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.
Shoppin' Spree
Soulja Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Left ring 10 hundred cash
Neck piece 30 grand
Whip cost 300 grand
God damn I'm on a shopping spree
Bracelet 20 bags
Rims cost me 5 grand
House cost 500 cash
[Soulja Boy]
Lying in a whip that don't release until 2010
50 thousand dollars spent just to make my rims spin
Half a million dollars spent on the house I live in
Even more spent on the seat I sit my ass in
Soulja boy tell em a.k.a the assassin
Prises cuts in my watch like I threw sum glass in
Damn exclusive shit sent from china
If you looking for me I'm probably in yo girls vagina
I'm looking in the mirror tell me who's finer
Bought a Lamborghini didn't need to cosigner
Hey what I spit is just minor
Every cut served soulja boys headliner
Damn now tell me you don't feel this
Hey you cant say I'm just one hit
Hey are you bitch niggas serious
I'm quick on track like fast and the furious
[Chorus]
I'm on a shopping spree [Repeat: x6]
[Gucci Mane]
Chevy to a Chevy Chevy to a Lamborghini
You cant be me or see me unless you see me on t.v
Shine and greezy I wonder Stevie Wonder can see me
Necklace a jungle of greed just check my selectional pieces
I got a stupid collection you see
Chain worth a millie you sill wille a millie and 20
Uh man I pass out 50s an 20s
I pass out 50s an 20s I pass out 100s and 50s
We make more money than chemist, doctors, the lawyers, the dentist
Chemist the doctors the lawyers ye money together couldn't getcha
2 door Gurraro 160
Drop top 120
House worth a million and three dual trust 63 G's
Old schools a hundred a piece
That cost me 75 gs, 65 actually but my rims coast me ten of them things
Gucci yo gotti the king
Soulja done did it again
This team be 82gs that be worth 82 keys
[Chorus]
[Yo Gotti]
Money ain't the option
Lets give you a option
You go to your stash partner an I'll come out my pockets
2 hundred hundreds
That like 20 grad
Just enough for me to buy my briden a new band
I'm like soulja boy tell me
They think that I'm playing
Come down her to Tennessee and see that I'm the man
Ain't talking bout no rapping
I'm talking bout that trapping
I'm talking bout that brick ill ram it straight up pistol package?
Ring piece 2000 grand
Neck piece 4000 grand
Fina cop Chevy but instead I went and coped a lamb
Whoa took yo bitch on a shopping spree
Gucci then Prada an I think they hoe in love with
Ain't got security I keep lots of thugs wit me
We call them goons cause I rock lots of jewelery
Cocaine everything
Who the fuck ain't feeling me
Gun powder on the market
Realest nigga in the streets
[Chorus]
I'm on a shopping spree [Repeat: x6]
The song “Shoppin Spree” by Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Gucci Mane, and Yo Gotti talks about the lavish lifestyle of these rappers. The chorus begins by listing out the high-ticket items that they have purchased, including a left ring worth $10k, a necklace worth $30k, and a car costing $300k. The verses further elaborate on their extravagant lifestyles and the amount of money they spend on things like expensive cars, jewelry, and houses. The singers are proud of their wealth and are not ashamed to flaunt it. The lyrics also mention their success in the music industry, with Soulja Boy boasting that he is not just a one-hit-wonder.
The rappers also talk about their drug dealing past and how it has helped them accumulate their wealth. Yo Gotti even claims that he has enough money to come out of his pockets and pay up to $20k in cash for things he wants to buy. The song gives listeners an insight into the lifestyle of successful rappers and their penchant for spending money on luxurious items.
Line by Line Meaning
Left ring 10 hundred cash
I spent a lot of money on a ring
Neck piece 30 grand
I spent a lot of money on a necklace
Whip cost 300 grand
I spent a huge amount of money on a car
God damn I'm on a shopping spree
I'm spending a lot of money and enjoying it
Bracelet 20 bags
I spent a lot of money on a bracelet
Rims cost me 5 grand
I spent a considerable sum of money on the rims of my car
House cost 500 cash
I spent a lot of money on a house
Lying in a whip that don't release until 2010
I'm riding in a car that's not yet available for sale
50 thousand dollars spent just to make my rims spin
I spent $50,000 to modify my car's rims
Half a million dollars spent on the house I live in
I spent $500,000 on my house
Even more spent on the seat I sit my ass in
I spent a lot of money on the seat in my car
Soulja boy tell em a.k.a the assassin
I'm known by the name Soulja boy tell em, also called the assassin
Prises cuts in my watch like I threw sum glass in
My watch has diamond cuts, making it look like it has glass in it
Damn exclusive shit sent from china
I have exclusive things that were sent to me from China
If you looking for me I'm probably in yo girls vagina
I'm probably having sex with your girlfriend
I'm looking in the mirror tell me who's finer
I'm looking in the mirror and admiring myself
Bought a Lamborghini didn't need to cosigner
I bought a Lamborghini without the need for a cosigner
Hey what I spit is just minor
The things I talk about are minor to what I actually do with my money
Every cut served soulja boys headliner
Every verse I put out is a hit
Damn now tell me you don't feel this
Isn't this awesome?
