Early life
Born DeAndre Ramone Way in Chicago, Illinois on July 28, 1990, Way moved from Chicago to Atlanta, Georgia at age seven, where he became interested in rap music. At age 14, he moved to Batesville, Mississippi with his father, who provided a recording studio for Way to explore his musical ambitions.
Career
In November 2005, Way posted his songs on the video-based social community YouTube. Following positive reviews on the site, Soulja Boy then established his own web pages on YouTube and MySpace. In March 2007, he recorded “Crank That” and released his first independent album Unsigned and Still Major, followed by a low-budget video filmed demonstrating the “Soulja Boy” dance. By the end of May 2007, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” received its first airplay and Soulja Boy met with Mr. Collipark to sign a deal with Interscope Records.
On August 12, 2007, the song appeared on the Emmy-award winning HBO series Entourage, and by September 1, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot RingMasters charts. Way’s major label debut album Souljaboytellem.com, which was reportedly recorded using just the demo version of FL Studio, was released in the United States on October 2, peaking at #4 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.
On December 9, 2007, Way was sued by William Lyons (aka Souljah Boy of the Mo Thugs) who claims he first created the stage name “Souljah Boy”.
For the 50th Grammy Awards, Soulja Boy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song with “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”. He lost to Kanye West’s and T-Pain’s “Good Life”.
The teen rapper recently inked a deal with Dallas-based company, Yums Shoes, for a line of his own sneakers called the “Block Star” and an apparel line. “The Soulja boy exclusive shoe will be released in the fall along with my album,” he said. “The Soulja Boy cartoon will also be released in the fall, so there’s three things to look out for.” The line will be unveiled at the fall Magic fashion trade show in Las Vegas later this year, and the rapper will appear in both television and print ads for it.
Soulja Boy says he will not use better lyrics and get more respect from the rap game, although he could, because it will ruin his reputation and image.
Initial reception
The album Souljaboytellem.com was met with mostly negative reviews, despite a positive one from Allmusic. Several reviewers credited Soulja Boy with spearheading a new trend in hip-hop, while speculating he will likely be a one hit wonder.
Critics and hip-hop figures such as Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Jermaine Dupri cite Soulja Boy as artistically typical of contemporary rap trends such as writing for the lucrative ringtone market, and the ascendence of “Southern hip hop”, emphasizing catchy, mindless music that discards rap’s traditional emphasis on message. And even one article about his songs and heavily criticizing his musical style has dubbed Soulja Boy the “Nickelback of hip hop”. Soulja Boy identifies his goal as making upbeat, party-themed music that avoids the negative, violent image that he sees in most hip-hop. Despite this, his music has been banned from some school dances for sexual, pro-violence content or innuendo and, ironically, many of his recent recordings feature violent content and sexual innuendo. In the original YouTube video for “Shootout”, Way demonstrates his dance while holding a handgun in each hand and pretending to shoot into the audience.
Feud with Ice-T
In June 2008, on DJ Cisco’s Urban Legend mixtape, Ice-T criticized Soulja Boy for “killing hip-hop” and his song “Crank That” for being “garbage” compared to the works of other hip-hop artists as Rakim, Das EFX, Big Daddy Kane and Ice Cube. Soulja Boy responded in a YouTube video by mocking Ice-T’s age (Ice-T was born in 1958) and claiming that he needed to support his family through his brand of music. Ice-T proceeded to offer a video response to Soulja Boy’s reaction in which he neglected to offer an apology while reiterating his belief that Soula Boy’s music was “garbage”. Rapper Kanye West defended Soulja Boy by arguing that Soulja Boy created a new, original work for hip-hop, thus keeping the authentic meaning of the music. Soulja Boy followed suit by buying Ice-T a flaming set of gigantic popcorn machines.
References in popular culture
Soulja Boy recently became an item in the first round NBA playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards. In a bout of trash talking before the start of the series, Wizards guard Deshawn Stevenson called Cleveland superstar LeBron James “overrated,” prompting James to say that he wouldn’t return the insult, as that would be “almost like Jay-Z [responding to a negative comment] made by Soulja Boy.” Soulja Boy made an appearance at Game 3 of the series (played in Washington) in support of the Wizards; his music was played over the PA system. Despite his team losing the game by more than 30 points and LeBron posting poor numbers (compared to his exceptionally high averages), LeBron claims that the trick had no effect on him, and that his young son is a big fan of Soulja Boy.
I Got Me Some Bapes Remix Feat: Jibbs
Soulja Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Soulja Boy]
A-Rab man, I just got back from da mall man, guess what I got?
[A-Rab]
Man, what you get Soulja Boy?
[Soulja Boy]
Man, I got me some Bathin' Apes
[CHORUS x4]
I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I,I,I,I,I,I
[Verse 1]
I got my Bathin' Apes
I'm fresh to death and you like me
Don't try to cop my style man stick to dem nikes
Green, white, black inside these
Super clean Bathin' Apes
My shoes like my chain
Shine hard dey might hurt ya face
I'm clean in this thang
B-A-P-E-S up on my feet
Fresh fade with da waves
30/30 boys up on my team
You wanna get em' (YUP)
But you can't get like me (NOPE)
Askin' me, Soulja Boy, where you get yo shoes from
[CHORUS x4]
I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I,I,I,I,I,I
[Verse 2]
Bathin' Apes on my feet
And you niggaz heard of kicks
Purple, yellow, white
Like my Kobe Bryant jersey
You ain't neva seen these shoes
Den let me tell you somethin' son
You see how fresh these bitches is
These are not no fuckin ones
Step up on da stage with my mouth on f.......
