Review: 4 out of 5

Best Song: Rocky Road

Kanye and 50 Cent are not the only ones dropping albums this month. Releasing his third album as well, Chamillionaire returns with “Ultimate Victory”. After his hit single “Ridin'” took off, Chammilionaire’s whole style has been repackaged as a cross between 50 Cent’s bravado and catchy hooks and Public Enemy’s lyrical consciousness. The majority of East Coast heads think Cham is just another Southern rapper in the same vein as a “Lil’ Flip”. However, behind the catchy hooks, well timed rhyme patterns and distinctive Texas twang, Chamillionaire goes where not many rappers have ventured. He’s socially conscious of the black struggle as well as his own trials throughout his music without sounding like a dork. Not to mention his swag is on heavy here, all backed by his best production to date produces an above average album. His ex-partner in rhyme, Paul Wall, musically stands still while Cham continues to elevate his craft. Check out the track by track breakdown foos!

1. The Morning News (Produced by Kane Beatz)
The beginning sounds like a dance song or a Jeezy song about to pop off while a news clip plays going from the middle east conflict to an area shooting. Cham goes off on a variety of personalities and institutions namely Bill O’Reilly, the Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump “beef”, Hue Hefner, CNN, Larry King, CEO’s, Al Sharpton, University, and even Crunk and Snap music.
Best line: “When you black and educated people say you ain’t black man”.

2. Hip Hop Police ft. Slick Rick (Produced by Jonathan Rotem)

A dialogue/narrative about Cham being questioned by none other than the infamous Hip Hop Police. A surprising guest appearance from Slick Rick serves to solidify the importance of the narrative and shows at least Cham has respect for the roots of hip hop unlike his Southern peers.

3. Standing Ovation (Produced by Kane Beatz)
An uptempo guitar infused track laced with rapid toms and gun cocking sound fx’s provides the soundscape for Cham to recollect his successes on his way to the top.

4. Won’t Let You Down (Produced by Kane Beatz)
Another untempo banger about getting of your lazy ass and getting that paper. Inspirational without seeming over preachy.
Best line: “Only thing wrong about being broke, is staying broke”.

5. Industry Groupie (Produced by Jonathan Rotem)
Okay time to have fun. Cham speaks directly to the infamous “groupies” and their “admiration” for himself as well as his peers (other rappers). In the midst of all the fun, Cham may being doing a little dry snitch’n though when he says, “You gave Pimp C a little groupie love”, Pimp C’s wife better not here this.

6. Pimp Mode ft. Bun B (Produced by Happy Perez)
The fun continues with Cham singing a catchy hook about his pimp game. Not that he’s a real pimp that sells women, no, he just attracts the ladies. Bun B provides some Uncle Pimpin’ here. You know like that Uncle you have that always with a new younger girl.

7. Rock Star ft. Lil’ Wayne (Produced by The Beat Bullies)

Sounding a little like Ludacris, Chamillionaire delivers a swagful banger over another rock-infused beat with a little help from New Orlean’s original rock star Lil’ Wayne. Really why go against Lil’ Wayne’s kooky style? Your only going to get upstaged, Lil’ Wayne is like the rap version of Jim Carey.

8. Skit ft. Spanky Hayes
An interlude about Chamillionaire collecting money from his homie.

9. The Bill Collecta ft. Krayzie Bone (Produced by Play-N-Skillz)
This song should be the waiting music for bill collectors world wide. The beat has the same feel as “Ridin” and what do you know Krayzie Bone shows up. Not really sure what the message for this song is as there is no final “punch”, just pay your bill collector. Okay.

10. The Ultimate Vacation (Produced by The Beat Bullies)
Song reminds me of T.I.’s “Chillin’ With My Bitch” and some Beach Boys shit. I could fall a sleep to this song.

11. Come Back To The Streets (Produced by The Runners)

The Runners deliver the most hardest beat on the album, using their signature slow-down’d repeated vocal sample over a horn driven uptempo banger. Chamilionaire just flows here.

12. I Think I Love You (Produced by The Beat Bullies)
Cham borrows Nas’s “Money is My Bitch” concept (as if we don’t know), talking about money and credit cards as if he were talking to a women. Hey Cham, you should do a song about being a gun?

13. The Evening News (Produced by Kane Beatz)
Same concept as “The Morning News”, except with better lyrics.
WTF Line: “Most rappers got new albums that white kids are anticipaten'”.

14. Welcome To The South ft. Pimp C (Produced by Kane Beatz)
A similar concept to UGK’s “Quit Haten’ the South” and what do you know Pimp C shows up here. Cham addresses the usual hate the South gets from East Coasters over a heavy beat that would usually be reserved for a song about smoken’ swishas and candy paint caddies.

15. You Must Be Crazy ft. Famous (Produced by Dave M.G.)
Cham gets his Tupac on for his verses and his Nate Dogg on for the hook. Serious, it’s uncanny. Famous who isn’t even famous sounds like Young Chris, who incidentally isn’t famous either. This song is about hustlen’, but not hustlen’ like selling dope, just getting money. Remember when hustlen’ actually meant slangen’ rocks? Best Line: “I got ladies with longer hair than cousin IT”. That’s some out of left field Adam’s Family reference.

16. We Breakin Up (Produced by Chops)
The hook sounds like Cham doing karaoke to some country song. Wow. I’m sure he could take American Idol. This is like on some Boyz 2 Men meets Nate Dogg shit. Cham get’s his Tupac outro on at the end of the song.

17. Skit – Stuck In The Ghetto ft. Tony Henry
This is the best skit ever, R.Kelly kills this one. This would have been a hot intro.

18. Rocky Road ft. Devin The Dude (Produced by Happy Perez)
A great introspective track where Cham just does Cham. Even Devin The Dude does some reflecting here and no not about pimpin’ hoes. Again Cham does the Tupac talking thing at the end of the song, except he sounds more sincere here though.

19. The Ultimate Victory (Produced by Happy Perez)
An outro track that Cham takes the opportunity to thank the fans. Beat is really funky in a Tribe Called Quest kinda way, thats a rap group from the 90’s by the way.