Soulja Boy

DeAndre Cortez Way, known professionally as Soulja Boy, is an American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence with his self-released 2007 debut single, "Crank That ", which peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven non-consecutive weeks.

"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" didn't just top the Billboard Hot 100—it fundamentally rewired how rap music reached audiences, arriving in 2007 as the first viral rap phenomenon born entirely from internet buzz and a dance that made TikTok's future inevitable. DeAndre Way's self-released debut single proved that bedroom production and YouTube could bypass traditional industry gatekeeping, a lesson that would reshape hip-hop's entire distribution model within years. Kanye West's early cosign elevated the teenager's profile, but it was the cultural penetration of that dance move that made *Souljaboytellem.com* an instant landmark.