Chamillionaire
Biography
Hakeem Temidayo Seriki, professionally known as Chamillionaire, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor. He was born on November 28, 1979, in Washington, D.C., and moved to Houston, Texas at the age of four. His parents, a Nigerian immigrant father and an African-American mother, held strict religious beliefs, with his father being Muslim and his mother Christian, which led to a ban on secular music in their household. After his parents separated during his early teenage years, he settled in the Acres Homes neighborhood of Houston.
Music Career
Chamillionaire's interest in music grew despite his parents' disapproval, drawing inspiration from Southern rap acts like The Geto Boys and UGK, as well as national groups like N.W.A. He attended Jersey Village High School alongside his childhood friend and future collaborator, Paul Wall. The pair began their music careers by promoting themselves at events and eventually caught the attention of mixtape DJ Michael "5000" Watts. Their freestyles on his radio show led to their inclusion on his popular mixtapes and a spot in his record label, Swishahouse.
The Color Changin' Click and Solo Breakthrough
Chamillionaire and Paul Wall formed their own group, The Color Changin' Click. In 2002, they released the album "Get Ya Mind Correct," which sold over 150,000 copies independently. Chamillionaire's solo career took off after signing with Universal Records in 2005. His debut album, "The Sound of Revenge," was released in November 2005 and reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured the hit single "Ridin'" with Krayzie Bone, which soared to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's success earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2007 and an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video in 2006.
Subsequent Releases and Independent Transition
His second album, "Ultimate Victory," was released in 2007 and was notable for its lack of profanity. It included the single "Hip Hop Police" featuring Slick Rick. In 2011, Chamillionaire departed from Universal Records to release his music independently. He subsequently released several EPs, including "Ammunition" (2012), "Elevate" (2013), and "Reignfall" (2013). He was also known for his "Mixtape Messiah" series of mixtapes.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
Parallel to his music career, Chamillionaire cultivated a strong interest in business and technology. In 2004, he established his own record label, Chamillitary Entertainment. His foray into the tech world began with attending conferences to understand company funding and valuation.
Tech Investments and Upfront Ventures
Chamillionaire made several successful early-stage investments in tech companies. He was an early investor in Maker Studios, a multi-channel network that was later acquired by Disney. He also invested in the self-driving startup Cruise, which was acquired by General Motors, and the ride-sharing company Lyft. In 2015, he was named an entrepreneur-in-residence at the venture capital firm Upfront Ventures, where he had met managing partner Mark Suster in 2009. He also co-founded the video-messaging app Convoz in 2018.