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 Houstonβs 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
Switch Styles
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha-ha, it's Koopa nigga, it's Koopa nigga
Hey man switch styles man, stay switching styles
You know I'm tal'n bout, switch everything nigga
Paint switching, no teams
We ain't switching teams baby, ha already
It's Color Changin' Click, hey Mix Tape Messiah
Let's go, let's go, let's go yeah
I was at Strokers in ATL, and they was showing Cham and sluts
My nigga Killa's Klan with us, and did some sh, I can't discuss
They was bad they was yellow, they was saying can you handle us
Pull the door knob on the ceiling, cause I'm about to handle up
Showing up at the hotel, now is this chick a fan or what
If she sipping that's a plus, but not that Crys' cause that's for us
Come to the hotel wondering if you stripping, that's a must
Make a meal out of my nuts, and open up a can of suck
Controversy sells, I swear I spit a rhyme that'll shock
I wreck so I get respect in the digital underground, like I'm Pac
Labels scheme and they plot, they telling me sign on the dot
I cracked a platinum smile and he knew, that was a sign I would not
No warrants when the laws pull up behind, I'ma stop
Princes cuts the size of a window, I'ma wind down my watch
Pussy passenger still mad, 'cause I'm rewinding on chops
Tossed his work inside my lap, and said that I got the rocks
Screens fall like rain, while my trunk shaking like thunder
My verse sound like a mumble
Onlookers wonder, if I'm level headed or humble
Till I get to speaking bout drama, then I end a sentence with uh-uh
Back that I'm Israel, I'm Istanbul I'm thinking Pakistani
Foreign cars no I'm dressing up, cause the only gator comes after Navi
Students getting out of barber school, graduating they getting happy
All my hoes got longer hair, than Cousin It on the Adams Family
Sixty inch T.V. screen, I could view from the side angle
In my crib you'll get lost, it's like the Bermuda Tiangle
Said I'd knew you'd be a king, so Hakim is what I named you
I told my mama thanks, now the king is what I claim fool
When it comes to this rap game nigga, passionate for it brah
Your c.d. packages showing up, laughing after it's blowing up
Think I'm playing by my pistol, until I'm smacking it over ya
Shooting spiders off my rims, like I got arachnophobia
St. Lunatics say it's tipped, for me that pimp is the drill
While she tasting my testicles, see the tip of my steel
Know you getting that scrill, pulling up on whips with the grill
And if that slab only got fo' you know, it's missing a wheel
'Cause I'm a Texas tycoon, flat T-V screens in my room
So many flakes in my pinky, say I need Vidal Sassoon
Fish in the fish tank gon sip drank, yeah they'll be leaning by noon
And the two Brazilian beauties, come in to clean my lagoon
Won't see no damn silver spoon, inside my mouth just my kitchen
I'm popped up with the trunk up wreck, in other words we tipping
Looked in my garage, noticed a couple cars is missing
Let me see one, two, three, my bad I'm tripping
Kinda look like I'm Cripping, when my paint change to blue
By the way my paint change to red, you would swear I'm claiming that too
Yeah they be banging that Whoo Kid, and be banging that Clue
But down in Texas the changer, ain't never changing from Screw
Seen the slugs that you spittin' at me, I mean the slugs that you missin' at me
Seen you and you ain't getting at me, man the game is really getting crappy
ATL with Killa Kill, Status Quo and that Lil' Scrappy
I don't wear no throwbacks, cause the trend is really getting tacky
Commercial won't hurt you, cause that's gon get you mo' cash
But spend that cash on security, cause we gon whip your ass
Music slower than a running turtle, tell you what they sip in my circle
Samuel Jackson, Whoopie Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey the color purple
Ha-ha (ha-ha), that was a good one
That was a good one, ha-ha
I told you you don't want problems, you didn't believe it
Go get a bodyguard, cause you're gonna need it
We're gonna bomb you, worse than Osama
Get it in your head, nigga I tried to warn ya
All these boys acting like, they be getting do'
