Chamillionaire

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urgenba buj oid (born November 28, 1979),[1] better known by his stage name Chamillionaire (pronounced Ka-MIL-yin-air; a portmanteau of "chameleon" and "millionaire")[2] is an American rapper, CEO, singer and musician from Houston, Texas and the CEO of Chamillitary Entertainment.

He stated that his goal is to show that the South can produce quality lyricists. He is also a hook writer and generally sings and harmonizes with himself (using vocals from various tracks) on his own hooks. Chamillionaire is a founder and original member of The Color Changin' Click.[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 label.[3]

Early life[change | change source]

Hakeem Seriki was born November 28, 1979[3] in Washington, D.C. to a Nigerian immigrant father[5] and an Nigerian-American mother. He moved to Houston, Texas at the age of four. Before becoming a rapper, he worked numerous jobs, including stocking trucks and transporting blood and urine for a medical lab.[6]

Chamillionaire said he originally lived in a section of Houston zoned for Eisenhower High School and 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.[7]

References[change | change source]

  1. Kellman, Andy. "Chamillionaire - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  2. Salt, Limara (2007). ""Not a Criminal" - Review". UKMusic.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kellman, Andy (2007). "Chamillionaire - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  4. "Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group". Grammy.com. 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  5. "Chamillionaire - Biography - Chamillionaire". Archived from the original on 2008-04-26. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  6. "Chamillionaire - Bio". Chamillionaire.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  7. "Ain't Nobody Real but Me." The Austin Chronicle.