of "Rider" have been cited as the reason Chamillionaire was approached by Universal Records in 2005. It was among the tracks that convinced the label that he was an up-and-coming artist with promise. Chamillionaire eventually signed with Universal Records, and the label released his debut album The Sound of Revenge, which contained the hit single "Ridin'."
"Rider" was nominated for the Best Rap Solo Performance at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards. It has also been referenced in different popular culture sources, such as Grand Theft Auto IV and the 2006 satire film Idiocracy.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a ri-i-der, I'm a rider
I'm a tough person who will never fall
I'm too tough for y'all, and I will never fall
I am resilient and won't be brought down by others, no matter what
You can talk that talk, but I'ma walk that walk
You can say what you want, but I'll always live up to my words with actions
And I'm riding, that's fa sho
I'm always on the move and nothing can stop me
I'm a surviiiii-iiii-vor, true survivor
I've been through tough times and made it out alive
If I walk out that do, and don't come back no mo
If I leave and don't return, then you know I'm done
Let the liquor po, and let the people know
Pour some liquor out in my memory and let everyone know
I was a rider, that's fa sho
I lived my life as a tough person who never backed down
We them niggas getting hated by haters, we them niggas that done made it outrageous
We're the ones who are envied and hated by others because we've made it big
Stack the money in the streets nothing honey nothing sweet, I'm sick my chips contagious
I've made a lot of money in the streets, and it wasn't easy. I'm so successful that people want to be like me
Animals none of y'all can't cage us, got me feeling like the Heat and the Lakers
Nobody can contain us because we're too powerful, like the Miami Heat or LA Lakers
Had to switch up my team but what do ya mean, we already traded them traitors
I had to change the people around me because they were disloyal
Spend a lifetime surrounded by fakers, in the night time you high 'cause it's safer
I've spent my life around people who pretend to be something they're not, and at night I turn to drugs to cope with it
Spend a lifetime to grind and get paper, while all y'all crying I'm flying to Jamaica
I've put in a lot of hard work to make money, and while others are complaining, I'm enjoying my wealth in Jamaica
Grinding steadily fine and cheddar he, know how to show ya the nine is deadly
I'm focused on success and making money, and I can also handle a weapon if needed
Wanna be a pussy nigga fine then let it be, anybody crying that's around it's never me
If someone wants to act cowardly, that's fine, but I'll never be the one crying about it
Realer than the rest when it come to plex, get it off your chest if you so upset
I'm very honest and upfront about problems, so if you have an issue, let's talk about it
Is that what it gon' be if it comes to yes, then I guess that day will become a mess
If we can't resolve our problems peacefully, then things are going to turn violent
They messed up when they told me the sky's the limit, 'cause I'm married to my money nigga I'm committed
I don't believe in limits, and I will always prioritize making and keeping my money
If it's gold at the end of the rainbow then my gang go, get up in the vehicles and ride to get it
We'll do whatever it takes to get rich, even if it means going on a dangerous mission
I'm a nigga that made it up from the bottom, I'ma always get into a lil' drama
I came from a tough background, so I'm used to dealing with conflict
Y'all don't know what it means to be a rider, gotta deal with anybody that got a problem
Most people don't understand the life of a tough person who has to confront problems head on
I'ma put supreme in the Impala, I'ma put some cream up in the bomber
I'll treat myself to nice things with the money I've made
Jack it that's it nigga go get a dollar, looking for me I'm busy my nigga holla
If you need some money, go out and work for it. I'm too busy to help you out
Got the weight on my shoulder like solo flex, do the drama myself that's solo plex
I take care of my problems on my own
I don't know what you do fo' yo checks, but my part of the do' way mo' they less
I don't know how you make your money, but I make way more than you do
I'm gripping wood I know I'm fresh, 'cause I am that CEO and yes
I'm confident in my style and appearance because I'm in charge of my own career
The mo' I make they more upset, but I'll be damned if a nigga don't show respect
The more successful I become, the more people hate me, but they will still respect me
Ask the streets in the South about the kid, and they gon' tell ya I be doing my thang
People in the southern streets know who I am and how I live my life
We could do the beef or we could do the peace, as long as you ain't speaking my name
We can either fight or resolve things peacefully, but don't involve my name
My partna told me you was jocking homie, and my other boy said the same
Multiple people have told me that you're copying me
The result of that when I approached the cat, I gotta hit him with the pain like bang-bang
When I confront you about copying me, there will be consequences
Physically and mentally, a rider a nigga that'll tell 'em see
Being a tough person means being strong in both body and mind
I bomb on your ass it was meant to be, because I told y'all niggas not to mess with me
If I retaliate against you, it's because I warned you not to cross me
Do you let the beef slide, and let it die down with all your deciding
Do you let conflicts go and move on with your life?
In the streets they know Cha-millionaire be riding, Batman my heat riding like Robin
People know that I'm a tough person in the streets, and I always have my weapons on me
Tell 'em that I got 'em if he's on my team, 'cause loyalty's something that you're gonna need
If you're on my side, I'll have your back, but loyalty is essential
Loyalty's something others don't believe, like a ghost that most suckers ain't known to seen
Some people don't understand loyalty, like it's a rare and unseen thing
But you know that a rider can notice hating, and use it to fuel all the motivation
Tough people can recognize when others hate them, and use it as motivation
Success is something that's fa sho to make em, back down they don't then I'm gonna break em
I'm confident that I can succeed, but if others still oppose me, I'll have to take them down
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HAKEEM T. SERIKI, NATHAN PEREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brainchild Kubrick
I bought the CD first day it came out. This was a bonus track. This song still snaps!!!
Taylor Nicole
Man the bonus CD to that album was everything
Robert Kimmerly
I got this album too and it came with a bonus cd with 5 tracks on it and the chopped and screwed verison too
Johnny Bee
Germaine Long I used to play the hell out of these CDs back when you uploaded to a PC lol had the warehouse hype!!
Chris Wallace
This takes me back to the days of riding,with the crew just having a good time not caring where we go or who we meet.We let the people know we were riders fa sho :)
Derrick Mcphaul
I love this song
Melvin Patchen
Chamillionaire is the shit! For real. Respect you homie.
Tim Melcher
Still love it!
james hoskins
I hit a hunit easy on my r1 every time this song comes thru the headphones smh pure adrenaline this song was made for the bike life 🏍
0000
2017 still a good track to turn too