“Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em”…The Cartoon

Web 2.0 rap performer Soulja Boy has more than made a name for himself using alternative media. Whether it’s his smash single “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” or his new foray into the video game arena, he is more than able to make a name for himself that’s permanently etched into today’s pop culture. His newest project is “Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em: The Animated Series”, a 2D/3D cartoon hybrid that’s a little bit South Park and a little bit Southwest Atlanta.

Following in the footsteps of Andre 3000, M.C. Hammer, and Kid ‘n’ Play, the premiere cartoon webisode walks us through the titular artist’s return to high school and his antics with his friends the S.O.D. Money Crew, his sidecar’d Segway, and getting cheap shots on his principal played by Alfonso Ribiero (famously known from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”). The soundtrack is set to his song “Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em”, a song which critiques detractors to his music and image. In the video, Soulja Boy performs in a school talent show, sells gear with his name emblazoned on it, shows up some unnamed bully, and at the end, makes it rain off a bridge.

While I can admire his seemingly unending aplomb into such a hit-or-miss arena (even the aforementioned artists’ series had short season runs), I wonder how this adds into the overall Soulja Boy brand or his fan base. The series will consist only of web video and will primarily be available via his Youtube channel, which means that the show can be released on a quicker schedule than if it were on a broadcast channel. Also, the record label would be able to get a better idea of its popularity through clickthroughs and web views than Nielsen ratings.

The series begins in late January. For more information, visit Soulja Boy’s webpage at http://www.tellem.tv.