Chamillionaire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chamillionaire
Chamillionaire in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Hakeem Temidayo Seriki
Born	(1979-11-28) November 28, 1979 (age 45) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Origin	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Southern hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter entrepreneur
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Chamillitary Swishahouse Paid in Full Universal Motown Universal

Hakeem Temidayo Seriki (born November 28, 1979), known as Chamillionaire, is an American rapper. He started his music journey in Houston, Texas, in the late 1990s. He first joined a local record label called Swishahouse. Later, in 2002, he teamed up with Paul Wall to form a hip hop group called The Color Changin' Click. They signed with Paid in Full Entertainment and released their album Get Ya Mind Correct in 2002. This album became quite popular on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts.

In 2005, Chamillionaire signed with Universal Records as a solo artist. His first solo album, The Sound of Revenge (2005), was a big hit. It reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart. His second album, Ultimate Victory (2007), also received good reviews. The song "Ridin'" from his first album became a number one hit. It even won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 2007. Another popular song was "Hip Hop Police" from his second album.

Chamillionaire left Universal Records in 2011. He then released his own independent music, including EPs like Ammunition (2012), Elevate (2013), and Reignfall (2013). He also released a series of mixtapes called Mixtape Messiah from 2004 to 2009.

Beyond music, Chamillionaire is also a successful entrepreneur. He founded his own record label, Chamillitary Entertainment, in 2004. In 2015, he joined a company called Upfront Ventures. He has since focused on many business projects. In 2018, he helped create a social media app called Convoz.

Early Life and Inspiration

Chamillionaire was born in Washington, D.C.. His father was from Nigeria, and his mother was African-American. When he was four, his family moved to Houston, Texas. His parents separated when he was a teenager. He grew up in the Acres Homes area of Houston. He went to Jersey Village High School with his friend and future rap partner, Paul Wall.

Even though his parents didn't like secular music, Chamillionaire loved rap. He was inspired by famous rap groups like the Geto Boys and UGK. From a young age, he and Paul Wall decided they wanted to make music their careers. Chamillionaire also has a younger brother, Rasaq Seriki, who is also a rapper.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out in Music (1998–2004)

Chamillionaire's stage name is a mix of "chameleon" and "millionaire". He and Paul Wall met Michael "5000" Watts, a popular DJ in Houston. They convinced Watts to let them rap on his radio show intro. Watts liked their freestyle so much that he put it on one of his mixtapes. Soon, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became well-known in Houston's mixtape scene. They became permanent members of Watts's company, Swishahouse.

Chamillionaire and Paul Wall then started their own group, The Color Changin' Click. In 2002, they released their album Get Ya Mind Correct. This album sold over 150,000 copies. The Source magazine even nominated it for independent album of the year. The Color Changin' Click performed at the SXSW music festival in 2004.

The Sound of Revenge (2005–2006)

Chamillionaire (left) with MC Hammer and Mistah F.A.B. in 2008

Chamillionaire's first big solo album, The Sound of Revenge, came out on November 22, 2005. It quickly reached number 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The first single was "Turn It Up", featuring Lil' Flip. The next single, "Ridin'", featuring Krayzie Bone, became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

The music video for "Ridin'" won "Best Rap Video" at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2007, Chamillionaire won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for "Ridin'". The famous comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic even made a funny version of the song called "White & Nerdy". The album The Sound of Revenge was certified platinum, meaning it sold over a million copies. Chamillionaire also won the Best New Artist award at the 2006 BET Awards.

In 2006, Chamillionaire released Mixtape Messiah 2. He also appeared on songs by other artists like Ciara and Frankie J.

Ultimate Victory (2007–2008)

To promote his next album, Chamillionaire released Mixtape Messiah 3 in July 2007. His second major album, Ultimate Victory, was released on September 18, 2007. This album was special because Chamillionaire did not use any bad words in his raps. The first single from the album was "Hip Hop Police", featuring Slick Rick. Chamillionaire and Slick Rick performed this song on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Later Music and Mixtapes (2008–2012)

Chamillionaire continued to release mixtapes, including Mixtape Messiah 4 in 2008. He also planned to release his third album, Venom. The song "Good Morning" was released as a single for this album.

In 2009, Chamillionaire performed at an event for soldiers at Fort Hood after a tragic shooting. He also released the final part of his mixtape series, Mixtape Messiah 7, in 2009.

In 2011, Chamillionaire announced he was leaving Universal Records. This meant he could not release his album Venom through them. He then started a new series called Playlist Poison, releasing songs like "When Ya On" and "This My World". He also released more mixtapes, including Major Pain 1.5.

In 2012, Chamillionaire released an eight-song EP called Ammunition. He also appeared on songs by other rappers like Krizz Kaliko and Saigon.

EPs and Poison (2013–2015)

In 2013, Chamillionaire released two more EPs: Elevate in February and Reignfall in July. Reignfall was his first project since his second album to appear on a Billboard chart. He also released singles like "Watching Breaking Bad" in 2014.

Since 2010, Chamillionaire has mentioned that his third album, Poison, is being worked on. As of 2023, there is no set release date for this project.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Early Investments (2003–2008)

Besides music, Chamillionaire has also become a successful businessman. In 2003, he invested in Fly Rydes Kustom Toy'z, a car customization shop in Houston. He later let his partner take over the company.

Chamillionaire also started his own record label, Chamillitary Entertainment. He created it after leaving his previous labels. It was first distributed by Universal Records but became independent in 2011.

He also opened a modeling company called Masterpiece Mind Frame. He wanted to help people who had talent but didn't know how to start. Chamillionaire also owns a tour bus company, which he started in 2006. He saw how much potential there was in touring after his album The Sound of Revenge came out.

Tech Investments (2009–Present)

In 2009, Chamillionaire met Mark Suster, a venture capitalist. Chamillionaire invested in Maker Studios, an online video company. In 2014, The Walt Disney Company bought Maker Studios for a large sum of money. Chamillionaire's investment of $1.5 million reportedly turned into over $20 million. This success helped him build a strong connection with Mark Suster in the tech world.

Chamillionaire also invested in Cruise Automation in 2013. This company develops self-driving car technology. This investment was very successful when General Motors bought Cruise Automation for over $1 billion in 2016.

In 2015, Chamillionaire became an "entrepreneur in residence" at Upfront Ventures. This means he helps guide new businesses. He also invested in Lyft, a ride-sharing company, around 2014. He believes Lyft has great potential for the future.

Convoz and Other Projects (2017–Present)

In 2018, Chamillionaire launched Convoz, a social media app. He described it as a place where people can talk directly to influencers. Users can share short video clips, and celebrities can choose who to reply to. The app has received funding from several investment firms and famous people like Snoop Dogg.

In 2019, Chamillionaire and rapper E-40 announced they would invest $25,000 in a startup founded by a woman or a person of color. This was to help support diverse entrepreneurs. They later launched a larger $100,000 competition for minority or woman-led startups. The winner was Pierre Laguerre, whose company "Fleeting Pro" connects drivers with trucking companies.

In 2022, Chamillionaire's tech company, X Empire Inc., launched the Access Club app. This is a private social club for members interested in private investing and connecting with influential people.

Personal Life

Chamillionaire announced in 2010 that he had a son named Xavier. He has said that he is a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.

Discography

Studio Albums

• The Sound of Revenge (2005)
• Ultimate Victory (2007)

Collaborative Albums

• Get Ya Mind Correct (with Paul Wall) (2002)
• Controversy Sells (with Paul Wall) (2005)

Extended Plays

• Ammunition (2012)
• Elevate (2013)
• Reignfall (2013)

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Chamillionaire para niños