Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy, born DeAndre Cortez Way, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer recognized for his pioneering use of social media in music marketing, achieving global success with his 2007 debut single “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”. After pioneering the use of online platforms in music marketing, Soulja Boy achieved global success with his 2007 debut single ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy).’ His innovative approach began in early 2005, actively posting music on platforms such as Newgrounds and SoundClick, before establishing a significant presence on YouTube and MySpace. This independent strategy led to the self-release of his album Unsigned and Still Major: Da Album Before Da Album in March 2007. Later that same month, he recorded and independently released ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy),’ which rapidly gained traction through a low-budget video demonstrating its accompanying dance, quickly becoming a viral sensation.

The song’s widespread popularity led to its first radio airplay by the end of May 2007, culminating in a recording contract with Collipark Music, which subsequently partnered with Interscope Records. ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy)’ saw further exposure when featured in the television series Entourage on August 12, 2007, and by September 1, it had topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for an impressive seven non-consecutive weeks. His major label debut album, Souljaboytellem.com, released on October 2, 2007, peaked at number four on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

In a significant strategic move in 2021, he signed a new record deal with Virgin Music, further expanding his reach and leveraging new opportunities for his artistic endeavors.