Chamillionaire

When he's at the top of his game, Chamillionaire can be one of the most clever, outspoken and sincere MCs rhyming today. After decades hustling on the mixtape circuit, he hit it big—really big—with 2005's unavoidable smash, "Ridin." Success and ringtone sales have only hardened Cham's resolve to keep the gritty and socially conscious side of his music alive, however, which is good news for prospective purchasers of his sophomore album, Ultimate Victory.

Cham makes it very clear where he stands by book-ending the album with real talk about economics on "The Morning News" and a cathartic outpouring about fame on "The Ultimate Victory." Not surprisingly, the record's highlight is the still its first single, "Hip-Hop Police," which tears into the contradictions of the rap game with a smooth guest verse from Slick Rick. Some of the tracks with lighter subject matter also hit home: the low-key "Pimp Mode" with Bun B is a syrup-thick pleasure, while "I Think I Love You" warns of the dangers of being cash crazy.

While he never tries to replicate the success of "Ridin," Cham does choose to play it safe on much of the rest of the album. "Rock Star" seems intent to capitalize on the success of the Shop Boyz single, but it's held back by an anemic beat and a sedate Lil Wayne. Despite the sharp punchlines on "Industry Groupie," it's mired in an overbearing and irritating Europe sample. Other flops include the monotone and unthreatening "Bill Collecta" and the Caribbean infomercial "The Ultimate Vacation." Cham offers some proof of greatness here, but it's far from decisive.

—Toby Warner
09.27.07

Crossover rap hits don't come much bigger than Chamillionaire's 2005 single "Ridin." The track was inescapable for months longer than anyone expected, put a Grammy on Cham's mantle, was graced with a Weird Al parody, and spawned a ringtone that became the first certified triple platinum. The rapper takes great pride in these achievements by repeatedly mentioning the sales numbers, but he also takes great pride in himself and his work. Fellow millionaire 50 Cent may lie back and let the money roll in with a proven formula, but Cham is still chasing paper, the dream, and a legendary status with everything he's got, something that makes Ultimate Victory feel more important and more genuine than the everyday hip-hop album. The bad news is, it's flawed, with a couple redundant numbers and a surprisingly underwhelming Lil Wayne collaboration that does the overdone guitar and "party like a rock star" thing without a hint of flair. Past a few missteps, the album is a winning embrace of hip-hop with commentaries on beefs, nostalgic pining for better days, and a positive outlook for the future of the genre. Beef is shown the door, cussing is absent, and yet somehow Cham comes off as more Scarface than Mase. Part of this is due to Ultimate Victory's allegiance to verse-filled hip-hop and its unwillingness to repeat "Ridin" for a quick buck. Even if "The Evening News" has an instant hook, its subject matter is heavy, and even if "Hip Hop Police" with very special guest Slick Rick has that slick J.R. Rotem beat, it's more concerned with hip-hop's history than selling ringtones. "Industry Groupie" is also worth noting thanks to its exciting venom and sample from Europe's "The Final Countdown," and when you add the excellent "The Bill Collecta" with Krayzie Bone, along with the extremely catchy "You Must Be Crazy" featuring Lil' Ken, you've already got more highlights than most of the competition. A rapper's credibility is bound to take some shrapnel when a single crosses over as big as "Ridin." Ultimate Victory is a brilliant way to recover from overexposure and bring things back to a more sensible level if a long-term, credible career is what's at stake. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide