How Soulja Boy Shook Off The Sophomore Jinx

souljaboy-rapradar.com

Interview: Toshitaka Kondo

For those that thought Soulja Boy Tell ’Em’s career was over after the first week numbers for his sophomore album, iSouljaBoyTellEm, came back at 45,000, he’s definitely having the last laugh. Since then, the album has steadily climbed to almost 200,000 copies, fueled by his smash, “Kiss Me Thru The Phone,” which sits at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the cocky “Turn My Swag On,” which has lit the streets on fire. And just for good measure, he recently shot the video for “Gucci Bandana,” with Atlanta’s favorite trap rappers, Gucci Mane and Shawty Lo. The ambitious 18 year old recently took a break from recording his third album, The DeAndre Way, and his upcoming DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz mixtape to talk to RapRadar about his first week numbers, changing his management, and Bow Wow.

Did you think your career was over when your first week sales numbers for iSouljaBoyTellEm came back at 45,000?
[When I saw] those first week numbers, I ain’t think it was over. I thought I had messed up. But I was scared. [Before] I was thinking, I’m Soulja Boy. If I push something, it’s gonna sell. I got cocky and overconfident and after I put the album out, I realized that it’s not about you, it’s about the music. Plus I had the wrong situation so I had to switch up my team. I still think my album is great. I just feel like I went with the wrong first single and had the wrong team in place.

When you say “team,” do you mean management?
Yeah. I switched management to Chris Lighty. I guess I didn’t have that much pull because at this point people still was probably speculating that I was gonna be a one hit wonder. So going into the third album, I done proved myself now as a legit artist, so management that I got now is gonna make sure that none of that gonna happen no more.

Did it cause any friction between you and Collipark given that your old manager was his brother, Derrick Crooms?

Nah. It was a move to better my career so it was no hard feelings.

What made you realize that “Birdwalk” wasn’t going to work?
When it wasn’t selling. I check all the charts myself. It wasn’t coming up on the iTunes chart or the Billboard chart. I just sat back and started just looking at it for what it was like, This is really not it! What the fuck goin’ on? But it was too late. The album was already out and it was the only song I had out.

You had a lot of input in terms of picking the singles though don’t you?
I always have creative control over all my projects, but I do listen to what the label has to say. It was really Mr. Collipark. He said, “They wanna hear you talking ‘bout dancing. I think ‘Bird Walk’ would be the one.” Then everybody was like, “Damn, that dance shit is kinda corny now. We don’t really wanna hear that.” Now they opening their ears to other stuff like “Turn My Swag On,” which is the hardest shit in the streets. You got artists like Wayne, Jeezy, Jim Jones, and Fabolous, that took my song and showed people what it was. It been that same thing the whole time but it’s always how you perceive it.

Given that Collipark told you to go with “Birdwalk,” did it make you lose some trust in him?
Of course. If somebody tell you something and it don’t work you not gonna listen to them again. Going into the third album, if I happen to have first week numbers like that again I want everything to be based off my decisions. He’s gonna have his input ‘cause I’m signed to him, but the final decision is gonna be made by me.

I know you guys squashed the beef. But is everything cool now with you you and Bow Wow?
Yeah, everything’s cool. You know things ain’t gon be how they was when we was doin’ “Marco Polo” together. But that whole thing shouldn’t have happened. Me being from where I’m from, for Bow Wow to even say my name and to come off as a hater, you know how proud my ‘hood was of me man? [Laughs.] On the Internet talking bout, ”Fuck Soulja Boy and you aint got more money then me.” We was lookin’ at that shit like, “We got him. We gonna take this nigga out the game.” I couldn’t believe that he was comin off like that. Nigga done been in the game like what? Ten years. You would’ve thought he handled that situation way more… Like I know if I been in the game for ten years, I ain’t goin out like that. So for him to be thinking like that, that let me know that everything ain’t what it seems and that I’m really blowin’ up real big. Just imagine you wake up tomorrow and Chris Brown got a video up just like Bow Wow had saying the same exact words. You be like, “That’s Chris Brown. He bigger then life.” Well not now, cause of the situation happened with Rihanna. But you gonna be like, “What the hell he arguing with Soulja Boy for?” [Laughs].

Have you guys spoke since that phone conversation that was on the Internet squashing the beef?
We ain’t really spoke, but when I did BET’s Spring Bling this past weekend, [Bow Wow] was there. I just walked up to him and shook his hand, had a couple words with him and kept it moving.

Does it feel like karma given that he was making fun of your first week sales and now his first week sales didn’t come in that high?

