iSouljaBoyTellem

iTunes Review

Soulja Boy may never be a rapper’s rapper, but no one can accuse him of trying to be something he’s not. For the follow-up to his platinum debut album, souljaboytellem.com, Soulja Boy sticks close to the same elements that made “Crank Dat” a worldwide phenomenon. While “Bird Walk” and “Wit My Yums On” come up short in their blatant attempt to replicate “Crank Dat,” there is charm to the off-key groaning of “Turn My Swag On” and “Go Head.” At a time when artists like Kanye West are overstuffing their tracks with too many layers of sound, there is something old-school about Soulja Boy turning in beats as bare and minimal as “Hey You There,” “Gucci Bandanna,” and “Whoop Rico.” As much criticism as Soulja Boy catches for his remedial rhyme skills, songs like “Kiss Me Thru the Phone” and “Yamaha Mama” show that he is aiming for a much younger audience than, say, Young Jeezy. Even if he is a Southern rap Donny Osmond for the new millennium, there is something to be said for an artist who can make hip-hop love songs without using profanity.