Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy, born DeAndre Cortez Way on July 28, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois, is a rapper and internet pioneer who became one of the first artists to leverage the power of social media and the internet to launch a mainstream music career. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and later Mississippi, he began posting his music on SoundClick and MySpace as a teenager. In 2007, at just 17 years old, he released “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” which became a viral sensation online before exploding onto mainstream radio and reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks.

“Crank That” was accompanied by an instructional dance video that became one of the earliest viral music videos on YouTube, foreshadowing the role social media would play in breaking artists for years to come. The single was certified five times platinum and earned Soulja Boy a Grammy nomination. His debut album “Souljaboytellem.com” was released in 2007 and went platinum. He followed up with hits like “Kiss Me Thru the Phone” featuring Sammie in 2008, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, proving his debut was not a fluke.

Beyond music, Soulja Boy has been an active entrepreneur, though not without controversy. He launched his own record label SODMG (Stacks on Deck Money Gang) and has invested in various ventures including a brief and controversial foray into selling rebranded gaming consoles under his own brand. He has been an early adopter of social media platforms and has maintained a strong online presence with millions of followers across platforms. He claims to have been the first rapper to use YouTube, Twitter, and other platforms to promote music, a claim that has been debated but highlights his role as an internet culture pioneer.

Soulja Boy has continued to release music prolifically, putting out numerous mixtapes and albums over the years. While he has not replicated the massive mainstream success of “Crank That,” he has maintained a loyal fanbase and stayed relevant through social media engagement and viral moments. His estimated net worth of $10 million reflects his ongoing music career, social media influence, and various business ventures, though it has fluctuated over the years due to legal issues and business setbacks.