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
You A Dummy
Chamillionaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speaking with a purpose but some folks out there be hatin'
They be sayin' money talks I talk it but you ain't relatin'
Some people in a business try to cheat me like they say
But I am the "Mixtape Messiah" and the South is my congregation
[Chorus]
You ain't know I get the dough then gets some mo
You ain't know I get a load for every show
You don't believe me you a dummy
[Verse 1]
Used to be stylin' on the court got it eliminated in my sport
Now that Jerseyville coach can see that I'm hotter then a torch
All the seven foot white boys that use to tell me that I was short
But money longer then a mother but I'm to tall to drive a Porsche
I play my album for the source on the clock radio of course
Now I'm in the middle of nowhere doing shows until I'm horse
Now my middle finger is up and I show the industry no remorse
I'm the Messiah of mixtapes quiet get up and rejoice
Gettn screwed before I was chopped never was signing Michael Watts
If the nots wasn't in the box while I'm thinkin' bout buyin' stocks
Buyin' Jordans outta the picture didn't have the money to by the socks
Now I'm sittn on 28's ruff ridin' like the lotts
Used to be workin' at fast food they had me washin' pans and pots
Now I got fans that will stand ruttin' for me like I'm Pac
Who would've known I would blown for makin' song bout the cops
Cops pulln up at my shop tellin' me they like my drops
[Chorus]
You ain't know I get the dough then gets some mo
You don't believe me you a dummy
You ain't know I get a load for every show
You don't believe me you a dummy
CEO that I can flow and I'm bout to blow
You don't believe me you a dummy
Guest who got the last laugh now
You don't believe me you a dummy
[Verse 2]
DJ Drama that's my boy
DJ Smallz that's my dawg
DJ Khaled keep it thoro label exits like the laws
They will tell you they are helpful if it goes wrong they not involve
Tony Neil that's my partna I'll be on them conference calls
Used to know a girl name Flamiesha her girl looks like she jaws
She was captin' cause she was captin' on the drill team and thought them was jawers
When I was after wasn't a rapper back in the day I used to draw before I used to ball at the time I was with Paul
Choppin' up that number four that was back when I was with Swisha
Had a partner name Amaud rest in piece homey I miss ya
Was a man with of plan but realize they always diss ya
That's until you win a Grammy bet them ladies try to kiss ya
[Chorus]
You ain't know I get the dough then gets some mo
You don't believe me you a dummy
You ain't know I get a load for every show
You don't believe me you a dummy
CEO that I can flow and I'm bout to blow
You don't believe me you a dummy
Guest who got the last laugh now
You don't believe me you a dummy
In "You A Dummy," Chamillionaire addresses the criticism he faces from skeptics who doubt his financial success and influence. The intro sets the stage for Chamillionaire's message, which is that he speaks with a purpose, but some people don't believe him because they think that money talks. He then reminds listeners that he is the "Mixtape Messiah," and his audience is the South. In the chorus, he calls out those who doubt him as dummies, saying that he does indeed get the dough and the loads for every show.
In the first verse, Chamillionaire reflects on his journey to success, highlighting his basketball days and the white boys who used to tease him. He also speaks on his initial struggles to make it as a rapper and how some tried to cheat him in the music business. However, he persevered and now enjoys the fruits of his labor, which include a loyal fanbase and fame. The second verse, on the other hand, highlights Chamillionaire's relationships in the music industry, mentioning DJs and a lost friend. Overall, the song is about overcoming adversity and shifting the narrative from doubt to belief.
Line by Line Meaning
Speaking with a purpose but some folks out there be hatin'
I speak with intention and sincerity, but there are still people who have negative attitudes towards me.
They be sayin' money talks I talk it but you ain't relatin'
People say money determines everything, but you fail to understand my message regardless of how wealthy I am.
some people in a business try to cheat me like they say
Certain individuals in the music industry attempt to deceive me despite their claims to be honest and fair.
But I am the "Mixtape Messiah" and the South is my congregation
Despite any attempts to bring me down, I am a highly regarded rapper and the Southern states are devoted to my music.
Used to be stylin' on the court got it eliminated in my sport
I used to have a lot of skill in basketball but got kicked off the team.
All the seven foot white boys that use to tell me that I was short
Even extremely tall white players on the team used to tease me for my height.
But money longer then a mother but I'm to tall to drive a Porsche
While I have a significant amount of wealth, the car of my dreams, a Porsche, is not able to accommodate my height.
Now my middle finger is up and I show the industry no remorse
I have a newfound sense of empowerment and disregard for the music industry that once tried to cheat me.
Gettn screwed before I was chopped never was signing Michael Watts
I refused to work with Michael Watts before I became popular.
If the nots wasn't in the box while I'm thinkin' bout buyin' stocks
If I wasn't making money from music, I would consider investing in the stock market.
Used to be workin' at fast food they had me washin' pans and pots
Prior to success in music, I worked at a fast food restaurant washing dishes.
Who would've known I would blown for makin' song bout the cops
It's surprising that my song about the police ended up being a hit and helped my career.
Cops pulln up at my shop tellin' me they like my drops
Police officers appreciate my music and show their approval by visiting me in person.
DJ Drama that's my boy
DJ Drama is a close friend of mine who I can rely on.
DJ Smallz that's my dawg
DJ Smallz is another close friend of mine.
Tony Neil that's my partna I'll be on them conference calls
Tony Neil is my partner who I frequently communicate with through conference calls.
When I was after wasn't a rapper back in the day I used to draw before I used to ball at the time I was with Paul
Before I pursued a career in music, I was into drawing and playing basketball. At the time, I was with Paul, a friend or acquaintance.
That's until you win a Grammy bet them ladies try to kiss ya
Once you receive significant recognition like a Grammy, everyone, including women, wants to associate with you.
You ain't know I get the dough then gets some mo
I have a significant amount of money and continue to earn more.
You ain't know I get a load for every show
I earn a lot of money from each of my performances.
CEO that I can flow and I'm bout to blow
I am the CEO of my own business and have a lot of talent in rapping. I am also about to become very successful.
Guest who got the last laugh now
I have successfully proven my doubters wrong and am now highly successful.
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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