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
Run You Out The Game
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why, you are still are talking lies
Don't they know I will ride
And make somebody slide
Be with it
Why, you are still are talking lies
Don't they know I will ride
And make these busters hide
We run the game, run, we run the game
Run the game, game, try to scandalise my name
We run the game, run, we run the game
Run the game, game, try to scandalise my name
[Chamillionaire talking over hook]
Shoulda seen it coming baby
Shoulda seen it coming nigga
Yo, yo
We running the game nigga, I'ma run you out the game nigga
I ain't gonna let no pussy niggas represent my city nigga
Nuh uh, especially not no gimmick pussy niggas
Yeah
[Chamillionaire]
We real niggas, we ride chrome, we don't listen to the Jones
We give a damn whether you like him or whether he pick up his phone
Smoking cigars on album covers, that nigga thinking he Capone
Who the hell is gassing him up? They got him sipping on Patron
(That was wrong) I mean petroleum, roll with him, wouldn't try
You'd step over to the side and sit it down if you was wise
Dyke Jones just died, "Chamillion, what is your reply?"
Must of did like my door handles and committed suicide
(Is that right) Messed up cause his thing used to be an anthem
But I only think you pussy when I hear it like a tampon
He'll be working at the dam pond, now I don't drive a Phantom
With the money I make offa this CD I'll probably grab one
Damn, tell me why you had to do that Cham
Cause I don't give a damn how many shows he doing man
I bring beef outside the club like biggity boot that man
And that's 32 chambers less than the Wu-Tang Clan, yep
Four featers, two peoples you already know
Swishahouse ain't gotta screw you cause you already slow
I wasted time chopping, came up wit him at his show
And he was like I gotta go, "I gotta go snitch on Magno"
Don't step up to the throne, you know you need to back down
Mixtape Messiah 2, I'ma give the streets your whole background
Funny looking rap clown, they gonna look at all your raps now
And say "Dyke Jones!" how hilarious does that sound?
He took me off, I ain't tripping, different versions of the song
But that's cool, Dyke Jones isn't gonna be tipping long
Cause he didn't call for back up, too bad he didn't have his phone
That nigga didn't have to roam, that nigga shoulda stayed at home
[Hook minus last 4 lines]
"See I'm sheriff around these parts and umm
In my neck of the woods, we don't allow too many dykes
Nope, my trusty little musket right here says that uh
You got ten seconds to get outa Georgia or you gonna be dodging bullets
One... three... ten...
[Gun shots]
Yee-hah"
Chamillionaire's "Run You Out The Game" is a song about how he has gained so much popularity and power in the rap game that he is now able to run other people out of it. In the first verse, he talks about how he and his crew do not care if people like them or if they pick up their phone. Chamillionaire prides himself on being a "real nigga" who does not listen to the mainstream hip-hop media. He makes references to other rappers like Capone, who he thinks is being gassed up by someone, and Dyke Jones, who recently died. Chamillionaire states that he is not going to let anyone represent his city who is not a "real nigga" and who is just a gimmick.
In the second verse, Chamillionaire talks about how funny-looking rap clowns like Dyke Jones should not step up to the throne and how he will give the streets the whole background of anyone who tries to come at him. He states that he even wasted time chopping with Dyke Jones at his show, but Dyke Jones had to go snitch on Magno. Chamillionaire's lyrics are confrontational and assertive, clearly showing his belief in his own power.
Line by Line Meaning
Why, you are still are talking lies
The singer is wondering why the person is still spreading falsehoods
Don't they know I will ride
The singer is confident in his ability to confront those who oppose him
And make somebody slide
The singer is willing to take violent action against those who oppose him
Be with it
The artist is urging the listener to join him in his endeavors
We run the game, run, we run the game
The artist is declaring his dominance in the rap game
Run the game, game, try to scandalise my name
The singer believes that others are trying to ruin his reputation
We real niggas, we ride chrome, we don't listen to the Jones
The singer is proud of his realness and flaunts his material possessions
We give a damn whether you like him or whether he pick up his phone
The artist doesn't care if others like him or if they try to contact him
Smoking cigars on album covers, that nigga thinking he Capone
The artist believes that another rapper is trying too hard to be like a famous mobster
Who the hell is gassing him up? They got him sipping on Patron
The artist questions who is supporting the other rapper's foolish behavior
(That was wrong) I mean petroleum, roll with him, wouldn't try
The singer corrects his earlier mistake and advises others not to associate with the other rapper
You'd step over to the side and sit it down if you was wise
The artist suggests that it would be smart for others to distance themselves from the other rapper's antics
Dyke Jones just died, 'Chamillion, what is your reply?'
The singer is challenged to respond to the death of another rapper
Must of did like my door handles and committed suicide
The singer implies that the other rapper killed himself because of his own foolishness
(Is that right) Messed up cause his thing used to be an anthem
The singer acknowledges that the other rapper was once more popular but believes that he's no longer relevant
But I only think you pussy when I hear it like a tampon
The artist insults the other rapper and implies that he's weak
He'll be working at the dam pond, now I don't drive a Phantom
The artist believes the other rapper will be working a low-paying job and implies that he's much more successful
With the money I make offa this CD I'll probably grab one
The singer suggests that he will earn enough money to buy an expensive car
Don't step up to the throne, you know you need to back down
The singer warns others not to challenge his authority
Mixtape Messiah 2, I'ma give the streets your whole background
The artist plans to reveal unflattering information about the other rapper on his upcoming mixtape
Funny looking rap clown, they gonna look at all your raps now
The artist mocks the other rapper's appearance and implies that he will expose his lack of talent
And say 'Dyke Jones!' how hilarious does that sound?'
The artist believes that the other rapper's name is funny and implies that he's a joke
He took me off, I ain't tripping, different versions of the song
The singer was removed from a song by the other rapper but isn't bothered by it
But that's cool, Dyke Jones isn't gonna be tipping long
The artist believes that the other rapper's career won't last much longer
Cause he didn't call for back up, too bad he didn't have his phone
The singer implies that the other rapper couldn't find help during a conflict because he didn't have his phone
That nigga didn't have to roam, that nigga shoulda stayed at home
The singer advises the other rapper to avoid danger by staying home
Contributed by Lauren H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jenny Mtz-car
King koopa 💪🏽
Ariel B. Estrada
mayne hol upp this 2004 king koopa
Black Sheep Gang General #BattleRapIsDead #W2BREnt
I gtg snitch on magnoooo
Gio Major
H TOWN ALL DAY......NO BODY ON CHAM LEVEL