18 Years Later: The 5 Shocking Ways Soulja Boy's "Crank That" Still Dominates Pop Culture In 2025

As of December 17, 2025, the cultural reverberations of "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" continue to surprise and define the modern music landscape, nearly two decades after its initial release. The track, which first exploded onto the scene in 2007, was not just a viral hit; it was a seismic shift in how music was created, distributed, and consumed, turning its creator, DeAndre Cortez Way, into the quintessential internet rap pioneer. While many critics initially dismissed the song as a novelty, its enduring influence is undeniable, with recent events—including a major A-list actor spontaneously performing the iconic dance—proving its immortality in the pop culture lexicon.

The story of "Crank That" is the story of the digital age: a teenager from Batesville, Mississippi, recording a track on a rudimentary beat-making program, posting it to MySpace and YouTube, and watching it become a global phenomenon that spent seven non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Today, the song's blueprint is the standard operating procedure for every aspiring artist, validating Soulja Boy's self-proclaimed status as one of the most influential figures of his generation. This deep dive explores the track's history, its inventor's profile, and the shocking ways it maintains its grip on global culture in the mid-2020s.

DeAndre Cortez Way: The Profile of an Internet Rap Pioneer

Soulja Boy, born DeAndre Cortez Way, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur who fundamentally changed the music industry's relationship with the internet. His career, launched by the unprecedented success of "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," established the viral marketing model now used by major record labels and independent artists alike. While his net worth has fluctuated due to various entrepreneurial ventures and legal issues, his influence remains a fixed point in hip-hop history.

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• Full Name: DeAndre Cortez Way
• Stage Name: Soulja Boy Tell 'Em (or simply Soulja Boy)
• Date of Birth: July 28, 1990
• Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S. (Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and Batesville, Mississippi)
• Debut Single: "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" (2007)
• Record Label: Stacks on Deck Entertainment (SODMG), Interscope Records (formerly)
• Genre: Hip Hop, Snap Music, Trap
• Key Achievements: Seven non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100; Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Song (2008); First artist to have a song sell over 5 million digital copies in the U.S. (Digital Song Sales)
• Estimated Net Worth (2025): Varies widely, commonly cited between $2 million and $5 million, reflecting a career of massive highs and significant financial management challenges.

The Blueprint: How "Crank That" Created the Modern Viral Hit

The initial success of "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" was a perfect storm of simplicity, accessibility, and the nascent power of Web 2.0. Released in 2007, the song was the antithesis of the polished, over-produced hip-hop of the era. Soulja Boy created the beat quickly using the FL Studio software, showcasing a DIY ethos that resonated with a generation tired of gatekeepers.

1. The Fusion of Music and Dance Challenge

The song's genius lay in its inseparable link to a simple, instructional dance. The "Crank That" dance was not only easy to learn but was explicitly demonstrated by Soulja Boy on his self-uploaded video on the souljaboytellem.com website and later on YouTube. This direct instruction turned the song into a participatory event. Before TikTok, before the "Renegade" challenge, there was "Crank That." It was the original viral dance challenge, making every listener a potential content creator and marketer.

2. Mastering the Early Internet Platforms

Soulja Boy bypassed traditional radio and television, becoming a master of early social media. He leveraged MySpace and the then-fledgling YouTube platform to distribute his music and videos. By posting dozens, sometimes hundreds, of songs online, he built a massive, dedicated following before the mainstream industry took notice. His approach proved that an artist could achieve global stardom without a major label's initial backing, effectively laying the groundwork for every independent artist who followed.

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3. The Ringtone and Digital Sales Phenomenon

During the height of the ringtone era, "Crank That" was an absolute juggernaut. It became one of the best-selling ringtones of all time, generating millions in revenue. Furthermore, the song was a massive digital sales success, eventually becoming one of the first songs ever to surpass 5.5 million digital downloads in the United States. This commercial success was a stark, undeniable signal to the music industry that the digital distribution model—the very model Soulja Boy pioneered—was the future.

The Enduring "Crank That" Legacy in the Mid-2020s

Over a decade and a half later, the impact of "Crank That" is not just a nostalgic memory; it is a living, breathing part of contemporary culture, influencing everything from celebrity trends to streaming metrics. Soulja Boy himself has acknowledged that if the song were released today, it would be even bigger due to the current infrastructure of platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

4. The Surprise A-List Celebrity Endorsement of 2025

One of the most recent and unexpected signs of the song’s enduring power came in December 2025. During a press event for his new film, acclaimed actor Timothée Chalamet spontaneously performed the iconic "Crank That" dance, much to the delight of the audience and the immediate viral spread across social media. This moment proved that the song's simple, recognizable choreography transcends generations and genres, appealing to a new wave of fans who weren't even born when the song hit No. 1. The fact that a Gen Z icon like Chalamet can effortlessly "Crank That" highlights the track's status as a fundamental piece of global pop culture, not just a niche hip-hop hit.

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5. The Streaming and Remix Longevity

The song continues to generate impressive streaming numbers, proving it is far from a relic. Even its derivatives, such as the "Crank That (Soulja Boy) [Travis Barker Remix]," boasts over 42 million streams as of late 2025, demonstrating its continued relevance on major platforms like Spotify. Furthermore, new remixes, like the "Crank That (MAK Remix)" released in May 2025, show that DJs and producers are still actively reworking the track for modern club and festival circuits, keeping the original's energy alive and fresh for new audiences.

The legacy of "Crank That" was also formally recognized at the 2023 BET Awards, where a segment paid homage to artists who went viral for the dances they created, placing Soulja Boy at the forefront of this category. This recognition solidifies his position as the architect of the viral era, a phenomenon that continues to shape the careers of artists from all genres today.

Conclusion: The Undeniable Influence of the "Youuuuuu" Era

From a bedroom recording shared on MySpace to a global chart-topper and a cultural touchstone referenced by A-list actors in 2025, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" is more than a song; it is a historical marker. It pioneered the self-promotion model, normalized the dance challenge, and forced the music establishment to embrace digital platforms. DeAndre Cortez Way's simple, infectious beat and the unforgettable "Youuuuuu" ad-lib created a template for success that is still being copied today.

The song's ability to resurface in major pop culture moments, whether through a high-profile celebrity or a new streaming remix, confirms its status as an immortal hit. Soulja Boy was the first to show the world how to 'blow up online,' and his debut single remains the foundational text of the internet-driven music industry. The industry has largely followed his blueprint since streaming became the main method of consumption, ensuring that the influence of "Crank That" will continue to be felt for decades to come.