DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990 in Chicago, Illinois), better known … Read Full Bio ↴DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990 in Chicago, Illinois), better known by his stage name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em or simply Soulja Boy, is a Grammy-nominated rapper, dancer and producer. He shot to fame in September 2007, when his single “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” reached number one on the Billboard Top 100. He released his debut album, Unsigned & Still Major: Da Album Before da Album in 2007 and followed this with 2007’s souljaboytellem.com and 2008’s iSouljaBoyTellem. His fourth studio album, The DeAndre Way, was released on November 2010.

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.

Do Yo Shuffle
Soulja Boy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Girl:)
Man Ya'll Heard Bout That New Dance Solja Boy Got Out?
The Shit Is Fly. I Was At A Party
The Other Night He Came Inside Doing His Dance Everybody Was Like

(Chorus:)
Man,Do Yo Shuffle
Do Do Yo Shuffle,

Do Do Yo Shuffle,
Do Do Yo Shuffle
Do Yo Shuffle Folk,
Do Yo Shuffle Folk,(Folk)
Do Yo Shuffle Folk,(Folk)
Do Yo Shuffle Folk(Folk)
Do Yo Shuffle
Do Do Yo Shuffle
Do Do Yo Shuffle
Do Do Yo Shuffle
Do Yo Shuffle Folk,(Folk)
Do Yo Shuffle Folk, (Folk)
Do Yo Shuffle Folk, (Folk)
Do Yo Shuffle Folk(Folk)

(Verse 1:)
I Do My Shuffle With My Boys And We Fresh Like It Ain't Nuthin Me And Squad Blocking Sittin On 24's Stuntin
I Do My Shuffle Work (Work)
Check My Footwork (Work)
Soulja Boy 2006 And They All Gettin Murk
See My Squad We Too Clean When We Do Our Shuffle Dance.
Errbody Leave The Flo When They See Pull Up My Pants
Cuz I'll Jook Yo Boy

And Do Yo Boy
Soulja Boy Yeah Man I'm Coming Though Yeah Boy

(Chorus)

(Verse 2:)
Well I'm Back On The Track Girl Bend With It What I Say
Posted In My Blue Tee, Yep She's A Doo Head
Hands On Yo Hips And Make Yo Backbone Slip
Soulja Boy In This Thing Let Me See You Jip
Errbody Wanna Hate But I'm Jus Having Fun

And What It Is Yo I'm On The Mic Cuz I'm A Veteran
Check My Dough Got The Pussy Sleep Like Some Medicine

(Chorus)

(Verse 3:)
I'm Getting Calls On The Phone And Emails On The Internet

The One I Am Chosen
My Wrist It Is Frozen
Man All These People Hating Cuz My Rims Still Rolling
Ay What's Hanening
No U Can't Do My Dance
Watch Me Do My Shuffle, Snap My Fingers And Hold Up My Hand
#1 Rapper In The New School Sub
On The Top 5 For The Top 10 Billboard

(Chorus)

Overall Meaning

The song "Do Yo Shuffle" by Soulja Boy is a classic example of the popular trend of creating dances to go along with catchy songs. The song starts with a girl discussing the popularity of Soulja Boy's new dance and later goes on to detail how to perform it. The chorus consists of the simple instructions to "Do Yo Shuffle," repeated over and over to create a memorable hook. The verses detail Soulja Boy's own experiences with the dance, such as doing it with his friends and the attention it brings when they perform it in public. The song has a party vibe and encourages everyone to join in on the fun.

The lyrics of "Do Yo Shuffle" show a clear influence from Southern Hip-Hop music and lifestyle. Much like other popular songs in the genre, the lyrics emphasize material possessions, such as Soulja Boy's 24-inch rims and frozen wrist. The song's chorus is highly repetitive, which makes it easier for people to remember and repeat, further contributing to its popularity. The verses, while not highly complex, still manage to provide specific details and tell a story.

Line by Line Meaning

Man Ya'll Heard Bout That New Dance Solja Boy Got Out?
Girl asking if anyone has heard about Soulja Boy's new dance

The Shit Is Fly. I Was At A Party The Other Night He Came Inside Doing His Dance Everybody Was Like
The girl thinks Soulja Boy's dance is cool and describes how everyone was impressed when he entered a party doing his dance

Man,Do Yo Shuffle Do Do Yo Shuffle, Do Do Yo Shuffle, Do Do Yo Shuffle Do Yo Shuffle Folk, Do Yo Shuffle Folk,(Folk) Do Yo Shuffle Folk,(Folk) Do Yo Shuffle Folk(Folk) Do Yo Shuffle Do Do Yo Shuffle Do Do Yo Shuffle Do Do Yo Shuffle Do Yo Shuffle Folk,(Folk) Do Yo Shuffle Folk, (Folk) Do Yo Shuffle Folk, (Folk) Do Yo Shuffle Folk(Folk)
The chorus repeats the catchy phrase 'Do Yo Shuffle' multiple times, encouraging listeners to do the dance Soulja Boy created with various possible variations

I Do My Shuffle With My Boys And We Fresh Like It Ain't Nuthin Me And Squad Blocking Sittin On 24's Stuntin
Soulja Boy and his friends do the shuffle dance in style and with confidence while displaying their fancy cars

I Do My Shuffle Work (Work) Check My Footwork (Work) Soulja Boy 2006 And They All Gettin Murk
Soulja Boy boasts that he's been making the shuffle dance before it became popular, and challenges others to compare their footwork to his

See My Squad We Too Clean When We Do Our Shuffle Dance. Errbody Leave The Flo When They See Pull Up My Pants Cuz I'll Jook Yo Boy And Do Yo Boy Soulja Boy Yeah Man I'm Coming Though Yeah Boy
Soulja Boy and his friends do the shuffle dance so well and with so much attitude that others clear way for them and he threatens to outdo them if necessary

Well I'm Back On The Track Girl Bend With It What I Say Posted In My Blue Tee, Yep She's A Doo Head Hands On Yo Hips And Make Yo Backbone Slip Soulja Boy In This Thing Let Me See You Jip Errbody Wanna Hate But I'm Jus Having Fun And What It Is Yo I'm On The Mic Cuz I'm A Veteran Check My Dough Got The Pussy Sleep Like Some Medicine
Soulja Boy urges the girl to move to his song, implying she's a fan, then asks for specific dance moves; he acknowledges people are envious but he's just enjoying his work, he's an experienced rapper, and he boasts about his wealth and the attention it brings from women

I'm Getting Calls On The Phone And Emails On The Internet The One I Am Chosen My Wrist It Is Frozen Man All These People Hating Cuz My Rims Still Rolling Ay What's Hanening No U Can't Do My Dance Watch Me Do My Shuffle, Snap My Fingers And Hold Up My Hand #1 Rapper In The New School Sub On The Top 5 For The Top 10 Billboard
Soulja Boy brags about his popularity and how people are trying to reach out to him, he seems to think he's successful due to divine selection and showcases his expensive jewelry and cars, he's aware some people don't like him but he challenges them to compete with him, and finally, he puts himself at the top of the rap game and charts

Contributed by Gavin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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