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.
Shootout
Soulja Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta do the poole palace, then take yo arm and pull the trigga finger
You know wat I'm sayin.
[Chorus]
Shoot!
Let me get em
Shoot!
Shoot!
Let me get em
Shoot!
Let me get em
Nah Shootout Ayyee, Nah Shootout Ayyee, Nah Shootout Ayyee, Nah Shootout Ayyee
Nah Shootout
Let me get em
Shoot!
Let me get em
Shoot!
Let me get em
Shoot!
Let me get em
Nah Shootout Ayye, Nah Shootout Ayyee, Nah Shootout Ayyee, Nah Shootout Ayyee
(Soulja Boy Tell Em)
Its time to do my dance, pullin up my pants, posted on the dance flo in my pimpin stance
It ain't the same thang do my dance is a stinga, you gotta rock smoothly and pull ya trigga finga.
I'm wild on da dance flo, yea I got fans, I'm doin poole palace and dey lookin at my hands,
I'm bout to do my dance, but naww you can't stop that, I crank my dance up and then I let my glock cock back.
[Chorus]
I see em on the dance flo, don't know how to act, tryna crank my dance but that dance don't match.
Soulja Boy up on da scene you know its firred up, Hold Up Wait A Minute Whind Me Up.
I'm gettin buck, and yeen know, 'cause imma crank the shuffle and then do the mary-go.
I tell em stance on deck (YEP), dance on deck (YEP), fo all y'all who hate, I got hands on deck
[Chorus]
After ya get real low then rock on ya toes, rock side to side and do yo dance on da flo.
Nah Shootout (shootout), Nah Shootout (shootout), Nah Shootout (shootout), Nah Shootout (shootout)
After ya get real low then rock on ya toes, rock side to side and do yo dance on da flo.
Nah Shootout (shootout), Nah Shootout (shootout), Nah Shootout (shootout), Nah Shootout (shootout)
[Chorus]
[Leading Halfway to End at Fast Pace]
Shoot It, Shoot It, Shoot It, Shoot It,.. Shoot It, Shoot It, Shoot It...
The lyrics of Soulja Boy's song Shootout are about a new dance move that the artist has created called the "Poole Palace." Soulja Boy explains how to do the dance by saying to take your arm and pull the trigger finger, indicating shooting a gun. He repeats the phrase "Let me get 'em" throughout the song, emphasizing the aggressive nature of the dance.
The chorus of the song includes the phrase "Nah Shootout Ayyee," which implies that the dance is like a shootout on the dance floor. Soulja Boy continues to describe his dance moves as being wild and having fans watching him. He also mentions how he incorporates his gun into his dance by letting his "glock cock back."
The second verse of the song focuses on the reaction of others on the dance floor who try to do the Poole Palace dance but are unable to do it correctly. Soulja Boy emphasizes that he is the original creator of the dance and it's not the same when others try to imitate it.
Overall, the lyrics of Shootout are centered around Soulja Boy's new dance move and how he incorporates a violent theme into it.
Line by Line Meaning
Ayyee, this ya boy soulja boy shawty. I gotta new dance for y'all,
Soulja Boy has come up with a new dance and is introducing it to his listeners.
You gotta do the poole palace, then take yo arm and pull the trigga finger
To do Soulja Boy's new dance, you have to move your arm and pretend to pull a trigger.
Shoot!
Soulja Boy is encouraging his listeners to shoot.
Let me get em
Soulja Boy wants to be the one to shoot or take action.
Nah Shootout Ayyee, Nah Shootout Ayyee, Nah Shootout Ayyee, Nah Shootout Ayyee
Soulja Boy does not want a shootout to happen.
Its time to do my dance, pullin up my pants, posted on the dance flo in my pimpin stance
Soulja Boy is ready to do his new dance and is showing off his style.
It ain't the same thang do my dance is a stinga, you gotta rock smoothly and pull ya trigga finga.
Soulja Boy's new dance is innovative and requires you to move smoothly and pretend to pull a trigger.
I'm wild on da dance flo, yea I got fans, I'm doin poole palace and dey lookin at my hands,
Soulja Boy is very expressive on the dance floor and is attracting attention from his fans.
I'm bout to do my dance, but naww you can't stop that, I crank my dance up and then I let my glock cock back.
Soulja Boy is determined to do his dance and, figuratively speaking, prepares his gun to shoot anyone who tries to stop him.
I see em on the dance flo, don't know how to act, tryna crank my dance but that dance don't match.
Soulja Boy sees people trying to copy his dance but they are not doing it correctly.
Soulja Boy up on da scene you know its firred up, Hold Up Wait A Minute Whind Me Up.
Soulja Boy is present and causing excitement, and tells people to wait and watch him closely.
I'm gettin buck, and yeen know, 'cause imma crank the shuffle and then do the mary-go.
Soulja Boy is very energetic and, as part of his dance, shuffles and twirls around.
I tell em stance on deck (YEP), dance on deck (YEP), fo all y'all who hate, I got hands on deck
Soulja Boy tells everyone that he is ready to dance or fight anyone who wants to hate on him.
After ya get real low then rock on ya toes, rock side to side and do yo dance on da flo.
To perform Soulja Boy's dance, you have to lower your body and then move your feet and rock side to side.
Shoot It, Shoot It, Shoot It, Shoot It,.. Shoot It, Shoot It, Shoot It...
Soulja Boy repeats his previous encouragement to shoot.
Contributed by Nora V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stephen
Used to be a big fan of this dude's music. A lot of people said this guy was killing hip-hop, but he actually did a lot for the game. He ushered in the "digital era". He was one of the first to use social media as the platform for promotion, which is the standard now. He also paved the way for a lot of these young artists and brought dance back to the forefront of hip-hop. Guy was years ahead of his time as a marketer.
Legit tuber1414
Stephen Pamphile Do you remember bye Jay Sean Iyaz replay
Ant Agurz
Stephen Pamphile πππππ
Stephen
***** Not really. What other kid rapper was big during Bow Wow's run? Only Romeo, and his dad owns one of the biggest record labels in hip-hop. When Soulja came in, a whole influx of "dance rappers" got mainstream. He started that wave. And you also got not just kids, but rappers period becoming famous off social networks. Soulja started all that. Bow Wow was just in his own lane.
NumbCorns
All he needs to do is stop rapping chicago style. It's not working for him. Most people that loves him are girls, he needs to make love lyrics with hyped beats and dance.
LamineGuinean
Stephen Pamphile and lets not miss the most important point : he brought fun hip hop and lyrics while they were all "serious" like "gangsta bang bang" .. so he made us all laugh and dance! I get real high school memories with his songs π
Isiah*
Can't lie he had some hits, production was on point and he did it himself
Lifeof FayFay
Factz
Jacob Nelr
X Annie Acton act runny funny pretty gir
FAFF of years oh pretty girl call you tonight what's up girl g e or you of year's FD of years you fit I yes of
FAFF you a you of we you
Yung Boi
Soulja boy is a legend man. HE CREAT SWAG like its the first first drip wave... like he is the fist ig flexer, now rap IS ig flexinπ€£π€£π€£