Who Is Soulja Boy?
DeAndre Cortez Way, known as Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, is an Atlanta rapper who became famous in 2007 through Crank That (Soulja Boy) — one of the first truly viral rap hits of the internet era, charting at #1 for seven weeks. He is widely credited as a pioneer of digital rap distribution and social media promotion, even as his music has been consistently criticised for minimal lyrical substance.
Quick Stats
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | DeAndre Cortez Way |
| Born | July 28, 1990 — Chicago, Illinois (raised in Atlanta) |
| Active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Collipark, Interscope, SODMG |
| Genre | Snap rap, trap, crunk, hip-hop |
Career Overview
Soulja Boy independently uploaded Crank That (Soulja Boy) to SoundClick and YouTube in 2007, where it went viral before Collipark signed him to Interscope. Crank That debuted at #1 on the Hot 100 and stayed for seven weeks. Souljaboytellem.com (2007) debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200. iSouljaBoyTellem (2008) produced Turn My Swag On and Kiss Me Thru the Phone. The DeAndre Way (2010) was his commercial low point, debuting at #70 on the Billboard 200 and causing Interscope to drop him. He has since operated independently, pioneering the creator-rapper model through social media.
Discography
| Year | Album | Chart Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Souljaboytellem.com ⚠️ | #4 US — Crank That went #1 |
| 2008 | iSouljaBoyTellem | Moderate sales |
| 2010 | The DeAndre Way ⚠️ | #70 US — Interscope dropped him after |
| 2023 | Soulja Season | Independent |
⚠️ = Reviewed on Rap Reviews Daily
Why Both His Reviewed Albums Failed
Souljaboytellem.com (2007) earned a 2/10 from us — one hit surrounded by 13 tracks that confirmed the Crank That formula could not be replicated. The DeAndre Way (2010) earned 2/10 — an artist trying to be personal and meaningful with no personal meaning to convey. Both albums share the same problem: Soulja Boy's genius was always hook construction and viral marketing, never lyrical substance. When stripped of a viral moment, the albums had nothing structural to hold them up.
Legacy & Cultural Impact
Soulja Boy's cultural impact is almost entirely about the internet and almost nothing about the music. He pioneered the model of independent digital rap distribution that artists like Chance the Rapper, Lil Uzi Vert, and hundreds of SoundCloud rappers followed. His social media presence and business instincts — he was one of the first rappers to endorse gaming products and launch his own consumer electronics brand — were genuinely ahead of their time. The music itself was rarely the point.
Soulja Boy on Rap Reviews Daily
★ Souljaboytellem.com (2007) — Rating: 2/10 | Read the review →