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
Stuck In The Ghetto Featuring Tony Henry
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But my felony wont let me get a job
(That's what I'm talking)
Life is so hard
(Pretty hard baby)
And just today somebody stole my car and bus don't run my way
(It's messed up man whatcha gonna do?)
I think I'll walk the street today
It seems like I'm stuck in the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto
(Feel that baby)
Sometimes it seems like I'm stuck in the ghetto
But I've got love for ghetto, ghetto
(That's real baby)
When I go to my friends
Now they opened arms they greet 'n' let me in
'What's up Tony baby? Let's go do something, let's go drink something, huh?
And every day we just dream and ?? and drink out lots of way
(Try to get behind this walls baby)
I think I flied the sky today
It seems like I'm stuck (stuck baby)
in the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto
Sometimes it seems (It's real Tony)
like I'm stuck in the ghetto (It's all good mayne)
But I've got love for ghetto, ghetto (Yeah we gonna be all good babe)
The lyrics of Chamillionaire's "Stuck in the Ghetto" featuring Tony Henry, explores the difficulties of living in a low-income neighborhood. The song starts with Chamillionaire admitting that he has a college degree. However, due to his felony conviction, he cannot get a job to support himself. To make matters worse, someone has stolen his car, and public transportation is not available in his area. So, the only option left for him is to walk the streets. He repeatedly says that he feels "stuck in the ghetto," reflecting the fact that there are limited opportunities for him to improve his situation.
In the next section, Tony Henry joins the verse and talks about his experience in the ghetto. He tells us that his friends welcome him with open arms and try to cheer him up, suggesting that they should drink something. But, in reality, they are all just trying to escape from the harshness of their lives. Tony Henry says that every day they dream and drink to forget about their problems, which shows the desperation that comes with living in poverty.
Overall, "Stuck in the Ghetto" is a candid and straightforward song about life in impoverished neighborhoods. The artists express their love for the ghetto, but it is clear that they are struggling to keep their heads above water.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a degree ( Yeah )
I have an academic qualification.
But my felony won't let me get a job
However, my previous criminal conviction makes it difficult for me to secure employment.
Life is so hard
My life is really difficult right now.
And just today somebody stole my car and bus don't run my way
Moreover, today someone stole my car, and public transport is not available in my locality.
I think I'll walk the street today
I have no other choice but to walk today.
It seems like I'm stuck in the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto
It's as though I'm trapped in a low-income neighborhood with limited opportunities.
Sometimes it seems like I'm stuck in the ghetto
At times, I feel like I don't have any way out of my current situation.
But I've got love for ghetto, ghetto
However, I still have affection for the community I belong to.
When I go to my friends
Whenever I visit my buddies.
Now they opened arms they greet 'n' let me in
My friends welcome me with open arms whenever I visit them.
'What's up Tony baby? Let's go do something, let's go drink something, huh?
They greet me warmly and suggest that we hang out or grab a drink.
And every day we just dream and ?? and drink out lots of way
We talk about our aspirations and drink to our hearts' content.
I think I flied the sky today
Today, I feel like I can achieve anything.
It seems like I'm stuck (stuck baby)
I feel like I'm trapped (and it's challenging to break out).
It's all good mayne
However, things aren't as bad as they seem.
Yeah we gonna be all good babe
I'm optimistic and think that everything will work out okay in the end.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@antesiataylor3399
I still play this every now and then
@shaken_n_move_n
feel that
@jaredwilliams1758
When life leads you down roads you never thought you would walk….the song hits different
@justus899
i wished so hard that Tony Henry would make it big, he is so awesome!
@theunusuallife2456
Man
@gangsta891
What a voice childhood memories
@Holla_DC
one of my fav tracks on the cd
@RobertZimmer11
This is so good
@blkmaleexec
i got his first cd when he performed at da embargo in ft worth tx. He is dope. You have got to hear his version of "A Change Is Gonna Come"...its brilliant...BRILLIANT!!!!!
@ahole89
Thanks for uploading this amazing song sncaufield peace!