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 βCrank Thatβ and released his first independent album Unsigned and Still Major, followed by a low-budget video filmed demonstrating the βSoulja Boyβ dance. By the end of May 2007, βCrank That (Soulja Boy)β 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. Wayβs 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 βSouljah Boyβ.
For the 50th Grammy Awards, Soulja Boy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song with βCrank That (Soulja Boy)β. He lost to Kanye Westβs and T-Painβs βGood Lifeβ.
The teen rapper recently inked a deal with Dallas-based company, Yums Shoes, for a line of his own sneakers called the βBlock Starβ and an apparel line. βThe Soulja boy exclusive shoe will be released in the fall along with my album,β he said. βThe Soulja Boy cartoon will also be released in the fall, so thereβs three things to look out for.β 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 βSouthern hip hopβ, emphasizing catchy, mindless music that discards rapβs traditional emphasis on message. And even one article about his songs and heavily criticizing his musical style has dubbed Soulja Boy the βNickelback of hip hopβ. 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 βShootoutβ, 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 Ciscoβs Urban Legend mixtape, Ice-T criticized Soulja Boy for βkilling hip-hopβ and his song βCrank Thatβ for being βgarbageβ 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-Tβs 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 Boyβs reaction in which he neglected to offer an apology while reiterating his belief that Soula Boyβs music was βgarbageβ. 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 βoverrated,β prompting James to say that he wouldnβt return the insult, as that would be βalmost like Jay-Z [responding to a negative comment] made by Soulja Boy.β 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.
Don
Soulja Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't get mad cause the kidz like me
Don't get mad cause the kidz like me
Don't get mad cause the kidz like me
Don't get mad cause the kidz like me
Don't don't don't get mad cause the kidz like me (x4)
Everybody know I got the kidz yellling dont- get- mad cause the kids like soulja boy tell em and they parents they can't see it they blind they wonder why they kids talking bout soulja boy all the time(all the time) they can't understand they ways they wonder why they son and they daughter got the name on they shades(on they shades) or why they only wear bathing apes or why they sit at they computer watching soulja boy all day if you don't get it it's a movement(a movement) I ain't saying that you stupid you just need improvement(improvement) they say the records ain't selling no more jus cuzz errbody on the internet on download now it's my turn to hit(my turn to hit it) if you don't get it by the end of the song you won't get(you won't get it) real talk I spit it(i spit it) I got the kidz on lock and it's jus the beginning, let's go!
(chorus)
Why you mad foe?(why you mad foe) why you hating foe??(why you hating foe)?
Soulja boy tell em what the street been waiting foe now am sign and it's going down(down) taking over radio tv everything man (man) I ain't gon buy my time foe no body if you bug me for your show am a crank up your whole party while you listenin to these songz eaze ya mind if you don't get what am saying press rewind now right now am 16 (sixteen)but when you hear these songz am a be 17 and running things super-man I started that(i started that) but the biggest mam flotery is jus a lotta cappri cats(a lotta capri cats) its all good cuz am on deck(am on deck) its so major what I did with a mic in the internet(internet) new rappers every day world wild no deals jus the fans and the fans they on my side
(chorus)
Am the kidz favorite rapper (yuh) do tha dance never(yuh) if anyone else can do it I can do it better got the grown folks scratching they head they say wha'z goin on what so special about soulja boy man whats going on this all I got to say in my rap(in my rap) when it spread to the grown folks man its a raw if u hating better pop your breaks(pop your break) dont get madd cuz the kidz fans and they watching my face (we luv u soulja boy) (3x) soulja boy my favorite rapper,no his my fav.raper, no my favorite rapper )
(yahh)
(chorus)
The lyrics of Soulja Boy's "Don't Get Mad" revolves around the idea of the "Soulja Boy Tell 'Em" movement that he started. The chorus repeats the phrase "Don't get mad cause the kidz like me" multiple times, emphasizing the fact that his fan base comprises mainly of young kids. In the first verse, he talks about how parents are unable to comprehend the craze around his music and persona among the youth. He acknowledges that the music industry is changing with more people downloading music, and he's trying to make his mark with his unique approach to music. He also boasts a bit about how he has the kids on lock and that it's just the beginning. In the second verse, he continues to talk about how he's taken over the internet, and his music is being embraced by a wide range of people despite the initial confusion that surrounded the movement. He acknowledges that his fan base comprises mostly of kids and that it's a significant change in the rap game.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't get mad cause the kidz like me
I don't want you to be angry because the kids are fond of me.
