With the success of Chamillionaire's last album, 'The Sound of Revenge,' with total digital sales over 5.5 million worldwide it seems impossible
to duplicate. But Chamillionaire hopes to accomplish that with his sophomore release "Ultimate Victory," which is in stores September 18th. I
got a chance to catch up with Cham and talk about how 50 Cent's recent comments, not cursing in his music, and his up and coming release.
Andrew Bess: Congrats on the Grammy you won for the single "Ridin' Dirty."
Chamillionaire: Ya people didn't expect that one.
Andrew Bess: Are you still hungry?
Chamillionaire: I'm definitely hungry.
Andrew Bess: How have you matured in the game over the past 10 years from kickin' mixtapes to now?
Chamillionaire: Each time I come out with something I try to get bigger. Over years I was just freestylin' mixtapes now we got DVD's and
everything. It's crazy. I reinvent myself every time. If not I would get stale. I just started evolving with the game.
accomplished that?
to duplicate. But Chamillionaire hopes to accomplish that with his sophomore release "Ultimate Victory," which is in stores September 18th. I
got a chance to catch up with Cham and talk about how 50 Cent's recent comments, not cursing in his music, and his up and coming release.
Andrew Bess: Congrats on the Grammy you won for the single "Ridin' Dirty."
Chamillionaire: Ya people didn't expect that one.
Andrew Bess: Are you still hungry?
Chamillionaire: I'm definitely hungry.
Andrew Bess: How have you matured in the game over the past 10 years from kickin' mixtapes to now?
Chamillionaire: Each time I come out with something I try to get bigger. Over years I was just freestylin' mixtapes now we got DVD's and
everything. It's crazy. I reinvent myself every time. If not I would get stale. I just started evolving with the game.
accomplished that?
Chamillionaire: Although I've accomplished a lot, I still feel that I got a lot to prove lyrically.
Andrew Bess: You were crowned the biggest selling Ring tone artist ever, with over 4 million ring tone sales, and certified by the RIAA as the first multi-platinum
Mastertone artist in history. What's your ring tone on your phone?
Chamillionaire: I don't even have a ringtone on my phone. But I aint gonna lie, my favorite ringtone is "Ridin' Dirty." It sounds so good coming out the phone. That song
became bigger than me. I went to Jamaica and there was little kids singing "Ridin' Dirty."
Andrew Bess: What made you title this album ultimate victory? Does it have any correlation with your freshman album's title Ultimate Revenge?
Chamillionaire: My first album was all about me trying to get revenge on people but this album I look at things a different way. Ultimate Victory is really about looking at
what is important in life. That's when you really win. The album plays out like a movie and I explain that story.
Andrew Bess: At your listening for your latest release, Ultimate Victory, you said, "People to this day still don't know me." Who is the real Chamillionaire?
Chamillionaire: Only time will tell man. I know who I am. People might here me do a simple song and judge me off that, or people might hear a lyrical side of me and
see me that way. But there is so many different sides of me that people can comprehend the real me.
Andrew Bess: What were the intentions coming out with a 9 minute music video with your latest singles?
Chamillionaire: It was really just something outside the box. Nowadays you just need something exciting in hip hop. This is something that people can talk about and
it's a good look and something different.
Andrew Bess: Who is featured on your up and coming release?
Chamillionaire: Lil wayne, UGK, Slick Rick, Devin the Dude, Krazie Bone to name a few.
Andrew Bess: Rap was highly opposed in your household growing up. So your parents aren't the biggest rap fans to say the least, but how do they feel about hip hop
since your success in the industry?
Andrew Bess: You were crowned the biggest selling Ring tone artist ever, with over 4 million ring tone sales, and certified by the RIAA as the first multi-platinum
Mastertone artist in history. What's your ring tone on your phone?
Chamillionaire: I don't even have a ringtone on my phone. But I aint gonna lie, my favorite ringtone is "Ridin' Dirty." It sounds so good coming out the phone. That song
became bigger than me. I went to Jamaica and there was little kids singing "Ridin' Dirty."
Andrew Bess: What made you title this album ultimate victory? Does it have any correlation with your freshman album's title Ultimate Revenge?
Chamillionaire: My first album was all about me trying to get revenge on people but this album I look at things a different way. Ultimate Victory is really about looking at
what is important in life. That's when you really win. The album plays out like a movie and I explain that story.
Andrew Bess: At your listening for your latest release, Ultimate Victory, you said, "People to this day still don't know me." Who is the real Chamillionaire?
Chamillionaire: Only time will tell man. I know who I am. People might here me do a simple song and judge me off that, or people might hear a lyrical side of me and
see me that way. But there is so many different sides of me that people can comprehend the real me.
Andrew Bess: What were the intentions coming out with a 9 minute music video with your latest singles?
Chamillionaire: It was really just something outside the box. Nowadays you just need something exciting in hip hop. This is something that people can talk about and
it's a good look and something different.
Andrew Bess: Who is featured on your up and coming release?
Chamillionaire: Lil wayne, UGK, Slick Rick, Devin the Dude, Krazie Bone to name a few.
