Ponder like a rock star

After naming your album Ultimate Victory, anything less than that seems like a letdown. Chamillionaire, Houston's latest hit-maker, should have solidified his position as a rap star after mainstream success with "Ridin' (Dirty)." Alas, despite high hopes, this album stands as an admirable, preachy failure.\nOn Ultimate Victory, Cham's had enough with bling 'n' bitches and tries earnestly to inject true politicization into a genre that has only dabbled occasionally and laughably in social criticism ("George Bush doesn't care about black people," "Vote or Die," etc.). His sincerity even makes him swear off swear words and abstain from the N-word, staples of the hip-hop world.\nIt's hard not to applaud him for his attempt, but sadly, Chamillionaire's commentary can't sparkle like his more traditional party tracks, such as the album's two great collaborations with each member of UGK: the one-hand-on-the-steering-wheel of a low-rider "Pimp Mode" with Bun B and the menacing bass line Southern anthem "Welcome to the South" with Pimp C. \nIn Cham's solemn sermon on media bias (seriously) "The Evening News," he commits some rhyme atrocities to fit his nonsensical observations (Does "one" rhyme with "him?"). Despite capable beats and a neat violin hook, criminal lines such as "The White House is gonna stay white/ even though we know that Obama's black" sound terrible regardless. From 9/11 conspiracies to Flavor Flav, Cham sounds as self-righteous as a hip-hop Art Garfunkel -- "7 O'clock News/Silent Night" with a drum machine.\nAside from his unfortunately popular "Hip Hop Police," the track on the album that most epitomizes the face-plant of this audacious experiment is "Rock Star," featuring Lil' Wayne, a wailing guitar-crunk sound, the thumps of "We Will Rock You" and meaningless idiotic rhymes. At once meditative and blustery, bashing materialism while basking in its spotlight glow -- and rapping poorly -- Cham can't quite tie together this mixed bag, but damned if he doesn't try.