ALBUM REVIEW: Soulja Boy
- Posted on November 23, 2007 3:18 PM
- 2 comments
Soulja Boy
ALBUM: souljaboytellem.com
SINGLE: Crank That
Review by Katie Spain
You've got to hand it to Soulja Boy. If you're young, hip and surfing the wave of modern life, you'll have heard of the new kid on the Hip-Hop/Rap block. His new single ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy)’ has been #1 for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Airplay, Digital and Ringtone charts. It's not surprising - the tune is addictive.
"You've got to punch that Crank Back from left to right three times".
Now I don't know what "Cranking a Soulja Boy" means exactly but it's obviously an essential move for the modern dance floor. I'm not a big fan of the Hip-Hop/RnB genre but I am impartial to the odd dance floor session. This tune is a grower in the Jack and the Beanstalk sense. You hear it once and before you know it, you're scrambling up its monstrous stalk, pulling moves every step of the way. Even BBC Radio 1 DJ Jo Wiley is in on the action. You can see her somewhat shaky attempt to pull the 'Crank That' moves here.
It's enough to make you sick really. The lad is seventeen years and already he's reached for (and touched) more stars than your average astrologist. It’s a good thing he deserves it. It wasn't a smooth ride; and that's where this artist gets interesting. Soulja Boy’s mother struggled to provide for her two boys and when he was in eighth grade, he went to live with his father in Mississippi. It was here, with the help of the Internet that his music career started. It looks like the sky is the limit.
While the rest of the country prepares for the December 10th launch of 'Crank That', I took some time out of the daily grind to crank the rest of his ‘souljaboytellem.com’ album. The thirteen track (plus an intro) album snaps us to attention with the debut single and pounds my head towards my desk from that point on. Rule number one - if this style of music isn't your forte, don't listen unless a dance floor and some atmosphere is present.
The masses will love the crude, in your face lyrics by the boy with fame on his side. They'll have a ball attempting to copy his dance moves and they'll post the embarrassing results on the Internet. For me, the rest of the album doesn't live up to the opener, and the songs soon form a beat-laden puddle at my feet. It's all a bit self indulgent and similar. Maybe I need a baggy shirt and some heavy chains around my neck - it might get me in the mood. For the moment, I'm too busy trying to decide how to best "Shake that booty meat".
Granted, 'Pass It To Arab' and 'She Thirsty' are catchy and worthy of a listen. 'Soulja Girl' showcases his voice as the melodic instrument it is. I doubt I'll ever manage to "Step like this to be a Soulja girl" or "Step like that to be a Soulja girl" but I doubt I'm his type anyway.
Don’t get me wrong – I’ve enjoyed some fine Hip-Hop in my time but the end of a working week, the incessant repetition and name dropping gets on my nerves. Chances are, I need a few 'straight up - no chasers' to get in the mood. I turned this album down, which is never a good sign. Based on the response of the hip young masses, you're all going to turn the volume dial in the opposite direction.
All personal opinions aside, cold-hard stats tell the real story and www.souljaboytellem.com has become the most viewed artist site on the web. Take a look at his MySpace - the guy has more friends than Jesus! It looks like his place in the charts is sealed. Migraines aside; at least we'll all dance like cool kids... and the 'funky chicken' was past its use-by date long ago.
‘souljaboytellem.com’, which is released on November 19th. Untuck that shirt and prepare to dance. Check out Seatwave's Soulja Boy listings and dates.
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Comments (2)
DumbAzzBlakMonkae
A Day in Soulja Boy's Life
7:15 Woke up with A-RAB next to me, watched him done crank dat next to me.
7:32 Have A-RAB watched me Youuuuu!!!
8:15 Took bedsheet to washer, someone supermanned Soulja Mom last night
8:30 Put more superman stickers on my jacket and used white-out to write my name on sunglasses.
8:40 Help Soulja mom take a bath 'cause she stank!!
9:00 Waited for Invalid Bus to take me to ESL class at the local community center. Gots to learn propa way of speaka english!!
Posted on December 19, 2007 4:02 PM
Dee &+ Beth ..x
Wee Love Soulja Boy Liiakk :P
He IsS Bum&+Tingg Fo Shooo :P
Hold Tightt Killah (yn)
Posted on March 5, 2008 11:20 AM
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