Yeah. You just took the words right out my mouth. I ain’t even gotta speak on it, but that ain’t nothing but karma. That’s why I don’t even gotta go in interviews and be like, “Yeah, Bow Wow, you talking all that shit. Look at me now. Now I’m the shit. Where you at?” After I say I’mma leave that situation alone, I left it alone. I could easily just go back and murder Bow Wow, but I’m cool with what I’m doing.

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  1. for the kids says:

    damn sb, passive-aggressive much??

  2. Norisknoreward says:

    I have to commend soulja boy for the way he is maturing in the game with all the money and fame. He just has to remember to stay grounded and not be affected as much by all the critics. This interview was well written. As I was reading it, the words were coming off as if soulja boy was right here saying them, I love to see success in it’s transition… Shamarr w

  3. cvs says:

    He is a flop,just cause he sold 200,000 now he is legit? No way. He hasn’t even gone gold. What he did is make some $ off singles just like superman but he will never be as big as he was during the superman song.Lol he got cocky..from one song? C’mon!!

  4. FWMJ says:

    i can’t take dude’s music for anything, but his energy, his frame of mind, and sense of humour just crack me up. he reminds me of them smart asses in high school that would always out smart and slick talk a teacher.

  5. Undeniablycute Loves Dre says:

    Dre is a real dude thats why i like him he reminds me of people i have grew up with. He is maturing and its really showing..but for the haters if you dont like him o well dont listen dont comment just do something with your life cuz he sure is!! iREPSODMG

  6. SWAGMISSEZ says:

    SOULJA BOY I C YOURE BOUT YO BIDNEZZ DA BEEF SHIT IZ OL’ KEEP DOIN U CUZ SUMWHERE OUT HERE BAE U ALWAYZ GOT A HATEN AZZ MUTHAFUCKA RUNNIN OFF AT DA MOUTH –> SHAKE DEM OFF N LAUGH AT DEM CUZ DEY MAKIN U STRONGIER IN EVERYTHAN U DO SO JUST DO U FUCK EM. KEEPIN DOIN U SWEETIE CUZ IM WATCHIN U SHINE BAE!!!! 1

  7. flop says:

    he still aint push 200,000 k yet!!!!!!!! he is at a never ending flop! wtf.. i taught he was at least gold with 2 singles on the charts… for him to not be gold yet… ppl must really hate dudes music/cd’s! lmao! smh!

  8. The Pharmacist says:

    Fuck them haters Soulja Boy just keep having fun, Fuck Ice-T and focus more on building your production skills and producing for others

  9. The Pharmacist says:

    Fuck them haters Soulja Boy just keep having fun, Fuck Ice-T and focus more on building your production skills and producing for others

  10. opinionatedTB says:

    People are always trying to say that Soulja Boy’s music isn’t good and all that, but in reality look at all these other rappers out there. Soulja Boy never said he was the best rapper alive or no bull so you can’t be made at him for making something fans like and getting paid.

  11. you can tell says:

    u can tell bow wow def hit a nerve in soulja boy that probably made him cry.. for him to wake up talkin about dude, sleep talkin about dude, do interviews talking about dude is sad!

    Soulja boy go sell some albums nigga! worry about ur shit nigga. this industry anint guarenteed.. nigga love you one day, the next day they don’t.. u keep anoth nigga name in ur mouth so much u need to focus on trying to be in the game 10 years ur self cuz i doubt that will ever happen. make the besta nd try selling these alums cuz 200,000 with 2 hit singles is not a good look mah dude!

  12. FlipsideJr says:

    I dont think he could murder bow wow but now that bow wow has retired soulja boy has a chance to come in and do the things bow wow did

  13. IM HERE AND YOUR THERE says:

    OK, FIRST OFF… LETS KEEP IT HUMAN. I KNOW YOU SEE WHAT IT SAYS WHEN IT SAYS IT BUT THE SITUATION IS NOT WHAT IT COULD BE DUE TO THE WALLS AND HAWKS. *HINT* 2, WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A MILLION DOLLARS? LOL *HINT* LAST BUT NOT LEAST, YOU MAKE THE WAY. ITS MORE HARDER FOR YOU THAN ME. LETS KEEP IT HUMAN.

    PEACE.

    GB

  14. chelle says:

    lol souljaboy is wack and he will NEVER get on bow wow’s level. i used to like soulja boy waayyy b4 he got siigned. when he strtd postin them youtube viideosz..ii wasz on iit..hoping he get famous one day. and then when he finally got famous, the fame went thru his head and fucked it up. he 4got about those he used to fuqqsz with befor he got famous. ex. ZACFRESH, DEMOHIOBOYSZ..! soulja boy is fake..fake..fake..and if he doesnt take care, befor the age of 25, he will be broke as fuqq nd lose evrything.