Everybody know I got the kidz yellling dont-get-mad cause the kids like soulja boy tell em and they parents they can't see it they blind they wonder why they kids talking bout soulja boy all the time(all the time) they can't understand they ways they wonder why they son and they daughter got the name on they shades(on they shades) or why they only wear bathing apes or why they sit at they computer watching soulja boy all day if you don't get it it's a movement(a movement) I ain't saying that you stupid you just need improvement(improvement)
Everyone knows that the children love me, and even their parents are surprised. They can't comprehend why their kids always mention my name and emulate my fashion sense or online behaviour. It's because I've built a movement, and in case you don't comprehend, it's not your fault; you just need to better grasp the situation.
they say the records ain't selling no more jus cuzz errbody on the internet on download now it's my turn to hit(my turn to hit it) if you don't get it by the end of the song you won't get(you won't get it) real talk I spit it(i spit it) I got the kidz on lock and it's jus the beginning, let's go!
The current music industry's revenue model has failed due to rampant online piracy, but I will take advantage of this trend and conquer the market, even if you don't understand my strategy. I speak only the truth, and I have a massive fan base that will only grow from here.
Why you mad foe?(why you mad foe) why you hating foe??(why you hating foe)?
Why are you angry with me and why do you dislike me?
Soulja boy tell em what the street been waiting foe now am sign and it's going down(down) taking over radio tv everything man (man) I ain't gon buy my time foe no body if you bug me for your show am a crank up your whole party while you listenin to these songz eaze ya mind if you don't get what am saying press rewind now right now am 16 (sixteen)but when you hear these songz am a be 17 and running things super-man I started that(i started that) but the biggest mam flotery is jus a lotta cappri cats(a lotta capri cats) its all good cuz am on deck(am on deck) its so major what I did with a mic in the internet(internet) new rappers every day world wild no deals jus the fans and the fans they on my side
I'm the rapper that the streets have been waiting for, and I've now signed a deal and am taking over every aspect of the media. I won't wait for anyone to give me a chance; instead, I'll take control of the situation. If you invite me to your party, I'll make sure it gets lit while you listen to my music. I may be young, but I'm already influential and renowned. While some may consider my success a fluke, I know it's because I'm simply that talented, and my fans will always support me.
Am the kidz favorite rapper (yuh) do tha dance never(yuh) if anyone else can do it I can do it better got the grown folks scratching they head they say wha'z goin on what so special about soulja boy man whats going on this all I got to say in my rap(in my rap) when it spread to the grown folks man its a raw if u hating better pop your breaks(pop your break) dont get madd cuz the kidz fans and they watching my face (we luv u soulja boy) (3x) soulja boy my favorite rapper,no his my fav.raper, no my favorite rapper )
(yahh)
I'm the favourite rapper of the kids, and if anyone can perform the Soulja Boy dance, I can outdo them. While the adults might be confused by my changing the music industry, my rap songs speak for themselves. If you still don't comprehend, that's a shame, because my fans are loyal to me, so you better control your jealousy and not disrupt my vision.
Don't don't don't get mad cause the kidz like me (x4)
Please, please, please don't be angry that the children are so fond of me.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marie Kano
I remember dancing to this song in high school with my girls. Ah the memories
SHAWKLAN 27
That's cool
Marie Kano
+loverboy33 Aww thank you! :)
Taniyah _too _cute Caldwell
Kita Lorraine
Xavia Anderson
I remember dancing to this song when I was 7 years old maneπi'm 15 now and it still go hardπ―
Mei
Wow youβre 20 years old now amazing π
Interesting Factor
@Mei frfr like wtf π
Edmund A
Stop. Iβm old af π
Sylvia Gomez
That moment when you realize that's your little ass had no business dancing to this song when it came out πππ
ConTheGoat
I just died you are so right π€£π€£π€£