Soulja Boy is a rapper from Atlanta who has been producing music since he was 15 years old. He began by making hip-hop beats and rapping over them, then moved on to producing his own tracks as well as those of other musicians. Soulja Boy net worth shows that he also had a healthy interest in the business side of the industry – acting as a talent agent for several rappers, including Lil B at one point.
| Full Name | DeAndre Cortez Way |
| Birth Date | July 28, 1990 |
| Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois |
| Profession | Rapper, Songwriter, Record Producer |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Net Worth | $32 million |
This young artist made an immediate impact with his first studio album – Crank That (Soulja Boy) – which was released when Soulja Boy net worth was just $100 000. The single of this same name went platinum, as did his 2nd release In My Hood. Since then Soulja boy has released several more studio albums, each of which entered the Billboard charts.
Soulja Boy is well known for his weird hairstyle – he grew it long to look like dreadlocks then cut them into a mohawk style. He also used bright colours, then shaved all but one lock on the right side. The result was likened to an anime character and made Soulja famous, earning him much attention from women as well as rap fans around the world.
However, controversy soon grew up around him too – in 2011 he ran afoul of authorities by Tweeting that there was a bomb on an airplane carrying President Obama. This cost him several thousand dollars in fines and probation time. Whether this dimmed his future prospects significantly is doubtful however since Soulja boy net worth continued to grow, reaching $12 million in 2012.
Career and Personal Life
Soulja boy net worth started rising in 2006 – the year he produced his first mixtape, and released his first single Crank That. This tune (based on a dance called “the worm”) shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 within days of its release, achieving platinum status as well as winning Soulja Boy an MTV Video Music Award for best new artist. The song even inspired a nation-wide craze for the dance move to which it was set (it is performed by thrusting one’s hips and arms).
From this point there was no looking back: Soulja Boy recorded and released several more singles, including Diamonds and Swag surfacing two years later. Some of them became number 1 hits; others only managed to scrape into the top ten.
Soulja Boy flirted with other forms of media too, working as an actor in Schoolz N The Hood (2008) and Meet The Spartans (2008). Meanwhile he managed to become one of Lil B’s managers, although dropped him when it became apparent that Lil B was unable to repay his debts. By 2012 Soulja Boy net worth had risen to $32 million.
There is no doubt that this rap artist has talent – why else would he have been able to attract a fan base of millions? He also possesses business chops, having released all of his albums independently rather than going through a major label. These same qualities make him a good producer too – his work with Florida rapper XXXTentacion showed that he understood how to help a musician reach their potential.
In 2012, Soulja Boy’s music was the subject of backlash from several journalists who denounced it as misogynistic and overly-violent. They further argued that it encouraged similar behavior amongst others – influences which could have a negative impact on society as a whole. This criticism has been echoed over the years by a number of other activists and social commentators, none of whom seem to have done anything to slow down his meteoric rise in net worth.
In 2014, Soulja Boy started dating reality TV star Nia Riley – she had appeared on 16 & Pregnant two years earlier as well as Teen Mom 2 before moving into the adult entertainment industry as an exotic dancer. In January of 2015 she announced that she would be retiring from stripping to focus on Soulja Boy and their relationship. She is his first significant girlfriend, one whose announcement led some to predict that he could be taking a more settled path; but the couple broke up in June of 2016.
