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.
Soulja Girl
Soulja Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right now it's goin down (yeah)
Lookin for that Soulja Girl (oh yeah)
Ay, ay, ay, ay
Damn, watch me do it
Damn, watch me do it
Yeah (yeah) ay (ay)
She gotta step like this to be a Soulja Girl
She gotta step like that to be a Soulja Girl
Girl let me see you (you, you)
Tell me you (you, you)
She gotta walk it out, to be a Soulja Girl
You know what I'm talkin 'bout, hey Soulja Girl
Girl let me see you (you, you)
Tell me you (you, you)
You got to walk it out, to be my Soulja Girl (Soulja Girl)
Life keeps tickin', I'm the one pickin', yeah I done told ya girl (told ya girl)
Hit the mall with me, come ball with me from Monday to Sunday (Monday to Sunday)
I know we on but everybody fall in love someday (fall in love someday)
Soulja Boy tell 'em got the girls goin' wild
From the corner of my eye I saw her smile
You wanna be my girl you gotta wipe me down
Dressed so fresh make the girls say wow!
Lovin' me (lovin' me) my Soulja Girl (Soulja Girl)
Huggin' me (huggin' me) my Soulja Girl (Soulja Girl)
She gotta step like this to be a Soulja Girl
She gotta step like that to be a Soulja Girl
Girl let me see you (you, you)
Tell me you (you, you)
She gotta walk it out, to be a Soulja Girl
You know what I'm talkin' 'bout, hey Soulja Girl
Girl let me see you (you, you)
Tell me you (you, you)
We on the phone like, dat-dat-da-da-da-dah-dah
We on the phone like, da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dah-dah
She callin' me (she callin' me) I'm callin' her (I'm callin' her)
She followin' me (she followin me) I'm followin' her (I'm followin' her)
Her mom picked up the phone and said "You got this girl sprung"
She got me sprung too, she said "Both of y'all dumb!"
But I'm diggin' her (I'm diggin' her) she diggin' me (she diggin' me)
And she so cute (and she so cute) and she so lovely (she so lovely)
She gotta step like this to be a Soulja Girl
She gotta step like that to be a Soulja Girl
Girl let me see you (you, you)
Tell me you (you, you)
She gotta walk it out, to be a Soulja Girl
You know what I'm talkin' 'bout, hey Soulja Girl
Girl let me see you (you, you, where my ladies?)
Tell me you (you, you)
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (yeah, yeah)
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (can you be my Soulja Girl)
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (ay, Soulja Girl)
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (yeah)
Soulja Boy, tell 'em now
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (now watch me do)
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (damn, yeah, now watch me do)
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (ay, ay, watch me do)
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (yeah)
I need a Soulja Girl!
In Soulja Boy's song "Soulja Girl," he is searching for a girl who embodies the qualities of a "Soulja Girl," which he describes as having a certain way of walking and carrying herself. He asks the girl to show him her steps and tell him who she is. Throughout the song, he expresses his affection for this girl and describes their phone conversations, with her mother even being aware of their connection. He expresses a desire for her to be his "Soulja Girl" and makes it clear that he wants to ball with her and for her to be by his side from Monday to Sunday.
Throughout the song, Soulja Boy's lyrics are somewhat repetitive, but this is a common style in many hip-hop songs. The song is catchy, and the lyrics are easy to remember, which helps to make the song a popular dance track. Although the song's lyrics are not particularly deep or meaningful, they serve the purpose of the song, which is to get people on the dance floor.
