Friends since childhood, Paul and Chamillionaire broke into the music indus… Read Full Bio ↴Friends since childhood, Paul and Chamillionaire broke into the music industry by doing promotions for various southern hip-hop entities such as Cash Money Records under the group name "The Color Changin' Click", also known as "The CCC". Eventually, they got jobs doing promotions for Swishahouse. While there, they recorded a demo for Swishahouse that gained a lot of attention, and listners wanted to know who made it. Paul and Chamillionaire kept asking Swishahouse CEO Michael 5000 Watts to let them get a couple of verses on some mixtapes. However, they were constantly put to the side for other artists, and when they did get a chance to perform, they weren't getting paid well. Eventually, Paul and Chamillionaire decided to break out on their own and left Swishahouse.

The Color Changin' Click signed with Paid in Full Entertainment, a record label owned by the Madd Hatta, and released Get Ya Mind Correct in 2002. It was an instant hit in Houston, selling over 200,000 copies independently and getting nominated by the Source as one of the finalists for the indie album of the year in 2002.

However, disputes over money and artistic direction led to friction between Paul and Cham. They were set to release their second album, Controversy Sells, but the lingering issues led the group to split before the album saw the light of day. Controversy Sells did eventually get released in 2004. Paul decided to return to Swishahouse, while Cham started his own label, Chamillitary Entertainment. His younger brother Rasaq, Yung Ro, 50/50 Twin, and OG Ron C are signed to the label.

While Chamillionaire and Paul Wall have since ended any friction toward each other (after performing Ridin' on BET's 106 & Park, Chamillionaire confirmed that he and Paul Wall had settled all problems towards each other, citing that it had taken "so long" to get to where they were in their success), Chamillionaire has contemplated working with his estranged business partner again and even touring together.

Am What I Am
Paul Wall & Chamillionaire Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You about to witness the strength in front of a bitch

Sony Music, Interscope, Universal Records and Def Jam
Let a nigga speak to the head man, ya lookin' for me (Here I Am)
Attention to all of my best friends, and bootleggers hell yes Cham
Crush anyone up against him, ya lookin' for me (Here I Am)
Even when he ain't got no weapon
Niggaz that's street they was wit' Cham

So give a nigga respect damn, ya lookin' for me (Here I Am)
Dirty-South (Here I Am), is ya wit me (Yes I Am)
Color Changin' Click clack, gimme the gat nigga (BAM!)

Where Mista Madd? (Here I Am), where the boy Yung Ro (Here I Am)
What up Paul, what up Rasaq and Lew Hawk, what up Twin
Big Cat (What up Cham?), they say that you think that you tough man
Get on the mic and say somethin, to the major labels (Fuck them!)
Haha, a wise man once said don't diss the majors 'cause you might need em'
But it's obvious by this intro a nigga like me didn't believe em'
Rudest, the way the labels percieve him, but I ain't - in this game to make friends
Make love to ya label or hold hands, so tell em' again (Fuck them!)
The difference between them and me is I AM A G
While you still tryin' to fix up your I M A G E
Fix up your image, ya click is a gimmick, ya pistols are rented
Ya click will diminish, 'cause this is ya finish, nigga admit
'cause every line you spit is invented, nigga I'm in it.
My zone, I'm hungry I won't turn down a meal
But don't shoot a deal at Chamill, and think that he won't turn down a mil'
Better get a whole 'lotta mics for this one, 'cause no magazine wants to piss him off
Because I gotta loud voice in the south and I promise, niggaz is listening
Koopa

Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas (Where else Cham?)
Mississippi, Georgia and Texas, I know ya wit me? (Yes I Am)
Color Changin' Click yep that's my fam
Paid in Full Records that's my fam
And anybody else I'm forgettin', Swishahouse (Here I Am)
Radio DJ's (Here I Am), and to all my fans (Here I Am)
Where that Northside (Here I Am)
Where that Southside (Here I Am)
DJ Screw Rest In Peace man
What will the south be without him?

Make em' respect us is my plan
The world ain't ready but here I Am

Overall Meaning

The song "Here I Am," by Paul Wall and Chamillionaire, is a message to the music industry about their strength and their commitment to their craft. The song also serves as a call to action to those who might underestimate them, stating that they are not to be taken lightly. The lyrics assert their dominance in the industry and their willingness to fight for what they believe in.

