DeAndre Cortez Way (28 July 1990-), known professionally as Soulja Boy, is an African-American rapper. Born in Chicago, he was raised in Atlanta and Batesville, Mississippi before becoming a rapper on SoundClick, YouTube, and Myspace, recording his debut single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" in 2007 and rising to prominence. He continued to produce hits until his third album was met with lukewarm reception in 2010, after which he became an independent artist. Meanwhile, he claimed to affiliate himself with the Bloods gang in Compton, leading to members of his supposed Fruit Town Piru set criticizing him for appropriating their struggle.