Bathin' Apes on my feet
Put the crowd on hold
Hataz see em on my feet
I kno dey get mad a lil
A-Rab rockin' moe colors and a bag of skittles
[CHORUS x4]
I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I,I,I,I,I,I
[Verse 3]
Bathin' Apes on my feet
So I gotta keep it movin'
Step up on da scene
Tell the hoe start chosin'
(Start chosin hoe)x4
Bathin' Apes on my feet
So I gotta keep it movin'
Step up on da scene
Tell the hoe start chosin'
(Start chosin hoe)x4
[CHORUS x6]
I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I,I,I,I,I,I
[Outro x2]
I got me some Bathin' Apes
[CHORUS]
I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I got, I got me some Bathin' Apes
I,I,I,I,I,I
[Outro]
I got me some Bathin' Apes
In Soulja Boy's song "I Got Me Some Bapes Remix Feat: Jibbs," the lyrics talk about Soulja Boy's recent purchase of Bathing Ape sneakers, commonly referred to as "Bapes." The song's chorus repeats the line "I got me some Bathin' Apes" several times. Soulja Boy references the style and uniqueness of the shoes, implying that they are rare and difficult to obtain, which adds an element of exclusivity to owning a pair of Bathing Ape sneakers.
The lyrics of the song also suggest that the shoes make the owner look fashionable and stylish. The shoes are a symbol of success and class, and the song emphasizes the importance of wearing them. However, Soulja Boy also warns that others should not try to copy his style, as they will not be able to pull it off.
The song is a remix of Jibbs' "Chain Hang Low," with Soulja Boy adding his own verse about Bathing Ape sneakers to the original song. The remix was released in 2006 and was well-received by critics and fans alike.
Line by Line Meaning
A-Rab man, I just got back from da mall man, guess what I got?
Soulja Boy is telling A-Rab that he just came back from the mall and bought something.
Man, what you get Soulja Boy?
A-Rab is asking Soulja Boy what he bought from the mall.
Man, I got me some Bathin' Apes
Soulja Boy reveals that he bought Bathin' Apes from the mall.
I got me some Bathin' Apes
Soulja Boy announces that he owns a pair of Bathin' Apes.
I'm fresh to death and you like me
Soulja Boy is saying that he looks really good and that people admire his appearance.
Don't try to cop my style man stick to dem nikes
Soulja Boy is advising people not to copy his style and stick to wearing Nike shoes.
Green, white, black inside these
Soulja Boy is describing the colors of his Bathin' Apes shoes.
Super clean Bathin' Apes
Soulja Boy's Bathin' Apes are very clean and well-maintained.
My shoes like my chain Shine hard dey might hurt ya face
Soulja Boy's shoes and his chain are shiny and bright enough to hurt someone's eyes.
I'm clean in this thang B-A-P-E-S up on my feet
Soulja Boy is saying that he looks clean and cool with his Bathin' Apes shoes on.
Fresh fade with da waves
Soulja Boy is sporting a fresh haircut with wave patterns.
30/30 boys up on my team
Soulja Boy is surrounded by his crew, the 30/30 boys.
You wanna get em' (YUP) But you can't get like me (NOPE)
People may want to buy the same shoes as Soulja Boy but they can't afford them or find them as easily as he did.
Askin' me, Soulja Boy, where you get yo shoes from
People are curious to know where Soulja Boy bought his Bathin' Apes.
Bathin' Apes on my feet And you niggaz heard of kicks
Soulja Boy's Bathin' Apes shoes are very popular and well-known among shoe enthusiasts.
Purple, yellow, white Like my Kobe Bryant jersey
Soulja Boy's Bathin' Apes shoes have the same color scheme as his Kobe Bryant jersey.
You ain't neva seen these shoes Den let me tell you somethin' son
If someone has never seen these shoes before, Soulja Boy will tell them all about them.
These are not no fuckin ones
Soulja Boy's Bathin' Apes shoes are not a cheap knockoff of another brand or style.
Step up on da stage with my mouth on f....... Bathin' Apes on my feet
Soulja Boy is performing on stage with his Bathin' Apes shoes on and cursing into the microphone.
Put the crowd on hold Hataz see em on my feet I kno dey get mad a lil A-Rab rockin' moe colors and a bag of skittles
When people see Soulja Boy's Bathin' Apes shoes, they get jealous, but A-Rab is wearing even more colorful shoes with a bag of Skittles in his pocket.
So I gotta keep it movin' Step up on da scene Tell the hoe start chosin'
Soulja Boy has to keep moving and keep performing while on the scene, telling women to start choosing him.
(Start chosin hoe)x4
Soulja Boy is repeating himself, telling women to choose him and be with him.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind