Soulja Boy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Soulja Boy
Way in an interview with Bandai Namco Entertainment at E3 2018
Background information
Birth name	DeAndre Cortez Way
Also known as	Soulja Boy Tell 'Em Big Draco
Born	(1990-07-28) July 28, 1990 (age 35) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Southern hip-hop gangsta rap snap pop rap
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter record producer actor
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Stacks on Deck Collipark Interscope
Children	1
Signature

DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990), who is known by his stage name Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He became famous in 2007 with his hit song "Crank That (Soulja Boy)". The song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks.

After the success of "Crank That," he signed with Interscope Records. He released his first album, Souljaboytellem.com, in 2007. The album reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart. His second album, iSouljaBoyTellem (2008), included the popular songs "Turn My Swag On" and "Kiss Me thru the Phone".

Soulja Boy is known for being one of the first artists to use social media to promote his music. Besides his music career, he has started his own record label, developed video games, and acted in movies. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award and has won several other awards.

Early Life

DeAndre Cortez Way was born in Chicago, Illinois. When he was six, his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he became interested in rap music. At age 14, he moved to Batesville, Mississippi, with his father, who set up a recording studio for him to practice his music.

Music Career

2004–2007: Rise to Fame Online

In 2005, Way began posting his music on websites like SoundClick, YouTube, and Myspace. He built a following online by sharing his songs and connecting with fans. In March 2007, he recorded "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" and made a simple video showing off the "Crank That" dance.

The song and dance quickly went viral. By May, the song was playing on the radio. He soon signed a record deal with Collipark Music and Interscope Records. On September 1, 2007, "Crank That" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song.

2007–2011: Major Label Albums

Soulja Boy performing in February 2008.

Soulja Boy's first major album, Souljaboytellem.com, came out on October 2, 2007. It reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart. He reportedly recorded the entire album using a demo version of the music software FL Studio. While some critics didn't like the album, others said he was starting a new trend in hip-hop.

His second album, iSouljaBoyTellem, was released in 2008. It had two big hits: "Kiss Me thru the Phone" and "Turn My Swag On". "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" reached number three on the Hot 100 chart and sold over two million digital copies.

Soulja Boy at YouTube Live in November 2008.

His third album, The DeAndre Way, was released in 2010. It included the single "Pretty Boy Swag", which was a top 40 hit. However, the album did not sell as well as his previous ones. After this, Soulja Boy decided to leave Interscope Records and release his music independently.

2011–2018: Independent Music

After becoming an independent artist, Soulja Boy released many mixtapes and digital albums. He experimented with his sound and collaborated with other artists. Some of his popular mixtapes from this time include Juice II and the King Soulja series.

In 2014, he produced the song "Yasss Bish" for Nicki Minaj. He also announced that he had signed a new deal with Universal Music Group. In 2015, he released his fourth studio album, Loyalty. He continued to release music online, including several digital albums and mixtapes each year.

2018–Present: Viral Fame and New Music

Soulja Boy performing at a concert in January 2019.

In early 2019, Soulja Boy appeared on the radio show The Breakfast Club. His energetic interview went viral online, especially a clip where he talked about the rapper Drake. This brought him a new wave of attention.

He continued to release music, including the mixtapes Fuego and King Soulja 9. He also became a popular streamer on the platform Twitch. In April 2021, Soulja Boy signed a new record deal with Virgin Music. He has since released more albums, including Big Draco and Big Draco 2.

Musical Style

Soulja Boy is known for his simple, catchy lyrics and beats. He once said in an interview that he wants his music to be fun and easy for people to understand, especially for club songs like "Pretty Boy Swag." He explained that while he can write more complex lyrics, he often chooses a simpler style that his fans enjoy.

His music has sometimes been a topic of discussion at schools because of its lyrics. The original video for his song "Shootout" showed him pretending to shoot into the audience, which caused some concern.

Other Ventures

Stacks on Deck Entertainment

In 2004, Soulja Boy started his own record label called Stacks on Deck Entertainment (SODMG). He has signed several artists to his label over the years. He has also released many of his own albums and mixtapes through SODMG.

Record Production

Soulja Boy produces many of his own songs using the software FL Studio. He has also produced songs for other famous artists. He produced the hit song "Get Silly" for V.I.C. and "Marco Polo" for Bow Wow. He has also worked with artists like Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. In 2016, he received a writing credit on Beyoncé's album Lemonade.

Fashion and Acting

In 2008, Soulja Boy launched a clothing line called "S.O.D Clothing." He has also created other fashion brands, including "Ocean Gang" and "BLVD. Supply."

He has also appeared in movies and TV shows. In 2011, a documentary about his life, Soulja Boy: The Movie, was released. He has had roles in the movie Officer Down and the TV show Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood.

SouljaGame Video Game Console

In December 2018, Soulja Boy released his own video game console called the SouljaGame. The console was an emulator, which means it could play games from older systems like Nintendo and Sega. He later released other models, including the Retro SouljaBoy Mini and the SouljaGame Fuze.

However, he faced criticism because the consoles were very similar to existing ones made by other companies. After Nintendo threatened to sue him, he removed the consoles from his online store.

Personal Life

In March 2011, Soulja Boy's younger brother, Deion Jenkins, died in a car accident. On September 30, 2022, Soulja Boy and his girlfriend Jackie welcomed their first child, a son.

Legacy

Soulja Boy is remembered for having one of the first big internet hits with "Crank That (Soulja Boy)". It was the first single to sell over three million digital copies. He is considered a pioneer for using social media sites like YouTube and MySpace to build his career and connect directly with fans.

Discography

Studio albums

• Souljaboytellem.com (2007)
• iSouljaBoyTellem (2008)
• The DeAndre Way (2010)
• King Soulja 3 (2014)
• Loyalty (2015)
• Best to Ever Do It (2018)
• Young Draco (2018)
• Big Draco (2021)
• Big Draco 2 (2021)
• Big Draco 3 (2022)

Tours

• America's Most Wanted Tour (2009)

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

• BET Awards
  • 2007: Best New Artist (Nominated)
  • 2008: Viewer's Choice Award: "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" (Nominated)
  • 2009: Viewer's Choice Award: "Kiss Me thru the Phone" (Nominated)
• BET Hip-Hop Awards
  • 2007: Best Hip-Hop Dance (Won)
• BET Social Awards
  • 2019: Social Verified Award (Won)
• Grammy Awards
  • 2008: Best Rap Song: "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" (Nominated)
• Ozone Awards
  • 2007: Patiently Waiting: Mississippi (Won)
  • 2008: Best Breakthrough Artist (Nominated)
  • 2008: TJ's DJ's Tastemaker Award (Nominated)
• Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
  • 2007: Favorite Male Singer (Nominated)
• Teen Choice Awards
  • 2009: Choice Music: Rap Artist (Nominated)
  • 2009: Choice Music: R&B Track for "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" (Nominated)
  • 2009: Choice Music: Hook Up for "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" (Nominated)
  • 2009: Choice Music: Artist (Nominated)

See also

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States