Signing to Sarah Stennett's label Turnfirst he has been developing his first debut album. After breaking a three-year silence with the explosive “Correct” snippet last month, his latest track, “New York Raining”, will be featured on the season finale of Fox’s Empire (he appears with Rita Ora)—airing March 18, 2015. The engaging anthem sees HAMILTON’s honest storytelling, clever wordplay, and mic prowess on full display in between a soulful and shimmering hook. It’s the perfect introduction to his next chapter.
This week, Charles Hamilton will be performing new music during an intimate show at Sayers Club in Los Angeles Wednesday February 18.
“Charles is back and the excitement for his return is immeasurable. The enthusiasm in the marketplace is overwhelming and we are thrilled to participate in the evolution of his career.” – Monte Lipman, Co-Founder & Chief Executive, Republic Records
“Charles is one of the world’s most prolific, proficient, and powerful MC's. He's also an accomplished musician who brings an organic musical element that has been missing in Hip Hop. I’ve been a fan for a very long time, and I’m honored to work with him on what’s bound to be his defining work to date. To put it simply, I can’t wait for the world to hear what he’s got on the horizon!” – Wendy Goldstein, EVP A&R, Head of Urban A&R, Republic Records
"Charles Hamilton's extra ordinary talent, courage and determination in overcoming the challenges of his condition have inspired not only everyone at Turnfirst but anyone who is privileged enough to see him perform and to understand the journey he has had. We are very excited about sharing his debut record with the world shortly." – Sarah Stennett, CEO, Turnfirst
CHARLES HAMILTON’s journey has been nothing short of triumphant. In 2009, he received the public endorsement of Eminem, scored a major label deal, appeared on the cover of XXL’s prestigious annual Freshmen issue, and had released a string of universally adored mixtapes and EPs. Behind the scenes, he faced the horrors of bipolar disorder and addiction, bravely going through treatment alone. Emerging with his condition under control, HAMILTON stands poised to finally make the impact he was born to make this year.
Pure Imagination
Charles Hamilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make a wish
Count to three
Imagine dozin off in my arms to the scent of chocolate and an incubus song
You feel free you ain't got much on
I feel free so I'm comin on strong
But I'm not tryna to climb inside you
You don't see the beauty in your eyes but I do
The diamonds in your eyes don't lie you shine boo
And need I remind you that I do shine too
And I do find you divinely insightful
You said you weren't on the same page as me
But your lips and your eyes say you're cravin me
If it goes down what would he say to me
And even if it doesn't what would they believe
Just relax here and lay with me
Spend a day with me
Here in make believe
[Chorus:]
Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination
It begins
With a spin
Traveling
In a world of my creation
What we'll see
Will defy
Explanation
I live in my world
I play by my rules
I live by a chocolate lake that I use
With strawberry fish I make it my pool
Climb on top of the gate and dive to
The bottom of the flavor savor my truth
Mr. Right is here, Mr. Wrong just left
Which only leaves Mr. Right, don't be down and upset
You down to set up a situation
That will never mess up or get impatient
It ain't all about me getting laid
It's the way we kiss that makes me flip, I savor it
Your kiss is true, this is true
But you think it feels wrong, but this is new
All I got is this world that I give to you
Look at relationships from a different view
As you can see, this here's for you so...
[Chorus:]
Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination
It begins
With a spin
Traveling
In a world of my creation
What we'll see
Will defy
Explanation
I she'd so many tears in this factory
Cause it does get lonely in here
Even when I got my homies in here
They only my peers
I need a girl to hold me in here
The window of hope that's supposed to be clear
Got broken like my heart
I know you can hear the sincerity and clarity
You know I'm sincere
But just like my chocolate, I don't need to smear
So take me in girl, indulge in me
We can be everything that we can grow to be
Look at how long it took for you to notice me
Just hold me tight like a rosarie
I can't create candy without a little sweetness
My weakness, something that I can cake up
But even if you decide to leave
You still gonna smell chocolate when you wake up
[Chorus:]
Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination
It begins
With a spin
Traveling
In a world of my creation
What we'll see
Will defy
Explanation
Hold your breath
Make a wish
Count to three
[Chorus:]
Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination
The lyrics to Charles Hamilton's song "Pure Imagination" are packed with meaning and depth, exploring themes of love, self-discovery, and imagination. The song begins with an invitation to escape reality and enter a world of make-believe, where anything is possible. Hamilton paints a vivid picture of a dreamlike scenario where he and his partner are lying together, surrounded by the scent of chocolate and listening to music. He speaks of the beauty he sees in his partner, even when she doesn't see it herself, and the desire he has to guide her and be a source of comfort and support for her.
