"Crank That" by Soulja Boy
Reviewed by: Krystal Burns
Note: We focus on reviewing songs, and therefore cannot comment on the appropriateness of the album in its entirety. Please use your best judgment whenever purchasing or listening to music.
If you haven’t heard of Soulja Boy Tell Em yet, chances are you will before too long. A newcomer to the hip-hop/rap scene, he marks his territory in his signature sunglasses with his name written across them. Whether he can see clearly or not, he’s already writing, producing, and directing his career -- at only 17! But his ambition doesn’t stop there; he has dreams of movies, clothing lines, and, oh, so much more.
The Artist
Unlike many young artists, Soulja Boy wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He and his brother were raised by their mother who struggled to provide for them. It wasn’t until he was in 8th grade and went to live with his father in Mississippi that he truly began his music career. He and a classmate started creating music and putting it out over the Internet. Before long, he had created a name for himself and a fan base with growing requests for performances. All his hard work paid off, and he signed with Interscope Records and released his first single this summer followed by a second release with an additional song, “Let Me Get Em.”
The Album
“Crank That” was released as a single July 10, 2008. A full album will likely be released later this year.
The Song
Soulja Boy’s first debut single “Crank That” has been sitting at the top of the charts for weeks. Its infectious beat is hard for the dancers to resist -- even more so when Soulja Boy himself offers a free step-by-step lesson guaranteed to make you an expert.
Keeping in mind that baggy clothes and hip/hop style don’t make music immoral, neither do great beats make songs worthwhile. In the words of a famous TV show, don’t forget the lyrics! The entire song is basically about Soulja Boy doing his dance at parties, getting the girls, and all the “haterz” being jealous because they’re not like him. Much of the song commands us to watch him perform the various moves; most lines start with “watch me.”
“Watch me crank it / Watch me roll / Watch me crank dat Soulja Boy.” He ends the song by encouraging others to dance the Soulja Boy, then insulting those who try. It’s amazing fans still have the courage to try the dance and then upload their performances all over his website!
The most disappointing aspect of this song is the attitude behind the lyrics. I know bragging and mocking others is part of hip/hop culture. But Soulja Boy lays it on a little thick for a 17-year-old rookie. He doesn’t pretend to have any amount of humility or respect for other people.
The song and dance is all about him with an arrogant, in-your-face approach that’s practically begging for a fight. It’s a sort of pompous, pretentious song meant to make him feel more powerful by building himself up and bringing others down. By the end of the song, I’m a little tired of listening to him brag about his dance skills.
God warns us over and over again not to be prideful. It keeps us from truly seeking God by distorting our view of ourselves. If we’re not careful, we can fall into the trap of thinking that we are equal with God. Let’s be careful to keep a clear perspective on our place in the world. We’re all just people who need God. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
So while the beat is fun, the dance is fun, and even the music video has some pretty hilarious moments, the attitude behind “Crank That” puts me off really wanting to listen to it. Aside from that, I’m a little surprised “Crank That” doesn’t come with a stronger parental warning given the profanity and brief-but-crude sexual references.
So What Do You Think?
1. Have you heard much about Soulja Boy Tell Em?
2. What are your impressions of hip/hop and rap as a music industry?
3. What are some positive aspects of a song that encourages people to dance?
4. How could the same ideas in “Crank That” be communicated with more humility?