DUB Magazine Feature : Chamillionaire
It’s in 27-year-old Chamillionaire’s nature to go against the grain. Growing up in a household full of strong religious values (having a Muslim father who was the president of The Muslim Association and a Christian mother), hip-hop music, BET and MTV were off limits.
“We used to have to go to our friend’s house to watch those channels,” Chamillionaire laughs. “They really didn’t want us to do it, so I started messing with it even more. They wanted me to be a doctor, or something like that. Now, I’m feeding my family off of hip-hop.” Despite his parent’s isolation efforts, the positive values he was raised with are often reflected in his music. “I’m not a saint or nothing like that,” he admits. “I don’t think I’m God’s gift to rap, but I think if you can substitute a curse word with something else, that shows more creativity to me.”
In 1998, the recent two-time Grammy-nominated Houston-area rapper began to gain recognition on the local music scene by way of his mixtapes. Under Swisha House Records, Chamillionaire (born Hakeem Seriki ) and rapper Paul Wall were original members of The Color Changin’ Click. Following their departure from Swisha House in 2002, the two childhood friends independently sold 150,000 copies of their album, Get Ya Mind Correct (Paid in Full Entertainment, Inc.), from the trunk of their cars. Due to a personal dispute after the release of their album, Paul Wall and Chamillionaire parted ways (since then, they have reconciled their differences). Paul Wall returned to Swisha House and Chamillionaire launched his own label, Chamillitary Entertainment.
Despite dream-killers frequently telling the determined visionary he wouldn’t achieve success with his entrepreneurship efforts as he planned, Chamillionaire’s focus wasn’t blurred.
“Dealing with that [negativity] over and over, it makes you want to prove people wrong,” Chamillionaire says. “If it was basketball—I wasn’t tall or fast enough. If it was art—I wasn’t artistic enough. I knew I was going to be successful in life regardless, not even just with rap.” Wanting the best out of life, Chamillionaire always held several jobs before things took off with his rap career. “I worked in a medical lab. I had another job taking boxes off a truck and delivering them to department stores,” he recalls.
Chamillionaire even customized diamond grilles, which now he only makes occasionally for friends, and says he won’t be sporting grills in 2007.
“I could have made a lot of money making grilles, but it was a lot of hassle for the amount of profit. The actual man that you get the product from is the one that makes most of the money. I’m about big hustles.” After already earning credibility for his hustle (seen through the numerous mixtapes and seven albums he released independently and self-distributed), Cham signed a partnership deal with Universal Motown Records in 2005.
His first album under Universal, The Sound of Revenge (2005), went platinum plus (a difficult task for a new artist on a major label debuting in the fourth quarter). His rare accomplishment landed him the “Rookie of the Year” award at the 2006 BET Awards. His second single, “Ridin’,” made history, tallying 3 million mobile ring tones downloaded worldwide, winning him a “Viewer’s Choice” award (the wireless people’s champ) at the 2006 BET Hip Hop Awards as well.
“They told me that was the first plaque, and they’ll model all the ones to follow after mine,” he says. “I was like, wow! That’s big to me.” To date, his ring tone sales total over 4 million sold. He also became the “Video of the Year” honoree at both the VMAs and Ozone Awards for his single “Ridin’.”
“Even if I don’t win another award, it’s been so good that I can’t even complain,” he says proudly. “It ended up way better than I expected. The respect level is there whether I win another award or not.” With his upcoming album, Ultimate Victory (Chamillitary/Universal Records), dropping on March 27, 2007, Chamillionaire definitely plans to do it his way.
“With The Sound of Revenge, I had to hide the medicine inside the candy jar in order to get in.” he says. “If they don’t know me, they’re gonna know me after this album.”
In most of his songs, he adds harmony to his track by singing the hooks. Chamillionaire likes to differentiate himself from other artists, and with the South sometimes scrutinized in hip-hop for lack of lyricism, his flow says otherwise. On The Sound of Revenge, Chamillionaire collaborated with one of his major influences, veteran Houston rapper Scarface, on an inspirational track called “Rain” (his favorite song on the album). Most people told him that it would be impossible to get Scarface, a rap legend (who is often considered anti-industry), on a track, but less than a day after he set for his mission, he emerged victorious. “It was an honor,” says Chamillionaire. “I knew that once he saw my purpose, he would do it.”