As the song progresses, Hamilton continues to explore these themes of imagination and self-discovery, painting a picture of a world where he plays by his own rules and where the potential for love and connection lies just around the corner. He speaks of a broken heart and the need for someone to hold him, and uses the analogy of chocolate to describe the sweetness and richness he longs for in a relationship.
Overall, "Pure Imagination" is a powerful and deeply moving song that speaks to the beauty and complexity of human relationships, while also inviting listeners to dream and imagine a better world for themselves and those they care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold your breath
Pause for a moment and prepare yourself for the journey that we are about to embark on.
Make a wish
Think about what you truly desire from this experience.
Count to three
Take a moment to calm down, take a deep breath and be ready to let your mind wander...
Imagine dozin off in my arms to the scent of chocolate and an incubus song
Picture yourself in a cozy and comfortable position in the arms of the artist with the sweet smell of chocolate filling the air, while listening to a lullaby by the band Incubus.
You feel free you ain't got much on
You are feeling liberated as you can sense an intimate connection and trust with the artist.
I feel free so I'm comin' on strong
The artist is feeling the same emotional freedom and hence he is being more forward in expressing his thoughts.
But I'm not tryna to climb inside you
The artist wants to influence your thoughts rather than trying to control you.
I just wanna be in your mind to guide you
The artist desires to inspire you and help you find your true potential.
You don't see the beauty in your eyes but I do
The artist can see the inner beauty in you that you might not have discovered yet.
The diamonds in your eyes don't lie you shine boo
Your eyes reflect the beautiful person that you are, creating a sparkle that is hard to miss.
And need I remind you that I do shine too
The artist is also confident in his own abilities and shines brightly in his own way.
And I do find you divinely insightful
The artist sees you as someone who has an extraordinary perspective on life, and perceives you as a person of immense wisdom.
You said you weren't on the same page as me
You might have expressed a difference in opinion earlier.
But your lips and your eyes say you're cravin' me
However, your physical body language shows that you might have a different desire within you.
If it goes down what would he say to me
You could be worried about the thoughts that someone else might have if you were to act on your desires.
And even if it doesn't what would they believe
You might be concerned about how others perceive you if you were to follow your inner wishes.
Just relax here and lay with me
The artist wants you to feel comfortable and relaxed in his company.
Spend a day with me
The artist wants to spend a whole day with you, sharing his world with you.
Here in make believe
The artist creates a fantasy situation where both of you can be together, enjoying each other's company.
Come with me
The artist is inviting you on a journey with him.
And you'll be
This journey will allow you to access new experiences and emotions.
In a world of pure imagination
The artist's world is full of endless possibilities which will be showcased to the listener during the journey.
Take a look
The artist is asking you to pay attention to your surrounding and observe everything carefully.
And you'll see
When you are observant and mindful, you will be able to experience things that you might have missed otherwise.
Into your imagination
This journey will take you into the depths of your own imagination and let you experience things beyond the realms of reality.
It begins
The artist is starting this journey.
With a spin
The journey starts with an exciting and adventurous moment.
Traveling
The journey with the artist is going to require movement and going through different stages.
In a world of my creation
The artist is the creator of this world that he is showcasing.
What we'll see
The artist is explaining that he will display to the listener.
Will defy explanation
The images, emotions, and sensations that will be experienced during this journey might be very difficult to express in words.
I live in my world
The artist lives in a world of his own.
I play by my rules
The artist is in charge of what happens in his world, and his world follows his own rules and guidelines.
I live by a chocolate lake that I use
The artist's world contains imaginative features, such as a chocolate lake that he uses for his creative purposes.
With strawberry fish I make it my pool
The artist is using imaginary elements such as strawberry fish to create the picture he is showcasing.
Climb on top of the gate and dive to
The artist wants to illustrate a scenario that might require a person to take a leap of faith.
The bottom of the flavor savor my truth
The artist's perspective is unique, and it is his personal truth.
