Crank That (Soulja Boy)

"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" is primarily a dance-craze anthem and a piece of self-promotion that became a cultural phenomenon. The song's meaning is direct and largely instructional, serving as a guide to the "Soulja Boy" dance. The lyrics are a series of commands that break down the dance moves: "watch me lean and watch me rock," "crank that Robocop," and most famously, "Superman that ho."

On a deeper level, the song is about youthful confidence, swagger, and the power of grassroots cultural creation in the internet age. Soulja Boy presents himself as a trendsetter, bragging about his designer clothes ("Bathing Apes") and his effect on "haters" and fans alike. The phrase "to crank that" is a general slang term for getting the party started or performing a dance with energy.

The lyric "Superman that ho" generated significant discussion and controversy. While in the context of the dance it simply refers to a pose where the dancer lunges forward like the superhero flying, an urban myth gave it a much more vulgar and misogynistic interpretation. Soulja Boy himself has remained ambiguous, stating that people make up meanings on the internet. Regardless of intent, the song's primary message is one of fun, dance, and the celebration of a new, youth-driven trend.

The song opens with the artist, Soulja Boy, introducing himself and a new dance he has created, which he calls the "Soulja Boy." He immediately begins to issue commands, instructing the listener on the basic movements. The core instruction is to "crank that Soulja Boy," a phrase that functions as both the song's title and its central directive. This is followed by a charismatic, drawn-out shout of "Yoooouuuu!" which serves as a memorable and energetic ad-lib throughout the track.

The first verse establishes Soulja Boy's persona as a trendsetter and a figure of envy. He describes himself at a local party, confidently performing his dance every day. He notes that "haters" are getting mad because he's wearing fashionable Bathing Apes sneakers, a symbol of status and style in streetwear culture. The lyrics are straightforward and braggadocious, positioning the dance as an extension of his cool, confident identity. He asserts his dominance by claiming he's "jocking on" his rivals and warns that if a fight breaks out, he's prepared to retaliate.

The chorus is a simple, repetitive, and effective hook. It consists of Soulja Boy telling the audience to watch him perform various moves: "crank that," "roll," and then a combination of the two. The key action he highlights is to "Superman that ho." This phrase is repeated multiple times, becoming the most iconic and discussed part of the dance. The command is delivered with a staccato rhythm that emphasizes its importance in the choreography. The structure is designed for maximum catchiness and ease of memory, making it simple for listeners to sing along and, more importantly, follow the dance steps.

In the second verse, Soulja Boy continues to boast about his success and influence. He describes himself as being "up in this ho," a slang term for being present and in control of the scene. He repeats the core dance moves, reinforcing the instructions. The lyrics pivot to his wider impact, mentioning his popularity with female fans who he claims are "choosing" him and wanting to take pictures with him. He projects an image of a popular, in-demand celebrity. He again mentions his "Bathing Apes," reiterating the importance of fashion and branding to his image. The verse is less about telling a story and more about building a mythology around himself as a young, successful artist who is defining the culture.

The song's bridge and outro sections continue the repetition of the main hooks. The phrases "Crank that Soulja Boy" and "Superman that ho" are drilled into the listener's mind. The energy remains high, driven by the minimalist beat and Soulja Boy's commanding vocal delivery. The structure is cyclical, returning constantly to the core instructions and catchphrases. This repetition was crucial to its viral success, as it made the dance easy to learn and the song instantly recognizable. The narrative is not one of progression, but of declaration: Soulja Boy has arrived, he has a new dance, and he is commanding the world to follow his lead. The entire composition functions as a user manual for a cultural moment, a self-contained phenomenon that is explained, demonstrated, and propagated all within its three-and-a-half-minute runtime.

"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" is a landmark song in the history of digital music and viral marketing. At just 16 years old, DeAndre Way, known as Soulja Boy, produced the track himself in his bedroom in Batesville, Mississippi. He used a demo version of the production software FL Studio (then known as Fruity Loops), creating the iconic, minimalist beat with stock steel drum and snap sounds in reportedly just ten minutes. The fact that it was made on a demo version meant he couldn't even reopen the saved project file, highlighting the rushed and raw nature of its creation.

Initially, Soulja Boy uploaded the song and an instructional dance video to websites like SoundClick, MySpace, and YouTube in late 2006 and early 2007. He was a pioneer in using the internet for self-promotion. He famously employed guerilla marketing tactics, such as uploading his song to file-sharing platforms like LimeWire but mislabeling it with the names of other popular songs of the time, tricking users into downloading it. This strategy, combined with the catchy nature of the song and dance, caused it to spread organically and rapidly online, becoming a grassroots phenomenon.

The viral buzz caught the attention of Atlanta-based producer Mr. Collipark (Michael Crooms), who was known for producing hits for artists like the Ying Yang Twins. Initially skeptical of the online hype, he was convinced by his own children and the undeniable buzz. He signed Soulja Boy to his Collipark Music imprint, and the song was officially released through Interscope Records on May 2, 2007. The professionally released version was a re-recording of the original homemade track, but it maintained its signature simple sound. The song's success was unprecedented, proving that an artist could bypass traditional industry gatekeepers and achieve massive fame directly through the internet.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" are defined by simplicity, a focus on danceability, and a structure that prioritizes catchiness over lyrical complexity.

Rhyme Scheme:

The rhyme scheme is straightforward and often follows simple couplets (AABB). For example, in the first verse: "You catch me at yo' local party / Yes, I crank it every day / Haters gettin' mad 'cause / I got me some Bathing Apes." The focus is less on intricate wordplay and more on creating memorable, easy-to-recite lines that fit the rhythm. Soulja Boy often uses simple, perfect rhymes that land squarely on the beat, enhancing the song's rhythmic drive.