Andrew Bess: Rap was highly opposed in your household growing up. So your parents aren't the biggest rap fans to say the least, but how do they feel about hip hop
since your success in the industry?
Chamillionaire: My mom understands it now. Rap had a bad image at that time with everyone looking all gangster and what not. My mom didn't want her kid getting into
all that. But my family has been able to eat so she appreciates it now.
Andrew Bess: You recently released Mixtape Messiah 3 and DVD for free to download off of your site, Chamillionaire.com. What were your intentions of releasing it for
free?
Chamillionaire: It was basically to ignite my fan base and deal with product demand. It was used to hold them off until my album was released.
Andrew Bess: You never really cursed in your music and 'Ultimate Victory' is a Profanity-free album. Why do you feel people never noticed that? And why is it such a
big deal now?
Chamillionaire: I don't know people still kind of get it twisted up. The album isn't completely profanity-free. I don't curse, but with features like with Lil Wayne on the
album will use curse words. I never really cursed in my raps. I used to say the "N" word a lot but not anymore. I'm not trying to change the world it's just something for
me ya know.
Andrew Bess: 50 Cent criticized you for leaving cursing out of your raps. You replied by saying you didn't want to waste creative energies engaged in a feud. Do you
feel this was a gimmick for him to sell more records since you have the same release dates for your albums?
Chamillionaire: Naw, I just think 50's character is like that. He was asked a question and responded to it. I don't think it had anything to do with me. Just like Kanye on
T.V. You might hear him say something that you don't expect. It wasn't something to make get mad or anything ya know.
Andrew Bess: There are rumors that you talk about President Bush in this album. What's that all about? And what other issues do you tackle on this album?
Chamillionaire: I address a lot of issues on this album. Everyone has opinions on politics so I say mine on my album.
Andrew Bess: You worked with Slick Rick on your single 'Hip Hop Police.' What was the inspiration behind that record and how was that working with Slick Rick?
Chamillionaire: I wanted to do a story-type of song so when I reached out to Slick Rick, he hit me back. I was surprised that he got back at me. But he was a real
humble dude. He came to the studio by himself with no entourage or jewels or nothing. It just goes to show you that he's old school and not really about the image like
other artists in the industry who need to have 100 dudes walking in the streets with them. That was cool to me.
Andrew Bess: You've said that creatively, artists are doing the same thing. How does this album separate you from the crowd of cookie-cutter rappers?
Chamillionaire: I take risks and it's not the same type of formula album.
Andrew Bess: What's next? Where do you see yourself a few years down the line?
Chamillionaire: I just see myself being real heavy in business. Just building an empire with something that will make real long-time money.
all that. But my family has been able to eat so she appreciates it now.
Andrew Bess: You recently released Mixtape Messiah 3 and DVD for free to download off of your site, Chamillionaire.com. What were your intentions of releasing it for
free?
Chamillionaire: It was basically to ignite my fan base and deal with product demand. It was used to hold them off until my album was released.
Andrew Bess: You never really cursed in your music and 'Ultimate Victory' is a Profanity-free album. Why do you feel people never noticed that? And why is it such a
big deal now?
Chamillionaire: I don't know people still kind of get it twisted up. The album isn't completely profanity-free. I don't curse, but with features like with Lil Wayne on the
album will use curse words. I never really cursed in my raps. I used to say the "N" word a lot but not anymore. I'm not trying to change the world it's just something for
me ya know.
Andrew Bess: 50 Cent criticized you for leaving cursing out of your raps. You replied by saying you didn't want to waste creative energies engaged in a feud. Do you
feel this was a gimmick for him to sell more records since you have the same release dates for your albums?
Chamillionaire: Naw, I just think 50's character is like that. He was asked a question and responded to it. I don't think it had anything to do with me. Just like Kanye on
T.V. You might hear him say something that you don't expect. It wasn't something to make get mad or anything ya know.
Andrew Bess: There are rumors that you talk about President Bush in this album. What's that all about? And what other issues do you tackle on this album?
Chamillionaire: I address a lot of issues on this album. Everyone has opinions on politics so I say mine on my album.
Andrew Bess: You worked with Slick Rick on your single 'Hip Hop Police.' What was the inspiration behind that record and how was that working with Slick Rick?
Chamillionaire: I wanted to do a story-type of song so when I reached out to Slick Rick, he hit me back. I was surprised that he got back at me. But he was a real
humble dude. He came to the studio by himself with no entourage or jewels or nothing. It just goes to show you that he's old school and not really about the image like
other artists in the industry who need to have 100 dudes walking in the streets with them. That was cool to me.
Andrew Bess: You've said that creatively, artists are doing the same thing. How does this album separate you from the crowd of cookie-cutter rappers?
Chamillionaire: I take risks and it's not the same type of formula album.
Andrew Bess: What's next? Where do you see yourself a few years down the line?
Chamillionaire: I just see myself being real heavy in business. Just building an empire with something that will make real long-time money.
| CHAMILLIONAIRE |
Interview by Andrew Bess
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