Hey you cant say I'm just one hit
I'm not just a one-hit wonder
Hey are you bitch niggas serious
Are you guys serious or joking?
I'm quick on track like fast and the furious
I'm really fast on the track, like in the movie Fast and the Furious.
Chevy to a Chevy Chevy to a Lamborghini
I upgraded my car from a Chevy to a Lamborghini
You cant be me or see me unless you see me on t.v
You can only experience my lifestyle by seeing me on TV
Shine and greezy I wonder Stevie Wonder can see me
I'm really flashy, I wonder if Stevie Wonder can see me
Necklace a jungle of greed just check my selectional pieces
I have a lot of expensive necklaces
I got a stupid collection you see
I have a crazy huge collection of expensive things
Chain worth a millie you sill wille a millie and 20
My chain costs $1 million, you only have $1.02 million
Old schools a hundred a piece
I have a hundred old school cars
That cost me 75 gs, 65 actually but my rims coast me ten of them things
Those cost me $65,000, but then I spent another $10,000 on the rims
Gucci yo gotti the king
Gucci and Yo Gotti are the kings of the game
Soulja done did it again
I did something awesome again
This team be 82gs that be worth 82 keys
My team and I are worth $82,000
Money ain't the option
Money is not a problem for me
Lets give you a option
Let's give you a choice
You go to your stash partner an I'll come out my pockets
You go use your own money, I'll use mine
2 hundred hundreds
I have $20,000
That like 20 grad
That's like $20,000
Just enough for me to buy my briden a new band
I have enough money to buy my bride a new wedding band
I'm like soulja boy tell me
I'm like Soulja Boy, let me tell you
They think that I'm playing
They think I'm joking
Come down her to Tennessee and see that I'm the man
Come to Tennessee and see how cool I am
Ain't talking bout no rapping
I'm not just talking about rapping
I'm talking bout that trapping
I'm talking about that drug dealing life
I'm talking bout that brick ill ram it straight up pistol package?
I'm talking about selling drugs and firearms
Ring piece 2000 grand
My ring costs $2,000,000
Neck piece 4000 grand
My necklace costs $4,000,000
Fina cop Chevy but instead I went and coped a lamb
Instead of buying a Chevy, I bought a Lamborghini
Whoa took yo bitch on a shopping spree
I took your girlfriend on a shopping spree
Ain't got security I keep lots of thugs wit me
I don't have security, I have lots of gang members with me
We call them goons cause I rock lots of jewelery
We call them goons because they protect me and I wear a lot of expensive jewelry
Cocaine everything
I'm all about that cocaine lifestyle
Who the fuck ain't feeling me
Who doesn't like me?
Gun powder on the market
I have a lot of guns available for sale
Realest nigga in the streets
I'm the realest and toughest guy in the neighborhood
I'm on a shopping spree
I'm spending a lot of money on shopping
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COREY DENNARD, DEANDRE WAY, MARIO MIMS, RADRIC DAVIS, RADRIC DELANTIC DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SouljaBoy
"Whip" cost 300 grand, that's a car if you didn't know. LOL
@poppacash9352
Soulja Boy back when mfs didn't know what a whip was lmao 😂😂😂😂 you been doin this shit bro mfs hate tho
@princizkriven6606
Classic soulja
@80sbaby923
💀💀💀 let em know Soulja
@BaysideSoundz
Aye you better drop this for the verzuz
@colintaylor8131
Here in 2021 and remembering back when mfs didn't know what whip was lol this is dope seeing you comment big draco💪🏻😅
@SouljaBoy
Yezzirr. :)
@johnwinston6192
Ayeeeeee
@tchino904
Ahead ur time
@trafficconesupmytightass7695
goat