Mr. Right is here, Mr. Wrong just left
The artist might be offering you a romantic connection, and he states that he is Mr. Right while insinuating that Mr. Wrong does not even exist anymore.
Which only leaves Mr. Right, don't be down and upset
The artist is reassuring you that you should not be sad or unhappy, because he is the right partner for you.
You down to set up a situation
The artist is looking for your cooperation and support to make things work between you two.
That will never mess up or get impatient
The artist wants a relationship that is built on strong foundations that will not be affected by minor misunderstandings or impatience.
It ain't all about me getting laid
The artist wants to dispel any notion of sexual intent and illustrate that what he wants is a meaningful relationship that is not solely based on any physical satisfaction.
It's the way we kiss that makes me flip, I savor it
The artist emphasizes that what he seeks is an emotional connection, and the affection that they share is significant to him.
Your kiss is true, this is true
The romantic connection between the artist and the listener might be authentic and genuine.
But you think it feels wrong, but this is new
The listener might be hesitant or unsure about the romantic connection, but the artist wants to reassure that this is a new and unique chapter for both of them.
All I got is this world that I give to you
The artist has his own world with imaginative features that he can share with the listener.
Look at relationships from a different view
The artist wants to draw the listener's attention to a different perspective on relationships, one that is not necessarily defined by convention.
As you can see, this here's for you so...
The artist wants the listener to know that this artistic expression is made for them.
I shed so many tears in this factory
The artist has invested a great deal of his emotional energy into his work, and he has faced many difficulties and challenges in the course of creation.
Cause it does get lonely in here
The artist might have felt isolated or disconnected during the process of creation.
Even when I got my homies in here
Even when the artist's friends and artistic collaborators are with him, he might still feel unseen and misunderstood.
They only my peers
The artist's friends and collaborators might be at the same level of expertise and artistic inclination like him.
I need a girl to hold me in here
The artist needs a companion to share his creative vision with and support him when he is feeling low or uninspired.
The window of hope that's supposed to be clear
The artistic hope that the artist might have had earlier might not be easily visible, possibly due to external factors.
Got broken like my heart
The artist might have undergone painful or heart-breaking experiences that might have taken a toll on his creative fervor.
I know you can hear the sincerity and clarity
The artist is aware that the listener can sense the honesty and purpose in his artistic expression.
You know I'm sincere
The artist wants to assure that his intentions are authentic and true.
But just like my chocolate, I don't need to smear
The artist does not want to advertise or overemphasize his emotional intensity; his artistic expression speaks for itself.
So take me in girl, indulge in me
The artist wants to be taken into the listener's world and share his creative vision with her.
We can be everything that we can grow to be
The artist wants to create a space where both of them can work together towards a shared future.
Look at how long it took for you to notice me
The artist might have waited for a long time for the listener to notice him and his artistic output.
Just hold me tight like a rosarie
The artist wants the listener to embrace him tightly like beads on a rosary, to signify that they are on this journey together.
I can't create candy without a little sweetness
The artist acknowledges that creating anything worth sharing requires having a certain degree of sweetness or tenderness in one's life.
My weakness, something that I can cake up
The artist's weakness might be a desire for affection or companionship, which he is trying to mask by diverting his focus on his creative work.
But even if you decide to leave
The artist is aware that the listener might decide not to be a part of his journey and follow their own path.
You still gonna smell chocolate when you wake up
The listener might still associate the artist with the sweet smell of chocolate, which might symbolize the emotional bonds that they have shared in this journey.
Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
GrandChampionCoowap
This is old, classic but it gives me hope. It just reminds me if it’s truly great it’s gonna always hold up thru time. Charles Hamilton is a living legend. Literally this man is almost a myth his story and evolution is wild but I’m rambling 💭
Mark Anthony Sanchez
Sick I hear u I always come back to it year after year
BROTHER TAYRO
Reck frfr! but XV just dropped a new tape
SDP The Ghost
Exactly how I feel about XV as well
MadMahdTV
Sucks how a lot of his greatest songs never got exposure
Moka Luvv
KiddCooleeFlyin X heard that
TheLyhtWorld
The chorus grew on me fast. Now I can't get enough of it.
Mark Anthony Sanchez
Years later me tooo
Wu'Banga 101
Best song of Charles no doubt love this joint
Melvin Plata
One of the greatest times in my life.. thank you Charles 💯