We know Chamillionaire can rap. Sometimes he’ll go braggadocios, sometimes he’ll look inward and get introspective. Other times, though, he paints vivid stories that captivate the listener for an entire song.

After striking platinum with the Sound of Revenge, the Houston MC was poised to go again, but the masses didn’t connect the second time at bat. Koopa’s sophomore major label album was a solid piece of work that was hindered by poor marketing and timing (it arrive just a week after the epic 50 Cent/ Kanye West sales showdown). While Ultimate Victory didn’t impact the charts in a huge way, it was loaded with mature and ambitious records. Plenty of tracks deserve a spotlight, but the highlight of the LP came in the form of “I Think I Love You.”

There have been numerous occasions where Chamillionaire (and basically every other rapper) used a woman as a metaphor for cash, but this time around the idea was fully fleshed-out, inspired, and masterful. On the track, Cham paints the tale of a relationship that starts off great and corkscrews down to hell. The song kicks off with a happy verse detailing all the great things going on in the relationship, while the second verse creeps with paranoia, detailing the threats of other men taking his woman. The third and final verse is cinematic.

“He introduced her to his mother, his mother said that she love her/And after that he discovered, his brother done tried to cut her/They messin with one another, saw her under the covers/And now he gotta show his brother the meaning of keep it gutter.” After finding his “woman” under the covers with his brother, Cham attempts to take her back and when his brother protests, Cham shoots his brother and flees the scene, cash in hand.

“Pulling and grabbing her, now he already damaged her/He throws her in the trunk, and the talks to her like a passenger/And that’s when uh, he hearing the tires peel/He’s speedin out of the driveway, approaching the highest hill.” The song reaches a frantic pace at this point, as Cham is on the run, with his mind racing. “I fought to keep you in my life and this the thanks I get?/Well thanks for all the good memories/I think I’m sick” is the final, cryptic line of the verse as Cham’s character’s gun goes off again and the car crashes.

“I Think I Love You” is as cinematic as hip-hop gets and Chamillionaire paints an ugly but realistic picture of what money can do to relationships around you. The song ends with a news soundbite reporting the car crash, which then leads perfectly into his news announcer record. Ultimate Victory, despite its lackluster sales, was a creative highlight of Koopa’s career and, if nothing else, this song alone proves that he’s still deeper than “Ridin’ Dirty.”

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Save for perhaps 50 Cent, there is no other rapper who had a bigger impact on the mixtape circuit, with more releases than any one torrent file can hold. His Mixtape Messiah series is legendary, if for no other reason than the fact that part one was the most purchased mixtape in Texas history. He also scored a platinum debut with the Sound of Revenge and has managed to stay relevant while many of his Texas peers who blew up around the same time period have faded away. Therefore, in the interest of education, we’ve compiled a list of ten records that showcase a broader and deeper side of Chamillionaire. You gon’ learn today.

“Void in My Life” (Sound of Revenge, 2005)

The most introspective track on his major label debut finds Cham looking for a deeper meaning in life, turning to religion and even mentioning the conflict of having a Muslim father and Christian mother.

“Rain” feat. Scarface & Billy Cook (Sound of Revenge, 2005)

With the help of Scarface and a soulful chorus from Billy Cook, “Rain” details some of the hardships faced in life and having to power through them. Never one to dwell on the negative, though, Cham turns what could have been a down-on-your-luck story into an uplifting and positive message.

“Willing to Try” (Hangin’ With Mr. Koopa, 2009)

If there was one record that could encapsulate Chamillionaire’s character, it may be this one. From starting out as a mixtape hustler, to becoming a self-made success with a platinum plaque to his name, the Houston rapper is nothing if not determined. Here, he makes note of his perseverance in the face of doubt.

“It’s Just Pain” (Mixtape Messiah 3, 2007)

If you’re going to tackle a classic beat such as “Renegade,” you better put your unique twist on it. Instead of delivering an arsenal of bars to show that he can match up with some of the game’s top lyricists, Koopa paints a somber picture of his childhood. From a fractured relationship with his father to his fear about the afterlife, this is a fan favorite and certainly one of the rapper’s finest moments because of the detailed, specific pieces of Cham‘s life on display.

“I Think I Love You” (Ultimate Victory, 2007)

Chamillionaire has always had a knack for storytelling. On a standout record from his sophomore album, we get a compelling story worthy of a Hollywood movie. Cham details his relationship with money, but masks it as a girlfriend, capping it off with a show-stopping third verse.

“Internet Nerd’s Revenge” (Mixtape Messiah 4, 2008)

In addition to being a great rapper, Cham is also a pretty funny guy. He takes advantage of that humor on a brilliant concept record for Mixtape Messiah 4. Here, he plays the role of an internet troll who despises Chamillionaire’s music. The troll, unsurprisingly, is a lonely, angry kid. The song takes a dark turn at the end but it makes for an extremely memorable record.

“Roll Call Reloaded (Fire Drill)” (Mixtape Messiah 2, 2006)

Continuing on the lines of comedy, Cham makes use of some impression skills here and delivers a star-studded posse cut — all by himself. Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, E-40, Jim Jones, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Jay Z and more get dead-on impersonations as Koopa gives us some of their typical lyrical content.

“Go Hard” (Mixtape Messiah 4, 2008)

Aside from moments of comedy, introspection and radio hits, Cham can flat-out rap. He showcases this many times throughout his career but this one in particular is a standout. A lyrical tirade is delivered here for over four minutes and Cham rips through this record with noticeable hunger in his voice.

“Voice of Reason” (N/A, 2012)

Over J. Cole’s “Lost Ones,” we get two perspectives from Koopa. The first verse is the young man, getting his first taste of fame, while the second verse is the more mature, seasoned man giving his viewpoint.

“Think I’m Crazy” (Sound of Revenge, 2005)

A fan favorite here from Cham’s debut album. The song finds the rapper at a bar with a woman who begins telling him a story. As the record progresses, the story becomes more frantic. Without spoiling anything, the song is another metaphor, this time about a few old friendships Koopa lost along the way.

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