# Soulja Boy

> American rapper and record producer (born 1990)

**Wikidata**: [Q313080](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313080)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulja_Boy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soulja-boy

## Summary

Soulja Boy (born DeAndre Cortez Way on July 28, 1990) is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur who emerged in the mid-2000s as a prominent figure in Southern hip-hop. He first gained widespread recognition in 2007 with his debut single "Crank That," which became a major commercial success and established him as a pioneering artist in the snap music genre. Beyond his music career, Soulja Boy has pursued acting, launched entrepreneurial ventures, and built a significant presence across digital platforms.

## Biography

- **Born**: July 28, 1990
- **Nationality**: American (United States)
- **Education**: Not specified in source material
- **Known for**: Pioneering snap music genre with "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" in 2007; establishing himself as a multi-faceted entertainer and entrepreneur
- **Employer(s)**: Universal Music Group; Interscope Records
- **Field(s)**: Music production, rap/hip-hop, songwriting, acting, entrepreneurship

## Contributions

**Music Career and Recordings:**
- Released debut album "The DeAndre Way" in 2010 through Universal Music Group and Interscope Records
- Achieved breakthrough with "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" in 2007, which became a defining track of the snap music movement
- Has released multiple singles and albums spanning Southern hip-hop, gangsta rap, pop rap, contemporary R&B, and crunk genres

**Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures:**
- Established himself as an entrepreneur in the entertainment industry
- Maintains an active online presence through his website https://souljaboy.live

**Acting and Media:**
- Pursued acting roles in film and television as both a film actor and television actor
- Has worked as a music video director

**Digital Presence and Branding:**
- Built extensive social media presence across multiple platforms including Twitter (@souljaboy, @souljaboytellem), Instagram (souljaboy), YouTube (souljaboytellem), and Facebook (soulja-boy)
- Developed a personal brand that extends beyond music into fashion design and music executive roles

## FAQs

**What is Soulja Boy's real name?**
Soulja Boy's real name is DeAndre Cortez Way. He is also known by various stage names including Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, DeAndre Way, Big Draco, and simply Soulja.

**What record labels has Soulja Boy worked with?**
Soulja Boy has been affiliated with Universal Music Group and its subsidiary Interscope Records. He released his album "The DeAndre Way" through these labels in 2010.

**What genre of music does Soulja Boy create?**
Soulja Boy's music spans multiple genres within hip-hop and R&B, including Southern hip-hop, gangsta rap, snap music, pop rap, contemporary R&B, and crunk. He is particularly associated with the snap music genre that emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

**When did Soulja Boy start his music career?**
Soulja Boy began his music career in 2004, according to the work period start date in the source material. He gained significant mainstream attention with his 2007 breakout single "Crank That."

**Has Soulja Boy acted in films or television?**
Yes, Soulja Boy has pursued acting work. He is listed in the source material as both a film actor and television actor, in addition to his music career.

## Why They Matter

Soulja Boy matters as one of the artists who helped popularize snap music in the late 2000s, bringing a distinct Southern hip-hop subgenre to mainstream audiences. His breakthrough single "Crank That" became a cultural phenomenon that influenced dance trends and hip-hop production styles during that era. Beyond his musical contributions, Soulja Boy represents the evolution of the modern multi-hyphenate entertainer—combining rapping, producing, acting, and entrepreneurship into a unified career model that has become increasingly common in the entertainment industry. His early adoption of social media and digital platforms for self-promotion foreshadowed the influencer-driven marketing strategies that dominate contemporary music promotion. As an artist who emerged from the Southern United States hip-hop scene, Soulja Boy contributed to the region's growing dominance in mainstream hip-hop that began in the 2000s and continues to this day.

## Notable For

- Breakthrough single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" (2007)
- Album "The DeAndre Way" (2010)
- Pioneering work in the snap music genre
- Multi-faceted career spanning music, acting, entrepreneurship, and fashion
- Extensive digital presence across major social media platforms
- Association with Universal Music Group and Interscope Records

## Body

### Early Life and Background

Soulja Boy was born DeAndre Cortez Way on July 28, 1990, in the United States. As an American citizen, he grew up immersed in the Southern hip-hop culture that would later define his musical style. The specific city and state of his birth are not detailed in the provided source material, though his musical influences and regional identity are clearly rooted in the Southern United States hip-hop scene.

### Musical Career and Development

Soulja Boy began his professional music career in 2004, initially developing his craft as a rapper and record producer. His career trajectory took off with the release of "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" in 2007, a track that would become his signature hit and establish him as a household name in hip-hop. The song's success was closely tied to the snap music movement, a genre that originated in the Southern United States in the late 1990s and gained mainstream traction in the mid-2000s.

His debut album "The DeAndre Way" was released in 2010 through Universal Music Group and Interscope Records. The album represented his formal introduction to the major label system, positioning him as a significant artist within one of the world's largest music corporations. Interscope Records, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California, has been home to numerous influential hip-hop artists including 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Eminem, placing Soulja Boy in prestigious company within the genre.

### Genre Affiliations and Musical Style

Soulja Boy's musical output spans multiple genres within the broader hip-hop and R&B landscape. His primary genre affiliations include Southern hip-hop, gangsta rap, snap music, pop rap, contemporary R&B, and crunk. This versatility reflects both the diversity of his musical influences and the evolving nature of Southern hip-hop during his formative years as an artist. The snap music genre, in particular, became his calling card, characterized by its emphasis on 808 drum patterns, minimal production, and dance-oriented rhythms.

### Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures

Beyond his work as a recording artist, Soulja Boy has established himself as an entrepreneur within the entertainment industry. His entrepreneurial activities include fashion design work and music executive roles, demonstrating a business acumen that extends beyond performance. This multi-faceted approach to his career reflects a broader trend among contemporary artists who seek to build sustainable businesses around their personal brands rather than relying solely on recording royalties.

### Acting Career

Soulja Boy has also pursued acting roles in both film and television, expanding his entertainment industry footprint beyond music. His work as a film actor and television actor represents an additional revenue stream and exposure opportunity, common among artists seeking to maximize their reach across different media platforms. Additionally, he has worked as a music video director, contributing to the visual direction of his own projects and potentially those of other artists.

### Digital Presence and Social Media

One of Soulja Boy's notable characteristics is his extensive digital presence across multiple social media platforms. He maintains active accounts on Twitter (@souljaboy and @souljaboytellem), Instagram (souljaboy), YouTube (souljaboytellem), and Facebook (soulja-boy). His personal website, https://souljaboy.live, serves as a central hub for his brand and current projects. This robust digital presence has allowed him to maintain direct communication with his fanbase and adapt to the changing promotional landscape of the music industry, where social media engagement has become increasingly crucial for artist visibility and career longevity.

### Record Label Affiliations

Soulja Boy's primary record label affiliations include Universal Music Group and Interscope Records. Universal Music Group, founded in 1934 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California, is the world's largest music company and operates as a Dutch-American music corporation under parent company Vivendi, with Tencent holding a significant minority stake. Interscope Records, founded in 1989 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field, serves as a key subsidiary of Universal Music Group and has been instrumental in launching the careers of numerous hip-hop superstars. This association with major industry players has provided Soulja Boy with significant distribution power and promotional resources throughout his career.

### Personal Brand and Identity

Soulja Boy has operated under multiple stage names throughout his career, including Soulja Boy Tell 'Em (his initial professional name), DeAndre Cortez Way (his legal name), DeAndre Way, Big Draco, and simply Soulja. This evolution of his public identity reflects the dynamic nature of artist branding in hip-hop, where stage names often undergo transformation as artists seek to refine their image and connect with different audience segments. His various aliases demonstrate flexibility in brand positioning while maintaining core elements of his artistic identity.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. MusicBrainz
5. IMDb
6. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. BBC Things
9. Library of Congress Control Number
10. The Guardian
11. Quora
12. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/soulja-boy-107aITn7ZM/appearances)