Crank That

DeAndre Cortez Way uploaded a low-budget video to YouTube in May 2007 that changed the trajectory of internet music. The track, Crank That (Soulja Boy), relied on a repetitive steelpan loop and simple dance instructions rather than complex production or radio-friendly hooks. It became the first song to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 solely through digital downloads, bypassing traditional radio play entirely.

The beat features a distinctive riff sampled from the 1985 track "Papa Oom Mow Mow," creating a minimalist backdrop for Way's energetic delivery. He taught viewers how to perform the signature moves while rapping about doing "the thing" he did. This approach turned the song into a viral sensation before platforms like TikTok existed, with schoolyards and parties adopting the dance craze within weeks of its release.

Commercial success followed quickly as the single topped charts globally. It spent seven consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 starting in November 2007. The track eventually sold over six million digital copies in the United States alone, earning multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA. Critics initially dismissed the lyrics as simplistic nonsense, yet acknowledged the undeniable catchiness that drove its massive popularity. [edit]