S. Samuel
Atlanta rapper Soulja Boy Tell Em recently revealed his past contemplation of quitting the rap game despite only four years and three solo albums.
Soulja said last year’s disappointing DeAndre Way record sales ultimately sparked his retirement option.
“[I stopped Twittering when my sales came back because] I just needed to take a break. I needed to think about things. I needed to evaluate my camp and what was going on in my circle. I had to talk to my family, the label, and my management. I had a big talk with the big bruh 50 Cent. I’m going to forever thank 50 because he guided me. When I was at my lowest point in my career and I just felt like I ain’t really want to do this music no more. I was like, ‘Man, I’m still young. I made enough money.’ My head was on a whole different radar, but he was like, ‘Man, you tripping little bro. You’ve got to keep it going.'” (Complex)
Advice from 50 Cent ultimately motivated him to take a new approach to music.
“He was like, ‘You’ve got to keep doing what you’re doing. You’re Soulja Boy, you’re here for a reason. Everybody’s not going platinum. Everybody didn’t do what you did. Everybody didn’t come in on the Internet. You’re the one that started the Internet. You’re the one that got me on the Internet. You’re the one that got us on blogs, on YouTube, and on Twitter.’ I was like, ‘Man, you know what? You’re right.’ He wasn’t doing nothing but speaking true knowledge to my head and it got me right back in the studio. So I ain’t going to never quit. I’m going to stay in this music industry. I’m going to stay making hits, and I’m going to do what I’ve got to do, and I thank 50. I really needed that at that time.” (Complex)
Earlier in the week, Soulja Boy discussed surviving recent hardships
“I’ve been through situations that were crazy, but I felt like everything turned out to be great. I went through a situation I’ve never gone through in my life, and [thankfully] even 50 Cent reached out to me. Now, I’m in a very great position. I’m grateful for my family, keeping me grounded, and all of the fans that stuck through it all with me — everyone that kept it real with me, that messed with my music and me as a person.” (Billboard)
Last November, Soulja Boy’s third solo album pushed just over 13,000 copies in its first week.
Rapper Soulja Boy Tell Em’s The DeAndre Way also debuted on the chart at No. 90. With seven days down, the rapper’s new album has sold 13,400 copies. (SOHH Sales Wrap)
Check out some recent Soulja Boy footage below:
