Chamillionaire stands outRISING HOUSTON RAPPER WORKING HARD TO BRING HIS MUSIC TO THE MASSESBy Marian Liu
Mercury News
He's a rising star in Houston's hip-hop hotbed, and not only that, this rapper sings his own hooks.
Chamillionaire, named after his chameleon-like ability to shift musical styles, dropped by the Bay Area recently on a tour promoting his new album, ``The Sound of Revenge.''
I met with the down-to-earth rapper at a hotel suite in San Jose. Usually dripping in jewelry, the 25-year-old, born Hakeem Seriki, was dressed with only a flicker of glitter, and in all black from his do-rag to his Air Force Ones.
Nicknamed Houston's 50 Cent, Chamillionaire is intense about his passion for work, choosing to write rhymes in his spare time rather than play video games. He's excited about the Bay Area's hip-hop scene, comparing it to Houston right before its popularity took off.
Q What do you think of the Bay's hip-hop scene, the hyphy movement?
A Man, I was talking to my homeboy about that. I think that could be the new thing. To me, it was refreshing to see, because I saw the whole crowd [at a concert] give that energy. I haven't seen that in a long time. The closest thing is crunk music.
Q How is the rap scene here different than Houston?
A In Houston, you can tell that you're in the South. Like, there's a lot of stuff you might see in Houston that represents the South, period, like the way people drive and the way people dress, the accent. . . . Like here, people speak a little more proper, and I can just definitely tell I'm in the West Coast.
Q How would you describe the Houston sound, the chopped and screwed movement?
A I say it's an acquired taste, because a lot of people don't understand it. As more and more people, [as] they start to appreciate the culture in it, they appreciate the sound. . . . Texas people are more laid-back and chill, and the music represents that.
Q You and another popular Houston rapper, Paul Wall, started as a team, but there were reports of a beef.
A I think it was like a lot of personal stuff that happened between me and him, because at one point me and him were like brothers. So, we had so many different views on a lot of stuff that we started growing into two different people, arguing as a group. Musically, we weren't liking the same things, and it was like we lived two different lives even though we were partners. . . . Now we're a little past that. . . . Everybody is focusing on their careers.
Q What are you like?
A I'm a workaholic. That's what everybody says about me. . . . People say I need to live my life a little more, like go fishing or something crazy, but me, I'm the type if I'm fishing or doing something like that, I feel like I'm not being productive. . . . I have a lot of goals in life that I want to accomplish, and you're only young once.
Q Your lyrics are unique.
A I just try to stay creative and keep it in my mind state that I want to do something different than my last time. . . . That's why I think a lot of fans follow me, because each time they see that I try to give them something different. That's why my name is Chamillionaire -- rich in style.
Q How did you start singing the hooks?
A You never know what you're capable of unless you practice it and try it. A long time ago, I remember the first freestyle I did was on the mix-tape CD called ``Parking Lot Pimping.'' I just decided to sing the hook and everybody was looking at me crazy, but then I was like, let's try it. And I did it, and people liked it.
Q What was it like growing up in a multi-faith household?
A Christian mother, Muslim father . . . In my household, it was like back and forth to both churches. It helped me to be real good with making decisions. You're always forced to make a decision -- which church you're going to go to, which parent you're going to go with.
Q Which faith are you now?
A Right now, Christian. . . . It just felt right -- we would go to the mosque with my dad, and it was more of a pressure thing. Any type of religion should not be forced . . . because kids will be rebellious, and that's what we did.
Q You've said before that you want a business degree.
A I think the best way you can get screwed in this industry is ignorance or lack of knowledge. This is the music business, and a big part of it is the business.
Mercury News
He's a rising star in Houston's hip-hop hotbed, and not only that, this rapper sings his own hooks.
Chamillionaire, named after his chameleon-like ability to shift musical styles, dropped by the Bay Area recently on a tour promoting his new album, ``The Sound of Revenge.''
I met with the down-to-earth rapper at a hotel suite in San Jose. Usually dripping in jewelry, the 25-year-old, born Hakeem Seriki, was dressed with only a flicker of glitter, and in all black from his do-rag to his Air Force Ones.
Nicknamed Houston's 50 Cent, Chamillionaire is intense about his passion for work, choosing to write rhymes in his spare time rather than play video games. He's excited about the Bay Area's hip-hop scene, comparing it to Houston right before its popularity took off.
Q What do you think of the Bay's hip-hop scene, the hyphy movement?
A Man, I was talking to my homeboy about that. I think that could be the new thing. To me, it was refreshing to see, because I saw the whole crowd [at a concert] give that energy. I haven't seen that in a long time. The closest thing is crunk music.
Q How is the rap scene here different than Houston?
A In Houston, you can tell that you're in the South. Like, there's a lot of stuff you might see in Houston that represents the South, period, like the way people drive and the way people dress, the accent. . . . Like here, people speak a little more proper, and I can just definitely tell I'm in the West Coast.
Q How would you describe the Houston sound, the chopped and screwed movement?
A I say it's an acquired taste, because a lot of people don't understand it. As more and more people, [as] they start to appreciate the culture in it, they appreciate the sound. . . . Texas people are more laid-back and chill, and the music represents that.
Q You and another popular Houston rapper, Paul Wall, started as a team, but there were reports of a beef.
A I think it was like a lot of personal stuff that happened between me and him, because at one point me and him were like brothers. So, we had so many different views on a lot of stuff that we started growing into two different people, arguing as a group. Musically, we weren't liking the same things, and it was like we lived two different lives even though we were partners. . . . Now we're a little past that. . . . Everybody is focusing on their careers.
Q What are you like?
A I'm a workaholic. That's what everybody says about me. . . . People say I need to live my life a little more, like go fishing or something crazy, but me, I'm the type if I'm fishing or doing something like that, I feel like I'm not being productive. . . . I have a lot of goals in life that I want to accomplish, and you're only young once.
Q Your lyrics are unique.
A I just try to stay creative and keep it in my mind state that I want to do something different than my last time. . . . That's why I think a lot of fans follow me, because each time they see that I try to give them something different. That's why my name is Chamillionaire -- rich in style.
Q How did you start singing the hooks?
A You never know what you're capable of unless you practice it and try it. A long time ago, I remember the first freestyle I did was on the mix-tape CD called ``Parking Lot Pimping.'' I just decided to sing the hook and everybody was looking at me crazy, but then I was like, let's try it. And I did it, and people liked it.
Q What was it like growing up in a multi-faith household?
A Christian mother, Muslim father . . . In my household, it was like back and forth to both churches. It helped me to be real good with making decisions. You're always forced to make a decision -- which church you're going to go to, which parent you're going to go with.
Q Which faith are you now?
A Right now, Christian. . . . It just felt right -- we would go to the mosque with my dad, and it was more of a pressure thing. Any type of religion should not be forced . . . because kids will be rebellious, and that's what we did.
Q You've said before that you want a business degree.
A I think the best way you can get screwed in this industry is ignorance or lack of knowledge. This is the music business, and a big part of it is the business.