With his sudden success, it’s difficult for Chamillionaire to get from point A to point B in some of the fly rides you see here without being noticed. So, when he decides to go to McDonald’s or run errands, he’ll be creeping around H-Town in a dark-tinted SUV, without rims. The ’67 Fury, ’77 Newport and ’96 Impala are three of the more than 20 company cars that Chamillionaire and his business partner Ernest Lowery (a.k.a. “Big E”) own and customized at their Houston shop, Fly Rydes.
Since partnering with Big E nearly two years ago, Chamillionaire has been involved with more of the business end of things. The establishment, which has been open since the early ’90s, has recently relocated to a state-of-the-art, 13,000-square-foot building that they now own (much better than the previous location that they rented). Rappers David Banner, Pimp C and members of the Indiana Pacers are a few of Fly Ryde’s more notable patrons.
“We like to make the rides classy,” Chamillionaire says. “We like to get cars that are hard to come by.”
The 1967 Plymouth Fury, which sits on 22-inch Asanti AF132 wheels with Hankook Ventus V4ES tires (255/30R20 up front, 295/30R22 at the rear), speaks for itself. Some of the Fury’s custom work includes interior front seats taken from a 2002 Mitsubishi Gallant and burgundy Gucci inserts. The exterior is equipped with suicide doors and 2005 BMW vents cut into both fenders. An aftermarket front-brake system from a Mustang II was also added amongst many other intricate enhancements.
Another classic is the 1977 Chrysler Newport that sits on 22-inch Dayton Wire wheels accompanied by Nitto NT420S 265/35R22 tires. The audio/video system consists of a Pioneer super tuner, two Memphis Audio 1000 D amplifiers; Pioneer speaker components; four 12-inch Memphis Audio woofers; and two 10-inch flip screen monitors by Mobile TV. It also has a BMW antenna, shaved door handles and locks, a custom handmade grille, a Phantom front and baby blue interior Gucci inserts (which match the baby blue carpet) and exterior 2007 Escalade vents.
Last is the 1996 Chevrolet Impala, a Southern favorite that sits on Boyd Coddington Harm wheels (20×9 inches up front, 22×10 inches at the rear) and is complemented by Hankook Ventus V4ES tires (255/35R20 up front, 265/35R22 at the rear). Its suspension is comprised of a 4-3 drop with Eibach springs. The exterior highlights include Mercedes-Benz blinkers molded on the rearview mirrors, an added sunroof, and upper and lower billet grilles. Peek under the hood and you’ll find a 350-horsepower LTI-350.
Like Fly Rydes, Chamillionaire likes to do it right or not do it all. He’s not just a rapper who’s fairly new on the scene, but someone who is determined to uplift those who he encounters.
“Some people just stand for nothing; they just rap just to rhyme, you listen to everything they’ve ever done, and what did you get from it? Nothing,” he says. “I want to empower people to better themselves. Not just with music but in the business world, too. A lot of individuals give people the game but don’t teach them how to do it to themselves. That’s where I come in. I’m going to give everybody the game.”
http://www.chamillionairechat.com – A Fansite based on the Texas Rapper, Chamillionaire and his label – Chamillitary Entertainment. We offer a biography, discography, videography, lyrics, the latest news, a large gallery, awards, graphics and lots more.
http://www.chamillionaireforum.com – A Forum based on the Texas Rapper, Chamillionaire and his label – Chamillitary Entertainment. Chat and discuss all about our favourite rapper.
Chamillionaire is tha best rapper alive
oh & screw that chamillionaire forum for real updates check chamillination.com we hold it down
Shout out to Big E!!!! Thats my hard-working cuzin!!!
I love Cham 4 who he is. I knew he would make it frm tha start. I magine. He used to transport BLOOD and URINE for for an HOSPITAL during his yrs os struggle. Today he is among tha first 20 HIP HOP CASH KINGS. Ain’t that a message to HUSTLAS all-arround tha world?. I bought all his albums and mixtapes. I’m also promoting his works down here in Nigeria.
cool car you are soo hot
Chamillionaire is the best rapper alive keep it up koopa ,fill the world with music holla
I love Hakeem!! Keep doing what you do best hunny!! You the MAN!!!!!
also…………love your SMILE!
Chamillionaire is the best ever i love his impala’s there amazing and so is he i have all of his albums my favorite rapper
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