But you can't hide the truth, a real baller gon know
All these boys acting like, they ain't really hoes
But you can't hide the truth, a real nigga gon know
All these boys acting like, they can call a stone
Let's break these boys off, and let em know we got it sowed
Mix Tape, Mi-Mix Tape, Mi-Mix Tape Messiah
Mix Tape, Mi-Mix Tape, Mi-Mix Tape Messiah
Mix Tape, Mi-Mix Tape, Mi-Mix Tape Messiah
Hey I'm fins to do my thing, hey I'm repping Color Change
Hey we fins to do our thing, hey I'm repping Color Change
We gon' slap box, soon as we done
That shit was no test, let's see who gets the most hits to the head
I'ma slap the shit out you watch, wish a nigga would of
Let the motherfucker touch me, I'm gon' smack the shit out of him
I ain't no fucking punk, nigga you better get that hold up
Oh shit
In Chamillionaire's song Switch Styles, he starts off by introducing himself as Koopa and encourages everyone to switch styles, from paint to music to everything else. He then talks about his experiences at Strokers in Atlanta where he had to handle things discreetly. He alludes to being with some women who were attracted to him and his crew, and he handled the situation with tact. He talks more about his ability to handle things when he gets to the hotel with a female fan. He emphasizes that he doesn't sign to labels and when confronted, he tells them that he won't sign on the dotted line, and that warrants won't stop him when he is driving. Chamillionaire is showing boisterous or bold confidence.
He seems to be enjoying his life and is confident in his dealings, but he emphasizes that he doesn't take anything for granted. As the song progresses, Chamillionaire talks about his wealth and how he can afford nice things. He name-drops many famous people, including Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey from the movie color purple. He is showing off his linguistic prowess with his clever puns and jokes, enhancing his charismatic personality. He is not just a rapper, but a wordsmith that can play with words in a powerful way. In the end, he is back to talking about music and encourages everyone to rep their group, The Color Changinβ Click.
Line by Line Meaning
As we get on the proceedings this evening
As we begin the evening's events
Ha-ha, it's Koopa nigga, it's Koopa nigga
Laughing, it's Koopa dude, it's Koopa dude
Hey man switch styles man, stay switching styles
Hey man, change your style constantly
You know I'm tal'n bout, switch everything nigga
You know what I'm talking about, change everything
Paint switching, no teams
Changing the color of my car, no loyalty to any particular group
We ain't switching teams baby, ha already
We're not changing teams, already established
It's Color Changin' Click, hey Mix Tape Messiah
It's the Color Changin' Click, hey Mix Tape Messiah
Let's go, let's go, let's go yeah
Let's get started, let's go yeah
I was at Strokers in ATL, and they was showing Cham and sluts
I was at Strokers in Atlanta, and they were promoting Cham and promiscuous women
My nigga Killa's Klan with us, and did some sh, I can't discuss
My friend Killa's group was with us, and did some things that I can't talk about
They was bad they was yellow, they was saying can you handle us
They were attractive and light-skinned, asking if I could handle them
Pull the door knob on the ceiling, cause I'm about to handle up
Close the door towards the ceiling, because I'm about to show off my skills
Showing up at the hotel, now is this chick a fan or what
Arriving at the hotel, wondering if this girl is just a fan
If she sipping that's a plus, but not that Crys' cause that's for us
If she's drinking, it's a good thing, but not that Cristal because that's for me
Come to the hotel wondering if you stripping, that's a must
Come to the hotel expecting you to strip, that's necessary
Make a meal out of my nuts, and open up a can of suck
Enjoy my wealth, and perform oral sex
Controversy sells, I swear I spit a rhyme that'll shock
Controversy gets attention, I promise I'll rap lines that will shock
I wreck so I get respect in the digital underground, like I'm Pac
I'm so good that I earn respect in the underground music scene, like Tupac
Labels scheme and they plot, they telling me sign on the dot
