Soulja Boy Tell 'Em News

While "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)" is an undeniably catchy party jam, it wasn't until the rapper posted the song — and instructions for the accompanying dance — on the Web that "Crank Dat" became a viral hit.

The song is a No. 1 smash, played endlessly on radio, but the real sign of its ubiquity has been on the Internet. YouTube has countless interpretations of the "Crank Dat" song and dance, by kids, football players, geeky suburban kids — even cartoons (crafty fans have figured out how to make everyone from Dora the Explorer to The Simpsons do the "Crank Dat" moves).

The AP caught up with the 17-year-old Atlanta sensation — who goes by the name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em but was born DeAndre Wade — to discuss his new album, the right way to do the "Crank Dat" dance, what 50 Cent taught him and his ultimate career goals.

AP: When you first started making songs, was getting a record deal your goal?

Soulja Boy: I was chillin' man, making music for the type of audience who wanted to hear that kind of music, like when I was going to parties, I had like a new song for them to sing and dance to. And then (we) put it out on the Internet so everyone could have a good time and party, and business came out of nowhere.

AP: What do you think of all the YouTube postings of people doing their version of "Crank Dat"? There's even a Dora the Explorer version.

Soulja Boy: I've seen a lot of the videos, like the Barney and the SpongeBobs and all of that, and I just think like it takes a lot of time to sit down and edit a video where it make it look like a cartoon is saying the words to a song, so I guess there are a lot of die-hard fans out there for Soulja Boy. I love them all, I hope they keep doing it.

AP: How did you create the "Crank Dat" dance?

Soulja Boy: I made the beat to the song, and I was doing the dance on the beat before I put the words down on it. And after I did the dance, I shot the video, and when we put it on YouTube, right now it's like at 12 million views.

AP: Is there a wrong way to do the dance, or can you interpret it for yourself?

Soulja Boy: Nah, it is a wrong way to do the dance, and there's a right way to do the dance. If you want to know how to do it, you go to YouTube and go to Soulja Boy. We got the instructional DVD on there, that will teach you how to do the step. But at the end of the day, it's all about having fun.

AP: You recently hung out with 50 Cent — what kind of advice did he give you?

Soulja Boy: He was just telling me that my project was very viral, like everything I touch everybody want to get on, every time I put something out everybody want to jump on it. Like, in the beginning of the day, at 6 a.m., I can put a video on YouTube, and my the next morning at 6 a.m. that will have 200,000 views. ... That's why I stay consistent and put out new videos every day. That's what he taught me to do, to be consistent.

AP: A lot of stars' Web sites won't be updated for weeks, even months.

Soulja Boy: I check mine like every day. I be on it all the time. That's why I keep a laptop on me and I keep my Internet on so I can talk to my fans, because they the ones who you're making your music for.

AP: Do you plan on going to college or are you going to stay in the music business?

Soulja Boy: Nah, after I finish my career, I'm trying to go back to do my first career that I was trying to accomplish. I want to be a computer animator, and I still got that dream, that's why I'm trying to bring that into my music.

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On the Net:

http://www.souljaboytellem.com