Chamillionaire

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Chamillionaire
At the 5W Public Relations holiday party, December 2007
At the 5W Public Relations holiday party, December 2007
Background information
Birth name Hakeem Seriki
Also known as Chamillion
Born November 28, 1979 (1979-11-28) (age 28) Washington, D.C., United States
Origin Houston, Texas, United States
Genre(s) Southern hip hop, R&B, pop rap
Occupation(s) Rapper, record executive, entrepreneur
Years active 1998–present
Label(s) Chamillitary/Universal
Associated acts The Color Changin' Click, UGK, Lil Wayne, Paul Wall, David Banner, Lloyd, Krayzie Bone, Rasaq
Website http://www.chamillionaire.com

Hakeem Seriki (born November 28, 1979 in Washington, D.C.[1]), better known by his stage name Chamillionaire (pronounced Ka-MIL-yin-air, IPA: /kəˌmɪljəˈnεər/, a portmanteau of "chameleon" and "millionaire")[2] is an American rapper from Houston, Texas and the CEO of Chamillitary Entertainment.[3] He stated that his aim is to prove that the South can produce quality lyricists. He is also a hook writer and usually sings and harmonizes with himself (using multi-tracked vocals) on his own hooks. Chamillionaire is a founder and original member of The Color Changin' Click, which houses rappers such as his brother Rasaq, 50/50 Twin, Lew Hawk, Yung Ro, and Paul Wall.[3] In 2007, he won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his number-one single "Ridin'", a number-one hit in the United States for two weeks in 2006.[4] He is a former artist on Michael 5000 Watts' Swishahouse stable.[3]

He also explained that he chose his stage name because of the fact that he is 'rich in style'. He used to go by just 'Chamillion', but later added '-aire'.[citation needed] Chamillionaire is known for his high-speed rhyme delivery, for example in the songs 'Southern Takeover' and 'Rider' from his first major album The Sound of Revenge, as well as his smooth melody hooks like in his single Grown and Sexy and the songs 'Pimp Mode' and 'Ultimate Victory' from his album Ultimate Victory.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Hakeem Seriki was born in Washington, D.C.[1] and moved to Houston, Texas at the age of 4. As the eldest child in his household, he had to hold numerous jobs to care for his family, including stocking trucks and transporting blood and urine for a medical lab.[5]

Chamillionaire said that at first lived in a section of Houston zoned to Eisenhower High School and that his parents moved to the Jersey Village High School attendance zone so he could play in a more advanced basketball program; he attended Jersey Village.[6]

[edit] Music career

Chamillionaire has stated that he has been recording mixtapes as early as 1998.[7] While promoting themselves in an event, he and Paul Wall met Michael "5000" Watts, a popular mixtape DJ from northern Houston. After proposing to do promotions for Watts's company Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watts's studio and convinced Watts to allow them freestyle on an intro to Watts's radio show on Houston hip-hop radio station KBXX-FM. 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. Soon, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became regular staples on Houston's mixtape circuit, appeared on several of Watts's mixtapes, and became permanent members of Swishahouse.[8] Chamillionaire and Paul Wall soon started their own group, The Color Changin' Click. In 2002, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall collaborated for the album Get Ya Mind Correct, would go on to sell over 100,000 copies.[3] The Source magazine named the album the independent album of the year around 2002.[7]

[edit] 2005–2006: The Sound of Revenge

Main article: The Sound of Revenge

Chamillionaire's first major solo release The Sound of Revenge was released through Chamillitary Entertainment and Universal Records in November 2005. The album debuted and peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States.[9] The album's lead single was "Turn It Up", featuring Lil' Flip produced by Scott Storch, followed by "Ridin'", featuring Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony; "Ridin'" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[10] Its video also was named "Best Rap Video" in the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.[11] Comedic performer Weird Al Yankovic made a parody of the song, titled "White and Nerdy", for his own album Straight Outta Lynwood.[12] The third single from the album was "Grown and Sexy".[10]

Additionally, the bonus track "Grind Time" was featured in the video game NBA Live '06.[13] The album was certified platinum by the RIAA, and a chopped and screwed version, screwed by OG Ron C, was released in February 2006.[14] Guest appearances for the album included Lil' Flip, Natalie, Krayzie Bone, Bun B, Lil Wayne, Pastor Troy, Killer Mike, Scarface, Rasaq, and many others.

In January 2006, Chamillionaire entered a feud with BCD Music Group, a company that used to distribute his music, as BCD claimed that Chamillionaire was making slanderous remarks about the company in his songs. Consequently, Shila Mitra, a partner of BCD, fueled the feud further with her own diss track.[15] Later in 2006, Chamillionaire was featured in the singles "That Girl" by Frankie J and "Get Up" by Ciara.