Record labels plan and plot, trying to get me to sign a contract
I cracked a platinum smile and he knew, that was a sign I would not
I smiled confidently, and he knew I wouldn't sign
No warrants when the laws pull up behind, I'ma stop
No legal issues when the police pull up behind me, I'll stop
Princes cuts the size of a window, I'ma wind down my watch
Diamonds on my watch are so big, they're the size of a window, I'll show them off
Pussy passenger still mad, 'cause I'm rewinding on chops
Jealous guy still angry because I'm enjoying sexual activities
Tossed his work inside my lap, and said that I got the rocks
He gave me drugs and said I had the best ones
Screens fall like rain, while my trunk shaking like thunder
My screens descend like rain, while my car trunk shakes like thunder
My verse sound like a mumble
My rap verse sounds unclear
Onlookers wonder, if I'm level headed or humble
People watching wonder if I'm composed or modest
Till I get to speaking bout drama, then I end a sentence with uh-uh
Until I start talking about drama, I end my sentences with 'uh-uh'
Back that I'm Israel, I'm Istanbul I'm thinking Pakistani
I'm versatile, I'm worldly, I'm even considering Pakistani
Foreign cars no I'm dressing up, cause the only gator comes after Navi
I dress up when driving foreign cars, because the only alligator skin I wear is after the Navigator
Students getting out of barber school, graduating they getting happy
Students finishing barber school, graduating and feeling joy
All my hoes got longer hair, than Cousin It on the Adams Family
All of my women have longer hair than Cousin It from the Adams Family
Sixty inch T.V. screen, I could view from the side angle
Sixty inch T.V. screen that I can see from the side
In my crib you'll get lost, it's like the Bermuda Tiangle
In my house, you'll get lost, it's like the Bermuda Triangle
Said I'd knew you'd be a king, so Hakim is what I named you
I knew you would be successful, so I named you Hakim
I told my mama thanks, now the king is what I claim fool
I thanked my mother, now I proudly claim to be a king
When it comes to this rap game nigga, passionate for it brah
When it comes to this rap game, I'm passionate about it
Your c.d. packages showing up, laughing after it's blowing up
Your CD sales are going up and you're laughing
Think I'm playing by my pistol, until I'm smacking it over ya
You think I'm joking with my gun, until I hit you with it
Shooting spiders off my rims, like I got arachnophobia
Removing dirt off my car rims, like I'm scared of spiders
St. Lunatics say it's tipped, for me that pimp is the drill
St. Lunatics say it's great, but for me that pimping is the focus
While she tasting my testicles, see the tip of my steel
While she performs oral sex on me, she sees the tip of my gun
Know you getting that scrill, pulling up on whips with the grill
You know you're making money, driving cars with fancy grills
And if that slab only got fo' you know, it's missing a wheel
And if your car only has four, then you know it's missing a wheel
'Cause I'm a Texas tycoon, flat T-V screens in my room
Because I'm a wealthy Texan, with wide-screen TVs in my room
So many flakes in my pinky, say I need Vidal Sassoon
I have so much jewelry on my pinky finger, people say I need Vidal Sassoon
Fish in the fish tank gon sip drank, yeah they'll be leaning by noon
Fish in the fish tank will drink, yeah, they'll be intoxicated by noon
And the two Brazilian beauties, come in to clean my lagoon
And the two Brazilian women come in to clean my pool
Won't see no damn silver spoon, inside my mouth just my kitchen
You won't see a silver spoon in my mouth, just inside my kitchen
I'm popped up with the trunk up wreck, in other words we tipping
I'm driving with the trunk open, in other words, we're showing off
Looked in my garage, noticed a couple cars is missing
Looked in my garage, noticed a couple cars are missing
Let me see one, two, three, my bad I'm tripping
Let me count, one, two, three, my mistake, I'm mistaken
Kinda look like I'm Cripping, when my paint change to blue
Looks like I'm affiliated with the Crips when my car paint changes to blue
By the way my paint change to red, you would swear I'm claiming that too
