Soulja Boy Bio
DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990), known professionally as Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, he rose to worldwide prominence with his self-released 2007 single “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven nonconsecutive weeks. Active since 2004, Way is widely recognized for pioneering grassroots social-media and digital-marketing strategies that helped shape modern viral music promotion. He has also founded the label Stacks on Deck Entertainment and pursued ventures in video-game development, fashion, and acting.
Early Life and Background
DeAndre Cortez Way was born on July 28, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois. When he was six years old, his family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he became interested in rap music. Growing up in Atlanta exposed him to a vibrant hip-hop scene that influenced his early artistic development. By his early teenage years, Way had begun experimenting with recording and rhyming, encouraged by his access to music-production tools.
At age 14, Way moved to Batesville, Mississippi, to live with his father. His father provided him with a recording studio to explore his musical ambitions, which allowed the young artist to develop his production and writing skills away from a major urban center. Despite the relocation, Way continued pursuing rap, viewing music as his primary career path from an early age. The combination of Chicago roots, Atlanta upbringing, and Mississippi adolescence gave him a varied cultural foundation that informed his later work.
Path to Rap
Way’s entry into music began in his early teens, when he started recording in his father’s home studio. In early 2005, he became a frequent poster on the animation and music website Newgrounds, sharing early tracks and gaining feedback from online communities. That same year, in November 2005, he posted music on SoundClick, where he received positive reviews that encouraged him to keep pushing his material outward. Those reviews motivated him to expand his digital footprint.
Following the positive SoundClick response, Way established accounts on YouTube and Myspace, recognizing the potential of online platforms to reach listeners directly. In March 2007, he self-released his first independent album, “Unsigned and Still Major: Da Album Before Da Album,” showcasing his knack for digital self-distribution. Later that same year, he recorded “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” and produced a low-budget video demonstrating the associated dance. By the end of 2007, his career had shifted from a hobby into a full-time profession.
Soulja Boy Career
Early Career (2004–2007)
Way founded his record label, Stacks on Deck Entertainment, in 2004 while still a teenager, laying the foundation for an independent infrastructure that he would later build upon. Between 2004 and early 2007, he focused on building an online audience through websites such as Newgrounds, SoundClick, YouTube, and Myspace. This period of grassroots promotion allowed him to cultivate a fan base before any major-label involvement.
In March 2007, Way released his debut independent album, “Unsigned and Still Major: Da Album Before Da Album,” followed shortly by the single “Crank That (Soulja Boy).” The song and its accompanying low-budget video quickly gained traction online, leading to his signing with Collipark Music, a label that soon entered a joint venture with Interscope Records. By the end of 2007, his single had reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making him one of the first artists to achieve mainstream success primarily through internet promotion.
Breakthrough (2007–2010)
“Crank That (Soulja Boy)” became a cultural phenomenon, and during the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, the track received a nomination for Best Rap Song, ultimately losing to Kanye West’s and T-Pain’s “Good Life.” The single was also certified multi-platinum, and Way’s debut major-label album, “Souljaboytellem.com,” was released on October 2, 2007. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, cementing his commercial breakthrough.
His second studio album, “iSouljaBoyTellem,” was released on December 16, 2008, and produced two notable singles: “Turn My Swag On” and “Kiss Me thru the Phone” featuring Sammie. The latter peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Rap Tracks chart, selling more than two million digital copies in the United States. His third album, “The DeAndre Way,” arrived in November 2010, supported by the top-40 single “Pretty Boy Swag.” Way was also listed at number 18 on the Forbes Hip-Hop Cash Kings list of 2010, reflecting earnings of approximately seven million dollars that year.
Notable Works and Milestones
Way is recognized for having the first single to sell over three million digital copies, his debut single “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” a record-setting achievement at the time. His YouTube channel, active since 2006, has accumulated more than 1.9 billion views and over 3.3 million subscribers, reinforcing his role as one of the first rappers to leverage social media as a primary marketing tool. His catalog includes the albums “Souljaboytellem.com” (2007), “iSouljaBoyTellem” (2008), “The DeAndre Way” (2010), and the chart-topping single “Crank That (Soulja Boy).”
Soulja Boy Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Soulja Boy has received several notable nominations from major industry award bodies. At the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, his debut single “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” was nominated for Best Rap Song. He has additionally received three nominations from the BET Awards and four nominations from the Teen Choice Awards, reflecting recognition across both traditional and youth-focused industry platforms.
Soulja Boy Awards Won
Verified records of major award wins for Soulja Boy are not clearly established in the source material. While he has received multiple nominations from the Grammy Awards, BET Awards, and Teen Choice Awards, the available information does not confirm a specific list of wins. As a result, this section is summarized without a detailed breakdown of confirmed victories.
Soulja Boy Family
On the night of March 22, 2011, Way’s younger brother, Deion Jenkins, was killed in a car crash, a loss that deeply affected the artist and his family. Beyond this tragedy, details about his extended family are not well documented in verified sources. His family life has otherwise remained largely private, with limited public information available about parents or other relatives.
Personal Life
Way has been in a relationship with his girlfriend Jackie since 2022. On September 30, 2022, the couple welcomed their first child, a son. Beyond his family life, Way has pursued various entrepreneurial ventures, including his own fashion line, the SouljaGame video-game console brand, and his record label Stacks on Deck Entertainment. He has also ventured into acting, announcing an upcoming role in the movie “ATL” as well as a project with Machine Gun Kelly.