[edit] 2007–present: Ultimate Victory

Main article: Ultimate Victory

Chamillionaire released his second mainstream album Ultimate Victory on September 18, 2007. Guest appearances included UGK, Krayzie Bone, Lil Wayne, Famous, Tony Henry, Devin the Dude, & Lloyd. The first single was "Hip Hop Police", featuring Slick Rick, which both Chamillionaire and Slick Rick performed on the CBS television network program Late Show with David Letterman on September 14, 2007.[16] The following single was "Won't Let You Down", featuring singer K-Ci of the R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo on the chorus. The song was later released as a "Texas Takeover Remix", featuring numerous other rappers from the state of Texas such as Slim Thug, Lil' Keke, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, UGK, Trae, and Z-Ro.[17]

Chamillionaire recently signed back to Chamillitary Entertainment the rapper Yung Ro, a former member The Color Changin' Click. He is also planning to tour and is also planning a group album with Famous and Yung Ro called Money, Power, and Fame. Both of them will be working on solo albums to drop in the future after the group album. Chamillionaire will release the Tony Henry R&B project through the label Chamillitary Soul.[18]

Mixtape Messiah 4, the fourth title in Chamillionaire's Mixtape Messiah series, was initially set for release on December 18, 2007[19]; however, as of May 1, 2008, Chamillionaire's own web site reads that the recording will be released sometime in 2008.[20] And on his XM Radio show on May 9th said it was "coming sooner then people expect". As told first by Chamillination[21] Chamillionaire is also starting a live video stream which he can chat with fans on the internet on UStream[1] it is currently still being set up. It was told first to Chamillination[22] by "Jeff", who is also setting up the video stream with cham and is his web designer, that Cham's Official website www.chamillionaire.com is currently being updated and has a hidden message saying: "

Hidden message: Site will be a lot of features for my fans to follow me closely. Prepare for full site launch VERY soon. Keep checking back here! I might update this hidden message so keep checking, you never know... CHAMILLITARY MAYYNNNE!"

[edit] TV Series

Chamillionaire has appeared in many TV series such as Yo Momma, Pimp My Ride & Punk'd. He's also been in many music television such as 106 & Park.

[edit] Discography

Main article: Chamillionaire discography

[edit] Awards

Award Category Song/Album Year Result
American Music Awards Favorite Breakthrough Artist 2006 Nominated
BET Awards Best New Artist 2006 Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards Hip Hop Track of the Year "Ridin" 2006 Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards Rookie of the Year 2006 Won
BET Hip Hop Awards Hip Hop MVP 2006 Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards Best Collaboration "Ridin" 2006 Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards Viewer's Choice (Wireless People's Champ) 2006 Won
Dirty Awards Most Bootlegged CD "The Sound of Revenge" 2006 Nominated
Dirty Awards Dirty Song of the Year "Ridin" 2006 Nominated
Dirty Awards Best New Dirty 2006 Nominated
Grammy Awards Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group "Ridin" 2007 Won
Grammy Awards Best Rap Song "Ridin" 2007 Nominated
MtvU Woodie Awards The Breaking Woodie – (Best Emerging Artist) 2006 Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Rap Video "Ridin" 2006 Won
Ozone Awards Best Video "Ridin" 2006 Won
People's Choice Awards Favorite Hip Hop Song "Ridin" 2006 Nominated
World Music Award World's Best Rap/Hip Hop Artist 2006 Nominated
World Of Rap Award Ringtone Of The Year "Ridin" 2007 Won
BET Hip-Hop Award Best Hip-Hop Video of the Year "Hip Hop Police" 2007 Nominated

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Chamillionaire - Biography - Chamillionaire
  2. ^ Salt, Limara (2007). "Not a Criminal" - Review. UKMusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  3. ^ a b c d Kellman, Andy (2007). Chamillionaire - Biography. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  4. ^ Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. Grammy.com (2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  5. ^ Chamillionaire - Bio. Chamillionaire.com (2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  6. ^ "Ain't Nobody Real but Me." The Austin Chronicle.
  7. ^ a b Burnett, John (2005). Chamillionaire - Doing It My Way. NobodySmiling.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  8. ^ Chamillionaire - The Sound of Revenge. MusicRemedy.com (2005). Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  9. ^ Chamillionaire - Billboard Albums. All Music Guide (2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  10. ^ a b Chamillionaire - Billboard Singles. All Music Guide (2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  11. ^ Montgomery, James. "Underdog Night At The VMAs: Panic, Gnarls, Blunt, Chamillionaire Win Big", 2006-09-01. Retrieved on 2008-02-02. 
  12. ^ Jeffries, David (2006). "Straight Outta Lynwood" - Overview. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  13. ^ NBA Live 06 Soundtrack. IGN (2005-09-13). Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  14. ^ Kellman, Andy (2006). "The Sound of Revenge [Screwed and Chopped Version - Overview]. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  15. ^ Rashbaum, Alyssa. "Chamillionaire Sparks Beef with Soccer Mom", 2006-01-06. Retrieved on 2008-02-02. 
  16. ^ McIntee, Michael Z. (2007-09-14). Friday, September 14, 2007 - Show #2816. The Wahoo Gazette. CBS.
  17. ^ Texas Takeover… - Chamillionaire’s “Won’t Let You Down” (Texas Takeover Remix) | The Smoking Section
  18. ^ ThatsHiphop.com - » CHAMILLIONAIRE: Expanding His Brand
  19. ^ Adaso, Henry (2007-11-21). Chamillionaire Returns with Mixtape Messiah 4. About.com.
  20. ^ Chamillionaire.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  21. ^ Chamillination.com.
  22. ^ Chamillination.com.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Chamillionaire
Albums
Collaborations
Get Ya Mind Correct · Controversy Sells · Chamillitary · Big Business · Money, Power, and Fame
Compilations
Greatest Hits · Best of... Continued · Greatest Hits 2 · Best Of... Continued Part 2
Mixtapes
Mixtape Messiah · Houston We Have a Problem · The Truth · Tippin' Down 2005 · Late Summer 2k5 · Man on Fire · Mixtape Messiah 2 · Mixtape Messiah 3 · Mixtape Messiah 4
Singles
Featured singles
"Draped Up" · "Get Up" · "That Girl" · "Bet That" · "King Kong" · "Doe Boy Fresh" · "I Know U Want That"
Related articles
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamillionaire"
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