And when my car paint changes to red, you might think I'm claiming that as well
Yeah they be banging that Whoo Kid, and be banging that Clue
Yeah, they be playing DJ Whoo Kid and DJ Clue
But down in Texas the changer, ain't never changing from Screw
But in Texas, the DJ changer always plays songs from Screw
Seen the slugs that you spittin' at me, I mean the slugs that you missin' at me
Heard the insults you're throwing at me, I mean the insults you're missing the mark with
Seen you and you ain't getting at me, man the game is really getting crappy
Saw you and you're not able to compete with me, man this industry is getting worse
ATL with Killa Kill, Status Quo and that Lil' Scrappy
In Atlanta with Killa Kill, Status Quo, and Lil' Scrappy
I don't wear no throwbacks, cause the trend is really getting tacky
I don't wear vintage jerseys, because the trend is getting outdated
Commercial won't hurt you, cause that's gon get you mo' cash
Being commercial won't harm you, because that's how you'll make more money
But spend that cash on security, cause we gon whip your ass
But spend that cash on security, because we'll beat you up
Music slower than a running turtle, tell you what they sip in my circle
Music is slow, as slow as a turtle running, let me tell you what they drink in my group
Samuel Jackson, Whoopie Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey the color purple
Famous black celebrities like Samuel Jackson, Whoopie Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, representing the color purple
I told you you don't want problems, you didn't believe it
I warned you that you don't want any issues, but you didn't believe me
Go get a bodyguard, cause you're gonna need it
Go hire a bodyguard, because you're going to need one
We're gonna bomb you, worse than Osama
We're going to attack you, worse than Osama Bin Laden
Get it in your head, nigga I tried to warn ya
Understand it, dude, I tried to warn you
All these boys acting like, they be getting do'
All these guys pretending like they're successful
But you can't hide the truth, a real baller gon know
But you can't hide the truth, a real successful person will know
All these boys acting like, they ain't really hoes
All these guys pretending like they're not promiscuous
But you can't hide the truth, a real nigga gon know
But you can't hide the truth, a real person will know
All these boys acting like, they can call a stone
All these guys pretending like they can control everything
Let's break these boys off, and let em know we got it sowed
Let's prove these guys wrong, and show them we have it all under control
Hey I'm fins to do my thing, hey I'm repping Color Change
Hey, I'm about to do my thing, hey, I'm representing Color Change
Hey we fins to do our thing, hey I'm repping Color Change
Hey, we're about to do our thing, hey, I'm representing Color Change
We gon' slap box, soon as we done
We're going to fight right after we finish
That shit was no test, let's see who gets the most hits to the head
That wasn't a real challenge, let's see who lands the most punches to the head
I'ma slap the shit out you watch, wish a nigga would of
I'm going to slap you hard, you wished someone would have stopped me
Let the motherfucker touch me, I'm gon' smack the shit out of him
If someone tries to touch me, I'm going to hit them hard
I ain't no fucking punk, nigga you better get that hold up
I'm not a pushover, dude, you better step back
Oh shit
Oh, shit
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
WhattupDis Ronald
One of the best freestyles ever mane
Kaptaincrnch 76
@Vahid Musictx by far, in his mixtape days no one could touch his lyrics and most people couldnt even kkep up with the punchlines
Vahid Musictx
This is not a freestyle. It's written. But on another note.. Chamillionaire is top 5 lyricist in the game
Clinton Davis
Still jammin in 2025
Runthis313
Greetings from 1923. What is this "slab" he sings of? Thank you good sir
Jarvis Whitaker
One of the best freestyle ever! I love this.
(tHc)
Still bangin in 19'
Paris Scott
Greatest underground rapper i say of my time mixtape messiah π
Michael
One of the hardest versus till this day 2020
JOKERinc Gaming
Still switchin stylez in 2021! This king WONT die!