Line by Line Meaning
Soulja Boy Tell'em (yeah)
Introduction to the artist
Right now it's goin down (yeah)
Acknowledging that something is happening
Lookin for that Soulja Girl (oh yeah)
Expressing the desire to find a certain type of girl
Ay, ay, ay, ay
Exclamation of excitement
Damn, watch me do it
Confidence in one's ability
She gotta step like this to be a Soulja Girl
Criteria for being the desired type of girl
She gotta step like that to be a Soulja Girl
Further criteria for being the desired type of girl
Girl let me see you (you, you)
Request to see the girl's physical movement
Tell me you (you, you)
Request for confirmation of the girl's suitability
She gotta walk it out, to be a Soulja Girl
Emphasis on physical movement as an important factor
You know what I'm talkin 'bout, hey Soulja Girl
Reinforcement of desired characteristics
You got to walk it out, to be my Soulja Girl (Soulja Girl)
Linking physical movement to the artist's desire
Life keeps tickin', I'm the one pickin', yeah I done told ya girl (told ya girl)
Asserting control in a relationship
Hit the mall with me, come ball with me from Monday to Sunday (Monday to Sunday)
Request for time together
I know we on but everybody fall in love someday (fall in love someday)
Acknowledgement that love is a natural thing
Soulja Boy tell 'em got the girls goin' wild
Recognition of the artist's popularity with girls
From the corner of my eye I saw her smile
Recollection of a particular moment with a girl
You wanna be my girl you gotta wipe me down
Request to be physically cared for by the girl
Dressed so fresh make the girls say wow!
Pride in personal fashion sense
Lovin' me (lovin' me) my Soulja Girl (Soulja Girl)
Description of the artist's ideal girl
Huggin' me (huggin' me) my Soulja Girl (Soulja Girl)
Further description of the artist's ideal girl
We on the phone like, dat-dat-da-da-da-dah-dah
Description of spending time on the phone
She callin' me (she callin' me) I'm callin' her (I'm callin' her)
Description of a phone-based relationship
Her mom picked up the phone and said "You got this girl sprung"
Description of the girl's mother noticing the relationship
She got me sprung too, she said "Both of y'all dumb!"
Acknowledgment of mutual feelings of infatuation
But I'm diggin' her (I'm diggin' her) she diggin' me (she diggin' me)
Further description of mutual infatuation
And she so cute (and she so cute) and she so lovely (she so lovely)
Description of the girl's physical attributes
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (yeah, yeah)
Vocalization of excitement
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (can you be my Soulja Girl)
Direct request for the girl to be the artist's ideal girl
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (ay, Soulja Girl)
Reinforcement of the artist's preferred girl type
Da-da-dat-dat-da-da-da-dahhh-dahhh (yeah)
Confirmation of mutual desire
Soulja Boy, tell 'em now
Introduction to the artist's name
Now watch me do
Confident display of ability
Damn, yeah, now watch me do
Further display of confidence
Ay, ay, watch me do
Encouragement to be impressed by the artist's ability
Girl let me see you (you, you, where my ladies?)
Direct request to various girls to perform a physical movement
Tell me you (you, you)
Request for confirmation of suitability after the physical movement
I need a Soulja Girl!
Direct declaration of desire for performer's ideal girl type
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carlos Thornton, Deandre Way, Joseph Wembley, Michael Crooms, Michael Antoine Crooms
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@devonrowe8933
Soulja Boy doesn't get the credit deserved because he lacked in lyricism, but he creativity started a whole era and had all us grooving and doing dances, wearing baggy clothes and sunglasses! He was played everywhere at every party, him and Lil Wayne literally ran the world for a good minute. If you know, you know.
@jason854656
That's highly exaggerated
@DollyM124
Factsssss
@GaryTha2nd
Bro you think heβs responsible for baggy clothes? You gotta be 15 or something because he was exactly how every other rapper of the era was. Itβs the younger gens who give him all his βcreditβ when he is lyrically retrded . Iβll give it to him that he capitalized on the internet and ringtones but he wasnβt even the first to do that plies was doing this before him. People act like they favorite rapper gotta be in the history books when soulja is never brought up when people talk about greatest rappers, he just capitalized on the current era and ride of technology. Dude is selling Chinese knock off gaming consoles and saying they are more powerful then current gaming consoles dude is broke and a regular ass one(two) hit wonder rappers
@user-ni9mf1xl5m
Lmao he ainβt start the baggy clothes beuh
@KatyAgwada
πgo get Ceola brother and take him gto nu life and burger king he won.he is the winner
@SassyDivalyrics
ππ« I remember watching 106 & Park every day just to watch this music video ... the days before you could watch music videos on YouTube
@kimberlyjoyner4453
I remember them daysπππ
@quintinjxander
Facts! Damn I feel old lol almost 12 years now.
@quintinjxander
@FuckingHateTwilightTrue. I miss the old YouTube. Back in the mid 2000s.