Star Houston Rapper Finds Big Success as a Tech Investor, Reaches Out to Help Future Entrepreneurs: Chamillionaire Wants to Find the Bayou City’s Mark Zuckerberg

Nowadays it is far easier to catch rapper Chamillionaire giving back to his Houston hometown than it is to catch him “Ridin’ dirty.” Hakeem Seriki — better known as Chamillionaire, a native Houstonian — recently came back to the city to visit with HISD students. Known for his song “Ridin’, ” that was popularized by Weird Al’s “White & Nerdy” parody, Chamillionaire hasn’t led fame get to his head.

The Grammy Award winner spoke with high school seniors from Worthing High School interested in the music industry. Fifty lucky kids from the Sunnyside school got the opportunity to talk to the rapper and representatives from Live Nation and Spotify. During the panel, Chamillionaire stressed the importance of learning how to code, and shared his tips for getting started in the music industry and his success as an entrepreneur.

Chamillionaire exploded onto Houston’s rap scene in early 2000s, and has found lasting success as an entrepreneur and tech investor in Los Angeles. In early 2015, he joined the Los Angeles-based venture capital firm Upfront Ventures. The rapper briefly invested in Houston-based auto dealer, Fly Rides, a role he relinquished once his career became too demanding.

He is the first rapper to ever be named an “entrepreneur in residence” by Upfront Ventures. Just this year, he founded the mobile video app, Convoz. Chamillionaire is also the CEO of record label Chamilitary Entertainment.

Although known for “Ridin’ Dirty,” Chamillionaire ever shies away from charitable efforts for his hometown. In September, the rapper formed “Robin’s Heart Foundation” a nonprofit that raises monetary donations for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The rapper made a personal donation of $25,000 — and the nonprofit’s YouCaring site has since raised more than $45,000 for relief efforts. (Not everyone can raise at a J.J. Watt level — and everything helps.)

Chamillionaire also partnered with Mattress Mack and Gallery Furniture to supply physical donations to victims. This Houstonian is also willing to donate his time as shown by his school trip.

“I think it’s important that we start early so they become the next generation of entrepreneurs,” Chamillionaire told CW39,  “and maybe one day some person in this room becomes the next Mark Zuckerberg.”