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.
Stop Then Snap
Soulja Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
stop snap then wiggle wit it snap
stop snap then wiggle wit it snap
stop snap cuz soulja boy told ya
( 8 x's )
do the motorcycle snap
posted at tha store me and my folk
buddy talkin crazy but he jus dont kno
gipp in the building and we screamin out we up
they aint got no money sh** gettem outta her
first side hype im on top of the charts
charts hit the finish line for a playa in the start
still on the scene still holdin green
and ya kno we can meet if ya boi disagree
chorus:
verse :2
i got eyes in the streets so i kno who be talkin
half of the nights soulja boi sleep walkin
patrone but im grown so i stay on that ex
i stay wit a black fitted cap on my head
im always ridin always surprisin
summer time hit and im goin to that island
im jus grindin its me bein me
dont get served but u heard in the streets
chorus:
verse :3
i got money on my mind
mind on my money
i see them laughin but it aint nuttin funny
im gettin out the work tryna stash 6 0
they kno who i b cuz my name on my clothes
hat to the back already on my stand
soulja boy gon do the dance
first ya snap then wiggle then rock
hit the motorcycle then stop
The lyrics to Soulja Boy's "Stop Then Snap" are quite simplistic, but there is a depth to them that speaks to personal struggle and a relentless pursuit of success. The chorus serves as an anthem empowering the listener to dance and move with confidence because "Soulja boy told ya." The verses, on the other hand, dive into the experiences and mindset of the rapper himself, shedding light on the hard work, haters, and distractions he faces on a daily basis.
In the first verse, Soulja Boy is posted at the store with his friends discussing the haters who doubt their ability to succeed. He mentions that he is currently on top of the charts, but it wasn't always that way. He's still "holdin green" which could be interpreted literally as holding money or figuratively as maintaining his relevance in the music industry. He ends the verse by inviting anyone who disagrees with him to "meet" him, which could be interpreted as a challenge to his music industry opponents.
The second verse focuses on the rapper's mindset and daily routine. He mentions that he has eyes on the streets so that he knows who is talking, which could be seen as a sign of vigilance and awareness. He also mentions that he is constantly grinding and surprising people, which shows that he never takes a break and is always pushing for the next accomplishment. The line "don't get served but u heard in the streets" could be interpreted as people spreading rumors about him, but he doesn't let it bother him because he knows they've still heard of him.
In the third verse, Soulja Boy emphasizes how hard he is working and how little distractions matter to him. "Money on my mind, mind on my money" shows that his focus is on his career and financially stability. The line "they kno who i b cuz my name on my clothes" shows that he's well-known, and he's working hard to maintain his reputation. The verse ends with a callback to the dance, where he instructs the listener to "stop snap then wiggle then rock" before hitting the motorcycle and stopping.
Overall, "Stop Then Snap" is an empowering song that emphasizes the importance of staying focused on personal goals. The chorus empowers the listener to embrace self-confidence and dance, while the verses provide insight into the mindset and daily struggles of the rapper himself.
Line by Line Meaning
stop snap then wiggle wit it snap
Pause for a moment, snap your fingers, then shake your body to the music before snapping your fingers again
stop snap cuz soulja boy told ya
Stop snapping your fingers to the music because Soulja Boy commands you to do so
do the motorcycle snap
Perform the signature dance move known as the motorcycle snap, which involves pretending to ride a motorcycle while snapping your fingers
posted at tha store me and my folk
I'm hanging out with my friends at the store
buddy talkin crazy but he jus dont kno
One of my friends is acting foolishly, but he doesn't realize it
they aint got no money sh** gettem outta her
People who can't pay for things should leave the store
first side hype im on top of the charts
My music is currently very popular and successful
charts hit the finish line for a playa in the start
My success on the music charts is just the beginning of my career
still on the scene still holdin green
I'm still relevant in the music industry and making money
and ya kno we can meet if ya boi disagree
I'm willing to have a conversation with anyone who disagrees with me
i got eyes in the streets so i kno who be talkin
I'm aware of the rumors and gossip about me circulating in the streets
half of the nights soulja boi sleep walkin
I have trouble sleeping at night and often walk around while I'm asleep
patrone but im grown so i stay on that ex
I used to drink Patron, but now I stick to smoking weed
i stay wit a black fitted cap on my head
I always wear a black fitted cap on my head
im always ridin always surprisin
I'm constantly on the move and surprising people with my music
summer time hit and im goin to that island
In the summertime, I like to travel to an island destination
im jus grindin its me bein me
I'm just working hard and being true to myself
dont get served but u heard in the streets
People may talk about me, but I'm not easily defeated
i got money on my mind
I'm focused on making money
mind on my money
I'm constantly thinking about ways to make more money
i see them laughin but it aint nuttin funny
People may be laughing at me, but I don't find it amusing
im gettin out the work tryna stash 6 0
I'm putting in work to save up $60,000
they kno who i b cuz my name on my clothes
People recognize me because my name is on my clothing
hat to the back already on my stand
I'm wearing my hat backwards and ready to perform
soulja boy gon do the dance
I'm going to perform my signature motorcycle snap dance move
first ya snap then wiggle then rock
The motorcycle snap involves snapping your fingers, wiggling, and then pretending to rock on a motorcycle
hit the motorcycle then stop
Finish the dance move by pretending to come to a stop on the motorcycle
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vintage Feen
This is one of the greatest songs ever
Sleepy Chris
Listening to this brings back memories lol
Rucci Reacts
Motorcycle Snap💯
Almakk2
if he plays this in the verzus ima lose it
IFIMAKEIT
2021, this song came out when bear share was lit
Brandon Boger
Did Soulja THINK to play this during tonite Versuz battle? i missed a few tracks thrown out there
J T
I wanted to hear this 2 bird walk and 10 on pump 4
James Johnson
I'm pretty sure "lean wit it rock wit it" was samples from this beat!!!
James Johnson
@TroubleKiddATL Damn you're right!! I'm trippin!
TroubleKiddATL
no snap ya fingers