Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy is a rapper, producer, and social media influencer who rose to fame with his hit single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" in 2007.

DeAndre Cortez Way, known by his stage name Soulja Boy, was born on July 28, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois but was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his music career as a teenager by uploading his songs on SoundClick and later moving to YouTube and MySpace.

About Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy emerged in the music industry at the age of 17 with his debut single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," which became an internet sensation in 2007. He created the song along with its popular dance routine, and the video went viral on YouTube. The song sat at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven non-consecutive weeks, making him a household name worldwide.

Shortly after the success of "Crank That," Soulja Boy signed a record deal with Interscope Records in May 2007, and his debut album, Souljaboytellem.com, was released in October of that year. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Despite the criticism of his simplistic lyrics and unorthodox flow, Soulja Boy continued to earn recognition for his work. In 2009, he received a Grammy nomination for “Crank That,” and later found success with other hit songs including “Kiss Me Thru the Phone,” “Turn My Swag On,” and “Pretty Boy Swag.” He was also named one of Forbes' "Hip-Hop Cash Kings" in 2010, indicating his financial success in the music industry.

Aside from his music career, Soulja Boy has also ventured into other areas of business, including an endorsement deal with World Poker Fund Holdings in 2016, which he claimed was worth $400 million.

Throughout his career, Soulja Boy has also faced legal issues and personal controversies. In 2011, he was sued for using unauthorized samples in his songs. In 2016, he was arrested on charges of possessing weapons and violating his probation. Despite these challenges, Soulja Boy has continued to develop as an artist, releasing mixtape after mixtape and launching his own record label, Stacks on Deck Entertainment.

Today, he still maintains a strong social media presence, constantly interacting with his fans and updating them on his new projects. Whether he's loved or hated, Soulja Boy remains an influential figure in the hip-hop community.

The Legacy of Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy's rise to fame was a significant watershed moment in the music industry and pop culture in general. His success proved that the internet had the power to break new artists and push their music across the globe without the help of traditional media platforms.

The "Crank That" craze also sparked a dance trend that would go on to dominate pop culture in the late 2000s and early 2010s, with artists like Beyoncé, Chris Brown, and even seniors in nursing homes participating in it.

In addition, Soulja Boy's music paved the way for the emergence of other Southern rap artists who similarly challenged the conventional ideas of what mainstream rap could look and sound like. This included artists such as Lil Wayne, Future, and Young Thug.

While Soulja Boy's music may not appeal to everyone, there is no denying the lasting impact he has had on the music industry and pop culture at large.

The Future of Soulja Boy

Although Soulja Boy's music career has not seen the same level of success as it did in the late 2000s, he still remains active in the hip-hop scene and continues to release music.

In 2018, he announced that he was planning to release his fifth studio album, Young Drako, which would feature collaborations with artists such as Lil Wayne, Tory Lanez, and Asian Doll. He also stated in an interview with Complex that he would be venturing into the tech industry, creating his own video game console and taking on tech giant Nintendo.

Despite the controversies he has faced in the past, Soulja Boy still maintains a loyal fanbase, and his constant hustle and entrepreneurial spirit indicate that he will continue to make waves in both the music and tech industries.