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.
-------------------------------------------------------
(C) Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia
Chamillionaire's Myspace
SOLO
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been out on the West Coast
Kicking it grinding
It's the same thing everywhere I go though
Know what I'm talkin bout
Yeah
Major Pain boy
I stay on the low low
Cause y'all be messing up the game
Don't keep it real no more
That's why I'm a keep that thang
Everywhere I go whoa
I'm solo solo solo solo
Know what I'm talking bout
Took it to the West Coast (Chamillionaire)
Solo solo (Uh) solo (C O B mix) solo
The suits tried to hate on us (Re-remix)
Solo solo (Let's get it) solo (The LBC mix) solo (Ye yeah)
Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray to God my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I just want my soul to creep
Do it like I did it in the Long Beach streets
When I'm upstairs with the ODB
Shame on a nigga for tryin to run game on a nigga
Lame nigga you won't be me
Won't be be proof won't be pun
Won't be pimp won't be pac
Same nigga in the passenger seat
Asking you to pass the weed is a low key cop (Yeah)
That's why I do my dirt by my lonely
Out with the wind my enemies don't know me
Even the ones pretending to be a friend of me
My mama can feel your energy homeboy your phony
Tell me you love me dap me and hug me
Knife in the back how trifling is that
Then the shit get ugly the 09 Muggsy
Nice with a MAC put a price on your hat (Bap)
Came in the world all by myself
Leave out the world all by myself
I remind myself to ask the most high
To protect my mind, my body my health (Please)
Man the streets just ain't the same
I stay on the low low
Cause y'all be messing up the game
Don't keep it real no more
That's why I'm a keep that thang
Everywhere I go whoa
I'm solo solo solo solo (Yeah yeah ye yeah)
Why would I kick it all y'all some snitches
Y'all look suspicious don't need your love (Love)
Used to love me when I was broke
I got rich and now you're gonna heat me up
You gone beat me what come on Cletus
Walk over your limp back
I am not the one to be pissed at
Cause you gone mess around and get pimp slapped (Yeah)
Nothin worse than a begging stripper
Not dancing saying I better tip her
I ain't down with that begging baby
Get on your grind cause I beg to differ
Now I wasn't born with a silver spoon (Spoon)
Snakes ain't welcome up in the room (Room)
Bet ya I'm the one that make you change your tune
When I bomb up on ya like tick tick tick boom
Super cool don't be fooled by the hetaerism on overdose (Dose)
Hombre negocio es en la casa it's over folks (Folks)
Gettin money from coast to coast
And that's the reason I hold the most
Better not be in my rear view
Cause I will shoot when I'm on the spokes
It ain't fair for you get a parachute
I'll embarrass you if you don't leap
Don't matter if I roll deep
You be Super Dave and you gone leak
Run up on me actin like ya hungry
I turn the heat to a cold feast
You gonna feel like you obese
When I make ya swallow my whole piece
Chamillionaire's “Solo” is a song about staying independent in the rap game as well as in life. In the first verse, he addresses how the streets have changed and become more corrupt, forcing him to keep to himself and watch his back. He emphasizes his need for protection and his desire to stay solo, as he doesn't trust anyone around him. He even references the deaths of rappers like Tupac and Biggie as cautionary tales to support his decision to stay on his own.
The second verse continues the theme of independence, with Chamillionaire discussing his success in the industry and how he's had to cut off people who were once his friends. He mentions the dangers of people's jealousy and how money and success can change relationships between people. His final lines of the song reinforce his determination to stay true to himself and not compromise his values, no matter what challenges may arise.
Overall, Chamillionaire's “Solo” is an anthem for anyone who values their independence and doesn't want to be influenced by others who might not have their best interests at heart. The lyrics also speak to the difficulty of maintaining relationships in the face of success, as people's true intentions can become more evident over time.
Line by Line Meaning
You know it's crazy right
It's surprising what's happening
I've been out on the West Coast
I've been traveling and spending time on the West Coast
Kicking it grinding
Working hard and having fun
It's the same thing everywhere I go though
The things I see and experience are familiar everywhere I go
Know what I'm talkin bout
You understand what I'm saying, right?
