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 34) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop pop rap snap trap
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter record producer actor
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Stacks on Deck Collipark Interscope
Children	1

DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990), known as Soulja Boy, is an American rapper and music producer. He became famous in 2007 with his first song, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)". This song was a huge hit, reaching number one on the Billboard music chart for seven weeks. After this success, he released his first album, Souljaboytellem.com, in 2007. Even though some critics didn't love it, the album reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart.

His second album, iSouljaBoyTellem (2008), included popular songs like "Turn My Swag On" and "Kiss Me thru the Phone". Soulja Boy is also known for being one of the first artists to use social media to share his music. Besides making music, he has worked on video games, produced songs for other artists, and started his own music label called Stacks on Deck Entertainment. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award and several other music awards.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

DeAndre Way was born in Chicago. When he was six, his family moved to Atlanta, where he developed a love for rap music. At age 14, he moved to Batesville, Mississippi, with his father. His father helped him by providing a recording studio to make his own music.

How Soulja Boy Became Famous Online (2004–2007)

In November 2005, Soulja Boy started sharing his songs on a website called SoundClick. People liked his music there, so he created accounts on YouTube and Myspace. These online platforms helped him build a large group of fans. In March 2007, he released his first independent album, Unsigned & Still Major: Da Album Before da Album.

Making Big Hits and Albums (2007–2011)

Soulja Boy performing "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" in February 2008.

In March 2007, Soulja Boy recorded "Crank That (Soulja Boy)". He also made a simple video showing the "Crank That" dance. The song was released as a single on May 2. Soon after, it started playing on the radio, and he signed a deal with Interscope Records. "Crank That" became very popular. It was even used on the TV show Entourage and reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008.

His first major album, Souljaboytellem.com, came out on October 2, 2007. It reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart. Soulja Boy reportedly made the album using simple music software. While some critics didn't like the album, many agreed that Soulja Boy was starting a new trend in hip-hop music.

His next album, iSouljaBoyTellem, was released in December 2008. The first song from this album, "Bird Walk", did well on the R&B and Rap charts. Another song, "Kiss Me thru the Phone" (featuring Sammie), became a huge hit. It sold over 2 million digital copies and reached number three on the Hot 100 chart. In January 2009, he released "Turn My Swag On", which also topped the US Rap Charts.

Soulja Boy at YouTube Live in November 2008.

Soulja Boy said his third album, The DeAndre Way, would be his most personal one. He wanted to work with famous artists like Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. The main song from the album, "Pretty Boy Swag", was released in June 2010. It reached number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. The DeAndre Way was released in November 2010.

New Music and Independent Work (2011–2018)

From 2011 to 2018, Soulja Boy released many mixtapes and independent albums. He often used creative cover art for his mixtapes, like one based on the Naruto anime. He continued to release new music regularly, showing his dedication to creating.

In 2013, Soulja Boy announced that his record deal with Interscope Records had ended. He decided to continue his music career independently. He released many mixtapes, including King Soulja and Life After Fame. He also collaborated with other artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj. In 2014, he signed a new deal with Universal Music Group and released his fourth studio album, Loyalty, in 2015. He continued to release more digital albums and mixtapes, like the King Soulja series, in the following years.

Recent Music and Viral Moments (2018–Present)

In late 2018 and early 2019, Soulja Boy had some viral moments online. He appeared on the radio show The Breakfast Club, where his comments about his influence on music became a popular internet meme. He continued to release new music, including mixtapes like Fuego and Tell Ya. In 2021, Soulja Boy signed a new record deal with Virgin Music.

Other Ventures

Stacks on Deck Entertainment: Soulja Boy's Record Label

Soulja Boy started his own record label, Stacks on Deck Entertainment (SODMG), in 2004. He signed many artists to his label over the years. In 2016, he announced that all artists had been dropped, but he later re-signed some and added new ones.

Current artists:

Producing Music for Others

Soulja Boy also produces music for other artists, as well as his own songs. He often uses a music program called FL Studio. In 2007, he produced the hit song "Get Silly" for V.I.C. and "Marco Polo" for Bow Wow. He has also produced for artists like Nicki Minaj and received a writing credit on Beyoncé's album Lemonade.

Fashion and Clothing Lines

In 2008, Soulja Boy launched his own clothing line called "S.O.D Clothing." He also released his own brand of shoes called "Yums." Later, he created other clothing lines, including "Ocean Gang" and "BLVD. Supply," which has a store in Los Angeles.

Acting and Documentaries

Soulja Boy has also explored acting. In 2009, he announced an animated cartoon series about himself, but only one episode was released. In 2011, a documentary film about his life, called Soulja Boy: The Movie, was released. He also announced that he would act in a remake of the movie Juice and had a role in the movie Officer Down. In 2022, he appeared in an episode of the TV series Atlanta.

SouljaGame Video Game Console

In December 2018, Soulja Boy released a video game console called the SouljaGame. It was criticized because it seemed to be a rebranded version of existing consoles from a Chinese company, designed to play old Nintendo and Sega games. He later released other consoles that looked similar to popular gaming systems. By the end of 2018, Soulja Boy removed the SouljaGame consoles from his store after Nintendo threatened legal action.

Personal Life

Soulja Boy became a father for the first time on September 30, 2022, when his girlfriend Jackie gave birth to their son.

Legacy and Influence

Soulja Boy is known for having one of the first songs to sell over three million digital copies with "Crank That (Soulja Boy)". He was also one of the first rappers to use social media to promote his music and connect with fans. His official YouTube channel has received over a billion views and has millions of subscribers.

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

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)

Images for kids

• 

  Soulja Boy at YouTube Live in November 2008.