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 Soulja Boy Tell'em is just 18 years old. But since breaking into the music scene in 2007 with his smash single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," the young rapper has been through a lot. He's gained legions of fans, along with a legion of haters. He's commended for his innovative use of the internet to launch his career, but then he's criticized for the lack of substance in his music. He just can't win.
All of those problems almost came to an end in late December 2008, when six men reportedly stormed into his Atlanta home, armed with guns, and "tried to kill me," he said via a Twitter message.
Looking back on the situation now, Soulja Boy is noticeably changed -- as far as his demeanor and how he looks at things. In an interview with Shade 45's Angela Yee, the rapper revealed that following the incident, he felt like dying might be the only answer to his problems.
"After that, that was the first time I thought to myself: 'If I die right now, all of my problems will go away,' " a reflective Soulja Boy said.
Before that very moment, the rapper had never actually sat alone, quietly, to reflect on the whirlwind that shot him to stardom and its aftermath -- becoming a platinum selling artist and celebrity, meeting other famous people, etc.
Walking away unscathed, Soulja Boy is not only grateful to be alive today, but is thankful he actually went through the ordeal.
"I'm glad that I went through that situation. I made it out alive. I ain't die, so it made me stronger," said the rapper.
"The life I'm living right now is crazy. How I'm living life, being a celebrity and going through all the things that I go through, I don't ever really think about it. Like never," Soulja Boy explains. "I do things, but I never really just think about it. After that situation happened that night, I really was just sitting thinking like 'I'm Soulja Boy and my life has changed'... I never thought like that before."
According to Soulja Boy, he now has a purpose, and while people may not agree with some of the things he does, he claims he's doing it to inspire somebody, just like others inspired him before he became a success.
"I think that everything that I'm going through is happening for a reason," he explained. "It's for me to share life and show people. That's why I do the YouTube. People look at it like stupidity. But I look at it like I'm showing people who was in my position a couple years back -- who would never get the chance to go to Japan or buy a Lamborghini cash, just to show a young brother doing it at my age. It's showing them that's its possible for them to do it too."
One day, the young rapper hopes that his experiences will make their way to a book. Actually, he promised that he'll pen one when the time comes. "I will write a book," Soulja Boy says.
Despite his massive popularity, the rapper's sophomore album iSouljaBoyTellem has been a disappointment sales-wise, compared to his platinum debut SouljaBoyTellEm.com. He credits the deeper content of new album as its downfall.
"It seem like on this album, I really went more in-depth, and tried to step my game up, come with the lyrics, go in on deeper topics, talk about life, and what it's like being a celebrity, but ain't nobody wanted to really hear that," said Soulja Boy. "The first album, I wasn't talking about nothing. It went platinum. You gotta rap about what the people wanna hear, per say."
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