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.