Their message is loud and clear from the very beginning of the song, where they declare that they are the strength in front of the "bitch." They then go on to address the major record labels, demanding to be heard and respected. The lyrics also reference their affiliation with other artists and groups, such as Color Changin' Click and Paid in Full Records, and thank their fans and DJ Screw for their support.

Overall, "Here I Am" is a rallying cry for the South, encouraging people to stand up and be proud of who they are and where they come from. It is a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of these artists, and a call to action for anyone who has ever been underestimated or held back.

Line by Line Meaning

You about to witness the strength in front of a bitch
I am about to show my strength in front of someone who I consider weak and unworthy.

Let a nigga speak to the head man, ya lookin' for me (Here I Am)
I want to speak to the person in charge, are you trying to find me?

Attention to all of my best friends, and bootleggers hell yes Cham
I want to give a shout-out to my friends and fans, including those who obtain my music illegally.

Crush anyone up against him, ya lookin' for me (Here I Am)
I will defeat anyone who opposes me, are you searching for me?

Even when he ain't got no weapon
Even when I am unarmed.

Niggaz that's street they was wit' Cham
My associates are those who live on the streets.

So give a nigga respect damn, ya lookin' for me (Here I Am)
Show me the respect I deserve, are you trying to find me?

Dirty-South (Here I Am), is ya wit me (Yes I Am)
I represent the Dirty-South, are you on my side?

Color Changin' Click clack, gimme the gat nigga (BAM!)
The Color Changin' Click is armed and ready for action, watch out!

Where Mista Madd? (Here I Am), where the boy Yung Ro (Here I Am)
Where is Mista Madd and Yung Ro? Here I am!

What up Paul, what up Rasaq and Lew Hawk, what up Twin
Greetings to Paul, Rasaq, Lew Hawk, and Twin.

Big Cat (What up Cham?), they say that you think that you tough man
Big Cat greets me and people say that I have a tough demeanor.

Get on the mic and say somethin, to the major labels (Fuck them!)
Speak on the microphone and say something to the major record labels (I don't like them!).

The difference between them and me is I AM A G
The contrast between them and myself is that I am a gangster.

While you still tryin' to fix up your I M A G E
While you are still trying to improve your image.

Fix up your image, ya click is a gimmick, ya pistols are rented
Fix your image, your group is a fraud, and your guns are not owned but rented.

Ya click will diminish, 'cause this is ya finish, nigga admit
Your group will disappear, because this is your downfall, admit it.

'cause every line you spit is invented, nigga I'm in it.
Because the words you say are irrelevant, while I am involved in the rap game.

My zone, I'm hungry I won't turn down a meal
I am in my element, and I am hungry for success and opportunity.

But don't shoot a deal at Chamill, and think that he won't turn down a mil'
But don't offer me a contract and think that I won't decline a million dollars.

Better get a whole 'lotta mics for this one, 'cause no magazine wants to piss him off
Prepare many microphones for this recording, because no magazine wants to anger me.

Because I gotta loud voice in the south and I promise, niggaz is listening
I have a powerful voice in the south, and I assure you that people are paying attention.

Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas (Where else Cham?)
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Where else am I popular?

Mississippi, Georgia and Texas, I know ya wit me? (Yes I Am)
Mississippi, Georgia, and Texas. I know you are with me, are you not?

Color Changin' Click yep that's my fam
The Color Changin' Click is my family.

Paid in Full Records that's my fam
Paid in Full Records is also my family.

And anybody else I'm forgettin', Swishahouse (Here I Am)
To anyone I forgot, Swishahouse. Here I am!

Radio DJ's (Here I Am), and to all my fans (Here I Am)
Greetings to radio DJs and all of my fans. Here I am!

Where that Northside (Here I Am)
Where is the Northside? Here I am!

Where that Southside (Here I Am)
Where is the Southside? Here I am!

DJ Screw Rest In Peace man
Rest in peace, DJ Screw.

What will the south be without him?
How can the south exist without DJ Screw?

Make em' respect us is my plan
My goal is to earn respect and recognition.

The world ain't ready but here I Am
The world may not be prepared, but I am here and ready to take it on.