Yeah
Yes
Man the streets just ain't the same
The streets have changed a lot
I stay on the low low
I keep a low profile and stay out of trouble
Cause y'all be messing up the game
People are making things difficult and causing problems for me
Don't keep it real no more
People aren't honest and authentic like they used to be
That's why I'm a keep that thang
That's why I keep my gun with me
Everywhere I go whoa
No matter where I go
I'm solo solo solo solo
I'm all by myself
Took it to the West Coast (Chamillionaire)
I brought my music to the West Coast
Solo solo (Uh) solo (C O B mix) solo
I'm alone and independent
The suits tried to hate on us (Re-remix)
Some powerful people tried to stop us, but we're still here
Solo solo (Let's get it) solo (The LBC mix) solo (Ye yeah)
I continue to be solo and independent
Now I lay me down to sleep
This is a prayer
Pray to God my soul to keep
I'm asking God to keep my soul safe
If I should die before I wake
If I die while I'm sleeping
I just want my soul to creep
I want my soul to be at peace
Do it like I did it in the Long Beach streets
I'm reflecting on my past experiences in Long Beach
When I'm upstairs with the ODB
When I'm in heaven with Ol' Dirty Bastard
Shame on a nigga for tryin to run game on a nigga
It's shameful to try and deceive someone
Lame nigga you won't be me
You can't be like me
Won't be be proof won't be pun
You won't be a successful rapper like MC Breed or Big Pun
Won't be pimp won't be pac
You won't be a successful rapper like Too Short or Tupac
Same nigga in the passenger seat
The same person who is with you
Asking you to pass the weed is a low key cop (Yeah)
Asking for weed is a way to secretly gather evidence as a police officer
That's why I do my dirt by my lonely
That's why I do my illegal activities alone
Out with the wind my enemies don't know me
I don't want my enemies to know where I am
Even the ones pretending to be a friend of me
Even the people who pretend to be my friends
My mama can feel your energy homeboy your phony
My mom can tell that you're fake
Tell me you love me dap me and hug me
You say you love me, give me a dap and a hug
Knife in the back how trifling is that
It's deceitful and hurtful to betray someone
Then the shit get ugly the 09 Muggsy
Then things get violent like Muggsy Bogues in 2009
Nice with a MAC put a price on your hat (Bap)
I'm skilled with a gun and will shoot you
Came in the world all by myself
I was born alone
Leave out the world all by myself
I will die alone
I remind myself to ask the most high
I remind myself to pray to God
To protect my mind, my body my health (Please)
To keep me safe and healthy
Why would I kick it all y'all some snitches
Why would I hang out with you when you're all snitches?
Y'all look suspicious don't need your love (Love)
You all look like trouble and I don't need your love
Used to love me when I was broke
You used to like me when I was poor
I got rich and now you're gonna heat me up
Now that I'm successful, you're going to cause problems for me
You gone beat me what come on Cletus
You're going to fight me? Come on
Walk over your limp back
I'm going to hurt you badly
I am not the one to be pissed at
I'm not someone you want to mess with
Cause you gone mess around and get pimp slapped (Yeah)
You'll get hit hard if you mess with me
Nothin worse than a begging stripper
A stripper who begs is pathetic
Not dancing saying I better tip her
She's asking for a tip without earning it
I ain't down with that begging baby
I don't agree with that kind of behavior
Get on your grind cause I beg to differ
You should work hard instead of begging
Now I wasn't born with a silver spoon (Spoon)
I wasn't born into wealth
Snakes ain't welcome up in the room (Room)
I don't want deceitful people around me
Bet ya I'm the one that make you change your tune
I'll make you change your opinion
When I bomb up on ya like tick tick tick boom
When I attack you, it's explosive
Super cool don't be fooled by the hetaerism on overdose (Dose)
I'm very cool and you shouldn't underestimate me
Hombre negocio es en la casa it's over folks (Folks)
My business is at home and I'm in charge
Gettin money from coast to coast
I'm making money everywhere
And that's the reason I hold the most
That's why I have the most success
Better not be in my rear view
You shouldn't be following me
Cause I will shoot when I'm on the spokes
I'll shoot you if you don't leave me alone
It ain't fair for you get a parachute
It's not fair for you to get away safely
I'll embarrass you if you don't leap
I'll make you look foolish if you don't run away
Don't matter if I roll deep
It doesn't matter if I have people with me
You be Super Dave and you gone leak
You'll be a hero for a moment before you get hurt
Run up on me actin like ya hungry
If you approach me aggressively
I turn the heat to a cold feast
I'll make you regret your actions
You gonna feel like you obese
You'll feel like you've been defeated
When I make ya swallow my whole piece
When I make you take all the blame for your actions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
xIcemanx19
2022 and still beating the block with this fire track!
Trucking with Rick and Tank
💪🏼
tristyn balch
love this song!!!
EBAH
This song on my playlist since beginning
Vitalik Grigorichenko
Fuck yea 2022 still here buddy listening rn on my Bluetooth in car my stereo is none.
Trucking with Rick and Tank
@Vitalik Grigorichenko goes hard
Greg
Fuck man, I can't get over how dirty Luda's part is in this song. His flow just goes so well with this and he just murders it. By far my favorite song he's ever been featured in.
Jeff Logsdon
Luda always killed his features back in the day
Kody Nish
true
Alexander Martin
@Jeff Logsdon I: