Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em|iSouljaBoyTellem
December 18, 2008 by H20
Soulja Boy Tell Em’ seems to get a lot of hate in the game: when he first showed up on the scene with a record-breaking single that was catchy enough to get him a Grammy nomination AND sold 3x Platinum; people immediately had their opinions of him. All the teenagers were doing the dance and bopping their heads to the beat, while all the older folks were complaining. Who did this kid think he was? Even Ice-T, a legend, went out of his way to tell Soulja Boy to “eat a dick”. Well, now that Soulja is in the game, the next goal is to STAY there. Let’s see if he can avoid the sophomore jinx.
I’m Bout Tha Stacks (Intro)
Produced by Drumma Boy
This is a straight up-banger to start the album off. Not bad, I wouldn’t expect anything else from Soulja Boy. First thing you’ll notice is Soulja has finally hit puberty; his voice is A LOT deeper. His lyrics still aren’t anything you’ve heard before, but he seems to have smartened up; “I got the stacks, coming straight out the Vault/Checking out my life, man it ain’t what you thought”. That one line is better than anything on his last album. Good song.
Bird Walk
Produced by Soulja Boy Tell Em’
The first single off the album. To be honest, I didn’t even know this was out until I saw the music video for it on King Jerm’s Friday Night Fro’. It’s a blatant attempt to repeat the success he had on “Crank That”, but looking at the way it’s doing, it won’t. Plus, the song just isn’t as good: “Watch me do my…BIRD WALK!!” Whatever. OK song, the beat bangs like crazy.
Turn My Swag On
Produced by Natural Disaster for U.N.I. Productions
I liked this song when it first came on; the beat is hot! But Soulja Boy is trying to sing on this?!? It wasn’t bad when I thought he was just doing it on the hook, but the first verse is just awful; we can’t all be T.I.! The hook is hot though, so I’m kind of up in the air on this song; leaning on a skip.
Gucci Bandana
Produced by Soulja Boy Tell Em’
Featuring Gucci Mane & Shawty Lo
See the features on this one? CLASSIC! These three must have set out to make the absolute worst rap song they could, and they pretty much succeeded. The beat is a low key on a piano over and over, and Soulja Boy’s hook is “Gucci Bandana, Gucci, Gucci Bandana” repeated 20 times. Still, Soulja Boy has the best verse, even if he rhymes like Shawty LO. Don’t get me wrong though, this song is terrible, probably the worst I’ve heard all year. SKIP SKIP SKIP!!!
Eazy
Produced by Zaytoven
He came back on this one. Basically, Soulja Boy is boasting on how “eazy” the rap game is to him. I guess selling three million singles puts you in that mindset? This song is decent, nothing special. On a side note, I notice how most of Soulja Boy’s songs are only 3 minutes long. Thank God!
Kiss Me Thru The Phone
Featuring Sammie; Produced by Jim Jonsin
This is the second single, though it shoulda been the first. This song is just completely dominated by Sammie and he steals the show (Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing when you want to move units). Soulja Boy’s rapping is alright; it’s about how he wants to be with his girl though he can’t. It’s MUCH better than last year’s “Soulja Girl”. Decent song.
Booty Got Swag
Produced by Soulja Boy Tell Em’
This is supposed to be “Donk Part 2″. This song sucks! At least he didn’t have a song called “Booty Meat” like last time. SKIP!!
Rubberbands
Produced by Drumma Boy
This song is alright, Soulja Boy is boasting about some street shit, which we all know isn’t true. The beat is ok, but everything else falters. What’s more, this song is too damn long! SKIP!
Hey You There
Produced by Soulja Boy Tell Em’
When I saw the title, I thought he was gonna holla at some girls, but NO! Leave it to Soulja Boy to make a song about a Mall Cop yelling “Hey! You there!” at him. He makes his voice the weirdest I’ve ever heard on a rap song, and this is without a doubt one of the worst rap song of the year, no kidding. SKIP SKIP SKIP!!!
Yamaha Mama
Featuring Sean Kingston; Produced by Polow Da Don
Alright, here Soulja brings it back after three downers that messed up the whole album. Sean Kingston again steals the show, and this song was actually enjoyable to me. Well, okay, enjoyable without the SB parts.
Wit My Yums On
Produced by Soulja Boy Tell Em’
This is about Soulja Boy’s new sneaker line. SKIP!
Go Head
Featuring Juney Boondata; Produced by Soulja Boy Tell Em’
Yeah, I’m really not feeling this one either. Soulja Boy is slipping big time here; he had at least a 2 Star album before this song. SKIP!!
Shopping Spree
Featuring Gucci Mane & Yo Gotti; Produced by Mr. Hankey
This song is awful!! The beat, alright. Everything else, and Gucci Mane’s “Yahhhh!” especially is just awful. Yo Gotti’s verse is the best, but he can’t save this song at all. SKIP!
Soulja Boy Tellem
Produced by The Package Store & Mr. Collipark
Here, Soulja Boy is talking to his critics who are talking down to him and shit. This could have been Soulja Boy’s lyrical song of the album, but instead he just lazily cruises through it. I’m leaning on a skip here, but it’s a decent song…I guess.
Whoop Rico
Featuring Show Stoppas; Produced by Soulja Boy Tell Em’
This album is really getting on my nerves. This song is just filler, again! Soulja Boy is not saying anything on this track, and neither are the Show Stoppas. SKIP!
I Pray (Outro)
Produced by Drumma Boy
This song is just too long for its own good, but it comes from the heart, which I think is what counts. The topics he’s talking about are his problems with his mom, getting girls pregnant (Damn!), and finally getting signed only to become one of the most hated rappers out there. I feel for him, but maybe I’m just glad I’m done?
Bottom Line:
At first, I thought Soulja Boy was going to grow up on this one and make a decent album that I figured critics wouldn’t completely destroy. Well, it looks like we’re back on that same road again. Soulja Boy needs to grow up in the game: you 18 man, make some music that isn’t just for the teenyboppers! I will say that this album is better than his last album (not that that’s a hard thing to do: it got one star!), but at the same time, it’s just not the breakout album Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em needs to be respected in the game. Update: I was harsh on the Soulja Boy album; I decided that it really deserves a 2.5 after listening to it again.
nappyPicks: “Yamaha Mama” & “Eazy”
@ King Jerm
You been manipulated by Gucci Mane so long. In the late 90’s Gucci wouldn’t have survive in the rap game, look at Lil Troy. His album went platinum but he sucked ass and his album sucked. B.G. had talent as a young teen, dude went through a lot, and was in the streets hard. You can hear it in his voice when he rapped on certain things when he was underground. How many 15 year olds you know that actually rap decent without sounding like a fake Lil Wayne or Jay-Z or Young Jeezy? B.G. was his own rapper, and had his own sound. With Manny behind the boards you can’t go wrong back then.
Man you definitely tripping hard fa sho. B.G. was definitely ripping them mics at a young age, Gucci can’t do that and with him being grown he can’t do that now. Ask a lot of dudes in the south even some people up north liked B.G.
Even when Prodigy of Mobb Deep was hot, who did he have on that Y.B.E. song?? B.G.z!!! Romeo Must Die soundtrack even though it wasn’t that good of a soundtrack but still he was on it.
He was on one of the biggest tours with Ruff Ryders. Did Gucci ever do that?? Nope and who would pay to see that man rap anyways. Face it, that man suck and sound like a snotty nose version of Young Jeezy with that “Yeeeaaah” shit.
Me and you still homies but we have our disagreement with this though. I won’t rest on this topic, never will. Especially about 2Pac I won’t rest on that topic either.
Some of the beats Gucci rap on was wack as fuck, on that last album he released sucked ass man. That Freaky Girl song was the only song I liked on that album. A lot of his beats sound like everybody else stuff now anyways.
Also Project Pat may rap some of the same topics as Gucci but he sound a hell of a lot better, can’t deny that. I always liked Pat but at the same time I was a Wu Tang fan, still a Nas fan, Common fan, and so forth.
@ King Jerm
On that note we’ll probably argue about this til the grave because I defend what I say, and I mean it. I stick with who I like, if I don’t feel a person I just don’t, but if a person got some talent I’m going to admit it. I’m not bias maybe to a certain extent but if a person got a wack album I’m going to admit. Just like Project Pat “Walkin Bank Roll”, yeah I like Project Pat but that album was weak to me, I hated that album. I felt like Paul & Juicy just threw him some beats to rap on just for the hell of it.
Anyways back to B.G., when I first heard the hot boys and all that stuff they was real symbolic to me because I was a young teenager as well and I admired them for doing what they do. The 4 of them all had talent, Turk was the weakest link but the matter of the fact is that they was good at one point in the 90’s. Back in the day they sold all them units for a reason, people really felt them dudes back then.
People in the N.O. definitely respect B.G. indeed. Me personally he always been my favorite out the click. He been busting his ass since he was 12 after his father got killed. He released over 13 albums (including Hot Boys & Chopper City Boys), and he is only 28 now. Dude been grinding. Yeah he was on that heroin bad when he was around 14 but he had talent, and a lot of people will agree.
He might not be a top lyricist but I respect his craft and he do what he do. You can’t compare him to other rappers. Gucci on the other hand he gets compared to Young Jeezy because of that “Yeeeeaaahh” b.s. he say all the time.
Also B.G. Chopper City (1996) is a southern classic. Not because I said so but its been on articles, and internet sites as well. He was only 15 when he released that CD mane. Gucci at 30 can’t rap better than a 15 year old B.G., I’m sorry but he can’t.
Maybe with me being from the south people may tend to think I’m bias but naw I like dude though. Shiit I liked Spice 1, I liked Eazy-E, I liked Snoop, I liked Notorious BIG, I like Jay-Z, I liked Redman a lot (One of my favorite rappers of all time)… I can go on and on.
I was definitely a outkast and goodie mob fan at one point when they was really dropping bombs, and they was very underrated during that east coast west coast feud.
Anyways this is a argument that will not be won because I’m always going to have something to say.
@Mr. Jones
To be honest with you I don’t know why we started talking about B.G… Lol
I respect Soulja Boy for his hustle but for his music its corny, and not grabbing my ears at all. DJ Paul & Juicy J was better producers and DJ’s when they was Soulja age.
im going to kill u hilton
@ sba
ya im the guy who sed project pat and b.g suck………………..and fyi im alot older thn 10………………but lemme ask u this…………………..do u have a album from A tribe called quest……………….jus askin cus it doesnt seem like u kno quality hip-hop but i could jus b wrong or i could jus b sayin that jus cus im surprised at how ignorant u are………………o ya and if u can answer this question w/ a valid answer thjen ill concede to you…………………………..why the FUCK would i listen to those albums when i can listen to “ready to die” or “liquid swords”?????………..b.g was a fuckin druggie props to him now cus hes sober and project pat loves droppin the soap too thats y tht dude stay in jail and thats y nobody buys their shit now…………….
My definition of good hip hop may not be the same to you. I’m not saying that Gucci, Soulja Boy, and Shawty Lo are the best rappers, but to me i’ll bump Gucci or Soulja in the whip b/c thats what hits hard. I was born in Mississippi, raised in Texas and South Carolina, so i’m the South true and true. I like to listen to music that’s gon make me feel good, make me feel like i’m bout to party or somethin. But at the same time, I do listen to old Jay-Z and Nas, N.W.A. and Ice Cube, hell even Kurtis Blow and Grandmaster Flash. I dig lyricism when it comes to hip hop b/c that is what true hip hop is all about, but when your at the club, gettin your drink on and partyin and whatnot, what would you rather listen to… ATCQ or a crunk Gucci song? Wu-Tang or the Donk song by Soulja Boy?
As much as I hate Soulja Boy he is giving hustling the young crowd. He raps about making money and flossing accessories and whatever else. He is probably the laziest rapper out there, but he’s appealing to a crowd that don’t want intelligence, wit or creativity. The white america (which I am apart of) crave songs that are pointless and easy to rap along to with your friends at a highschool dance. Of which I hated going to except for the teenage girls. If Soulja Boy really spit he’d lose his market. How many everyday teens know Gangstarr, Doom, Common, Geto Boys, or any other revolutionary artists? They know anything that is shiny and can shake their skinny ass to. And thats what they want, and thats what Soulja Boy gives them. He is clever as fuck.
he is hustling the young crowd*
it’s not really clever to give the crowd what they want, because you already know what they want. See, Soulja Boy is probably the typical american, and he knows by being around other typical teenagers/americans what they want in music. Therefore it isn’t his wit that gets him by, it’s experience with others, and frankly, we’re all around people like that, so why should we give him credit for something everyone does, and he, among MANY others, have noticed.
All I hear from Soulja Boy is lazy catch phrases being repeated over junk-yard beats.
@ sba
i see ur point……………….i prefer atcq wen im blowed though lol
LUDACRIS >>>> every southern rapper out now except Andre 3000 & Phonte of Little Brother
SOULJA BOY <<<<<< every southern rapper out now except Lil Boosie
as far as SBA, I only listen to Shawty Lo and Gucci when I’m in the club, but you know why… cause I’M NOT THE ONE PLAYING IT, THE DJ IS!!!!!
personally, I rather listen to Common’s WORST album, Universal Mind Control, than 90% of anything that’s out now when I’m drunk, high, or sober (Ludacris & Scarface is the 10%, LOL!!!!!)
Soulja Boy, is trash, period. Back then, more black kids were a bit more conscious and had better taste in lyrics. Now, kids watch so much BET/MTV and are so trapped in a cave, that they don’t get out and listen to more diverse stuff such as Little Brother.
Me, I’m a very diverse person. My friends back at home in Cleveland all listen to Gucci, Soulja, and Lo…all the time 24/7. If it’s not trendy, they don’t listen to it. It’s almost worst than tall tees…Now I’m in pittsburgh, I listen to music that pertains to my mood.
If I’m working on something intellectual or deals with my brain, then I put on the common, little brother, foreign exchange, kayne, lupe, jay, nas, outkast, murs, 2pac, and even some other stuff like jazz etc…
If I’m smokin with the niggas, then its Three 6, Bone, Project Pat, Jay, Mobb Deep, something along those lines…
If its the club, then the club music comes on…and the drinks start ta flow and the women start ta lap up on me…lol
So basically most ppl is not hatin..its just basically either an opinion or they listen to certain stuff because of where they are from, or what mood they are in…
Soulja boy has great hustle, but he just has shit music…
…that was a retarded rant..
@whochrisporter
You got a good point. I don’t smoke but I do listen to alot of the same as well, and I bump DJ Screw as well with UGK, Lil Keke, DJ Squeeky (Underground rival of Three 6), and etc.
It just depend on my moods and where I’m at. Me being from the south it was a lot of underground southern stuff I heard, but at the same time people in my family were DJ’s so I had heard a lot of music from East Coast, West Coast, Mid West, and of course the south. So I can say I’m very diverse in what I listen to, especially if you see my music collection and my ipod.
Interesting concept, and I do agree Soulja has a great hustle but his music to me isn’t good.
UGK is that fire man. They make some of the best kick it music in my opinion. I can’t vibe with Soulja Boy so I’m not going to pretend. I’m not going to hate on dude cause he makes money, but being realistic is saying that he doesn’t make the same quality of music as many of his musical peers. I’m 22 and when I was a teen Soulja boy would have never seen the inside of my CD player or MP3 player. People are always defending mediocrity saying stuff like, “It’s for the kids.”. Real talk, it’s not for my lil cuzzos and it damn sure isn’t for my sister because I honestly believe that music such as his literally causes your brain to deteriorate.
If I’m working on something intellectual or deals with my brain.
First quotable of 09′
I never peeped that one….HAHA!
good one
@mufucka
yes im buyin this im 16 but dont think i dont kno good rap when i hear it
this fool izz a buffoon on the real! yea somebody please buy this nigga album before he kill himself after realizing that he aint nothing but a one trick pony! i almost feel sorry for him…
stop hatin on the boy. you wouldnt hate on your son if he was bringing home millions now woud you. soulja boy and his music is the product of a generation where grandma’s are 45 listening to gansta rap and not old school. and a generatin where fathers dont take care of thier daughters and sons so of course they want to shake they ass and do the stanky leg. its yalls fault.lol
it deserves a 3 at least
i agree with ricky
this album go hard as hell !!!!