Rhythm and Meter:

The song's rhythm is its most powerful feature. It is set at a moderate tempo (around 140 BPM) that is perfect for its signature dance moves. The underlying beat is built on the characteristic rhythm of snap music, a subgenre of Southern hip-hop that emphasizes finger snaps or clicks on the main beats. This creates a sparse but highly percussive feel. Soulja Boy's lyrical delivery is syncopated against this beat. He delivers his lines in short, punchy phrases that often function as rhythmic commands, dictating the listener's movements. The interplay between the steady, looping steel drum melody and his staccato vocal rhythm creates a hypnotic, energetic groove that is impossible to ignore.

"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" is defined by its revolutionary, minimalist, and D.I.Y. approach to both music and lyrics.

Musical Techniques:

• Minimalist Production: The beat, created on a demo version of FL Studio, is famously sparse. It relies on a simple, looping steel drum melody, a snap rhythm characteristic of the "snap music" subgenre, and a deep bass hit. This simplicity made it incredibly infectious and easy to replicate, contributing to its viral nature.
• Repetitive Looping: The core steel drum riff loops throughout the entire song, creating a hypnotic and instantly recognizable foundation. This repetition is a key feature of both snap music and ringtone-era pop.
• Vocal Delivery: Soulja Boy's vocal style is more of a shouted, high-energy bark than traditional rapping. He multitracks his voice to make it sound like an army or a crowd, adding to the song's anthemic, commanding feel. The iconic "Yoooouuuu!" ad-lib is a powerful and unique hook.

Literary Techniques:

• Imperative Mood: The lyrics are almost entirely in the imperative mood, consisting of commands and instructions ("Watch me...", "Crank that...", "Superman that..."). This positions Soulja Boy as a leader and the listener as a follower, directly engaging them in the dance.
• Repetition and Catchphrases: The song's structure is built on the constant repetition of its key phrases. "Soulja Boy" is repeated over 50 times, and the title phrase is repeated even more. This extreme repetition, while criticized for being lazy, was instrumental in making the song unforgettable and perfect for a viral dance craze.
• Slang and Jargon: The lyrics are filled with contemporary slang ("jocking on them haters," "Bathing Apes"), which grounded the song in a specific youth culture and made it feel authentic to its audience.

The cultural influence and legacy of "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" are immense and cannot be overstated. It fundamentally changed the music industry and set the blueprint for viral marketing in the 21st century.

Chart Performance and Sales: The song was a massive commercial success, spending seven non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2007. It became the first song ever to sell 3 million digital copies in the US and was named the 23rd most successful song of the 2000s by Billboard.

The Viral Dance Craze: The song sparked what was called "the biggest dance fad since the Macarena." Millions of user-generated videos were uploaded to YouTube featuring people doing the dance, a novel phenomenon at the time that has since become standard for hit songs. The instructional video alone surpassed 27 million views by early 2008.

Revolutionizing the Music Industry: Soulja Boy pioneered the use of social media platforms like MySpace and YouTube for self-promotion, bypassing traditional industry gatekeepers. He proved that an artist could build a massive following and produce a #1 hit from their bedroom with minimal equipment, a model that countless artists on platforms like SoundCloud and TikTok would later follow. Many critics and industry figures credit him with birthing the "internet rapper" era.

Legacy and Recognition: The song earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song. Despite initial criticism from some hip-hop purists who claimed he was "ruining hip-hop," his influence is now widely recognized. The song has been featured in numerous films and TV shows, including a notable reference in the FX series Atlanta. Today, Soulja Boy is frequently cited as a trailblazer who democratized music production and distribution.

The lyrical content of "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" is more direct than metaphorical, focusing on instructions and boasts. However, some elements carry symbolic weight:

• Bathing Apes (BAPE): The repeated mention of "Bathing Apes" sneakers is a key symbol of status and being in-vogue within hip-hop and streetwear culture at the time. It serves as a shorthand to establish Soulja Boy's credibility, wealth, and coolness, making him an aspirational figure for his young audience.
• Superman: The "Superman" move and lyric is the song's central image. In the dance, it's a literal pose. Symbolically, it represents power, heroism, and an almost cartoonish level of confidence. By telling others to "Superman that ho," he's inviting them to adopt this powerful, larger-than-life persona. While a vulgar alternative meaning spread through urban legend, the primary symbolic function within the song's official context is one of empowerment and showmanship.
• The Dance Itself: The entire dance acts as a symbol of participation and belonging. Learning and performing the dance was a way for fans to become part of the cultural moment that Soulja Boy initiated. It was a tangible, physical manifestation of the song's viral spread.

"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" is built almost entirely on the repetition of several key phrases and motifs, which were crucial to its memorability and viral success.

• "Crank That (Soulja Boy)": This is the central command and the song's title phrase. It functions as the main hook and a call to action, instructing the listener to perform the dance. Its constant repetition reinforces the song's brand and purpose.
• "Yoooouuuu!": This signature ad-lib, a drawn-out and bellowed shout, is one of the song's most recognizable elements. It serves as an energetic punctuation mark and a charismatic hook that punctuates the beat and hypes up the track.
• "Superman that ho": This is the most iconic recurring phrase and dance instruction in the song. Repeated 18 times, it is the climactic move of the dance and the most talked-about lyric. Its repetition ensures that even a casual listener remembers this specific part of the choreography.
• "Watch me...": The phrase "watch me" precedes many of the dance instructions ("watch me lean," "watch me rock," "watch me crank that"). It establishes a leader-follower dynamic, with Soulja Boy demonstrating the moves for his audience to copy.
• "Soulja Boy Tell 'Em": The artist's name is repeated constantly throughout the track, functioning as a branding tool. This ensured that everyone who heard the song knew exactly who created it, cementing his name recognition during his meteoric rise.