Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy's entry in the minstrel rap sweepstakes is called Souljaboytellem.com, and it has been virally marketed in a savvy way. Still, it's about as stripped-down as a record can be. This is what rap would sound like if it had been invented in the 19th Century — simple snaps,...

By Ben Westhoff

November 15, 2007

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Soulja Boy's entry in the minstrel rap sweepstakes is called Souljaboytellem.com, and it has been virally marketed in a savvy way. Still, it's about as stripped-down as a record can be. This is what rap would sound like if it had been invented in the 19th Century — simple snaps, barely pronounced syllables, minimal percussion, and a guy yelling "Youuuuuu!" in the background. Many of the songs hope to inspire new dance crazes, including "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," "Snap and Roll," and "Let Me Get Em," which samples a gunshot as percussion. The beats from Mr. Collipark (known for producing Bubba Sparxxx's "Ms. New Booty") are perfect for those who find the Neptunes' rhythms too complex. Yet somehow the album maintains its own regional charm. Both Soulja and Mr. Collipark hail from Atlanta, and any album that features songs called "Bapes" (about shoes), "Booty Meat" (about asses), and "Donk" (also about asses) is going to make somebody dance and crank their stereo no matter what.

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