  15. FUCK SOULJA BOY says:

    u KEEP TALKIN ABOUT BOW WOW WATCH WAT HAPPENES TO UR NEXT ALBUM BITCH! ND TRUST! U WILL NEVA CARRY THE WEIGHT BOW WOW DID… NIGGAZ STILL HOLDING GRUDGES THIS HOL TIME! WHO KNEW.. YOU FUCK FACE.. EAT THAT DICK ICE TEA WAS COOKING UP FOR YA!

  16. twiiter.com/weareintime says:

    Yoo soulja boy .. Keep making my ringtones.. That’s all I gotta say, Turn my Swag on is my wake upo alarm, and kiss me thru the fone is my ringer.. Stop hatin on him the mans getting money… YOUR NOT!.. End of story.. So w.e keep the hits coming.. Follow me http://www.twitter.com/weareintime

  17. fuck soulja bitch says:

    niggaz so quick too say someone getting money, well it ur money or mines so fuck it! nd fuck him..

    fucking garbage assss talentless rapper think he can end someone’s careeer when he doesnt even have one with his flop ass album.. you can only make sooo much money from ringtones you faggot… ur next album will go tripple plastic u faggot…eat a dickk…fuck souja boyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

  18. ha ha says:

    this dude right here is getting cocky for what…. that cocky shit worked for bow wow but wont for ur uglly ass soulja fag! i see this fool is tieing his own self up! keep talking about bow wow! keep doing that, we love it!

    Cuz when its all set and done, bow wow will hurt ur feelings way more than he did before.. he’s used to this, ur new to da game you little faggot! pussy ass aint even gold yet.. wack wack wack wack x3!!!!

  19. Juice Mane says:

    dude fuck yall if u dont like soulja boy fuck yall look up his new songs pow and what you know soulja boy is gonna go hard on his new cd soulja boy make mo songs like pow n what you know dey are bad azz brah take it to em show dem u are da shit bow wow is straight he need to make mo songs like dat sid to sid remix song he was in i dont like da slow songs but dat bow wow i respect him fo dat but soulja boy show em u r hard by makin mo songs like pow n what u know n u will shut dez bitchez up brah peace

  20. kingill89 says:

    imma keep it real soulja boy shit is trash but its addictive when i think of a soulja boy song i compare them bitches to sardines with hot sauce or the left over cheese from the nachos its not normal for you to enjoy eating it but you do that Turn My Swag On is poppin in every club everywhere and that bass line and hook he got on Gucci Bandana is Crazy that shit got somethin 2 it

    I never liked Crank That so I never really paid attention to his last album because of that because people were saying that was the highlight of his last album so I didnt fuck with that 1st lp but This latest album got some joints on that bitch no hate

    and I kno soulja wanna get at bow because this nigga bow wow goin to retire talkin about he didnt care about 1st week sales but he was steadily comin at soulja now that nigga mad sayin he did music 2 make classic music when the only reason why people gave you props was because you can sell albums there is not 1 lyrical classic bow wow cd so for him 2 say he wasnt makin music 4 money he need to dead that shit

  21. Fuck Soulja Boy says:

    Dude, you need to stop working on your 3rd album. Your music is shitty as all fucking hell. The 1st album should have been your last. If you had a ghost writer like Lil Wayne then yeah, keep working on the album but most likely you don’t so you need to quit while your ahead. People who are giving Kiss Me Thru The Phone the success it doesn’t deserve should be ashamed of themselves. That song is so fucking wack. Kiss Me Thru The Phone??? Get the fuck outta here. I get the home run dammit lol.

  22. cozzo says:

    Soulja Boy, if I were you then, I would quit my album and at least stick to producing. Why do I say this? Becuase, you make the WORST music ever and nobody wants to hear your crap, b/c it appeals to teeny-boppers and also I would also get a GED and Hooked on Phonics, because you have a serious Speech Impediment.

  23. Pepsiman says:

    Now, the music’s not any good, but I at least have the option of NOT LISTENING TO IT. Now, if all the other people realized this, they’d be so well off… Wait, I need to stop having that fantasy where people learn to think for themselves.

  24. […] is the trailer for SB’s July 28th release, Dre. What happened to The DeAndre Way? Um, all he needs is one mic? Really?! We’ll […]

  25. […] is the trailer for SB’s July 28th release, Dre. What happened to The DeAndre Way? Um, all he needs is one mic? Really?! We’ll […]

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