We asked some of our favorite musicians to tell us about some of their favorite artists, songs and moments from 2008. Here's what the Soulja Boy Tell 'Em had to say about the year in music.
Current events addressed on your new album
Barack Obama becoming the first black president. I didn’t really dedicate a whole song to it, but I addressed it in a couple of bars. It was just a moment that’s going to go down in history forever.
Why your album deserves to be on year-end best lists
It’s 10 times better than my first album. I think that my flow enhanced, and my delivery, production, overall skills and music have gotten better since I’ve been in the game. I got a whole lot of hard tracks. It’s going to go down, as a lot of people didn’t expect it from me. With this album, [I produced] probably like 50 percent because I have a lot of producers on there like Jim Jonson, Polow Da Don, Beethoven and Drumma Boy. And I got a couple of underground producers. I just really go by the sound and not the name.
Proudest achievement
My album going platinum. When I first came out, a lot of people wrote me off, saying I was going to be a one hit wonder and saying I was going to be this and I was going to be that. After my album went platinum, it was just a stepping stone to having a long career. Most artists they say are going to be one-hit wonders don’t have platinum albums.
Most expensive purchase
I got a $200,000 Soulja Boy logo chain. It has blue and yellow canary diamonds in it. Shout out to my jeweler King Johnny down in Houston, Texas. It’s my logo. I got it with me right now. I rock it all the time.
One cutback due to the recession
We didn’t cut back on nothing.
Biggest disappointment
50 Cent pushing his album back to ’09. I’ve been looking forward to it. He was dropping a week before my album dropped and I wanted to hear it and see what numbers he was going to put up. “Get Up” was a nice balanced track to come back with. I wanted to see what he was going to drop after that.
Favorite album
Tha Carter III because that whole album sets the mold for hip-hop. That whole album was hot, track for track. He went platinum in a week. Lil Wayne killed it with that album. That’s a classic. [My favorite song was] “Dr. Carter” because it was like more than listening to music. When I was listening to that, I had the whole visual in my head.
Hottest verse
Kanye with “Swagga Like Us.” He killed that track. That was four hip-hop heavyweights on one song, and I think Kanye took it.
Favorite rapper
It’s either Kanye or Wayne. Kanye came out with that “Love Lockdown,” and at first, I was really thinking, man, Kanye’s lost it. As soon as he came out with the album, I understand where he was coming from. No homo, but “Pinocchio Story” almost brought a tear to my eye. That really brought feelings out. I guess a regular person probably would listen to it and feel Kanye, but me being a celebrity and going through the same situation Kanye’s going through, I can relate to the song more. He’s spitting it true. Kanye wasn’t scared to come out and do what he wants to do. He don’t really care about the media or the public.
Favorite song to hear in the club
It would have to be Jim Jones' “Pop Champagne.” That was a hard beat. It’s real mellow when it first comes on, then the 808s ride. T-Pain’s “Chopped n Skrewed” sounds really good in the club though.
Favorite producer of the year
I probably would say Polow Da Don, maybe T-Pain. I ain’t even know T-Pain produced like that though. I was looking at his album credits and they were saying T-Pain produced the most songs. Did Kanye produce his album? I didn’t know he did “Swagga Like Us.” Oh well, got to give it to Kanye.
Favorite new artist
There ain’t been no artist in 2008, but if I have to pick, I would have to say Cory Gunz because he go hard. He got the flow, the look and delivery. If anyone would be the next superstar and come up as the new artist, I think it would be Corey. All he needs is a hit, and he’s out of there.
Favorite website
Worldstarhiphop.com. They have all the best videos, and they have it first, before anybody. Their videos be off the chain. [The craziest one I saw] was this girl talking about Barack Obama was the anti-Christ or something. She had her little daughter saying Barack Obama wasn’t her president and all that. She was going hard. It was on CNN, I think.
- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC.
I'm sorry but I don't care about Soulja Boi Tell Em (that's it right)I just didn't see a designated (official?)post area,
but dammit it all I love ya'll. Why?
Maybe my PS3 is smart like that(potential genius maybe?), but did ya'll have something (just a little sumthin sumthin) to do with having my entire library just showing up in their XMB menu. If so consider this our marriage license. LoL. You fwiggin' wock!!!!!!!!!!
I'ma dude but XO's, xo's.