Soulja Boy, Shaq and The Million-Dollar Bank Note

Soulja Boy has always been a lightning rod for claims both true and false. He once said he was the first rapper to be on YouTube…that was true. He asserted that he was the first to wear a Versace robe in the Versace store…that was true. Amongst a multitude of true claims, he has been called out by no one other than Shaq on a rare falsehood.

The NBA legend and Hall of Famer said that he was the first rapper to possess a million dollar bank note. With a little bit of straightening, Shaq settled the score by saying that he had a million dollar bill back in the nineties when Soulja was just a toddler.

Though Soulja holds records and a slew of claims regarding his life and career, he granted Shaq the right to say that he held the million-dollar-bill first back in 1992.

During his run with the Orlando Magic and earning Rookie of the Year in 1993, Shaq had already amassed a fortune when Soulja Boy still clung to his mother’s teat.

But in true fashion, Soulja bowed out gracefully from the false claim and allowed Shaq to keep his claim as the initial hip hop artist to ever clutch an actual million-dollar note.

When Soulja states that he is the first rapper to do something, he’s often right. He says these claims like when Game drops names in his songs. It’s like a mini history lesson to all those within reach of an Internet connection.

Shaq setting the record straight shows that he is still a boss who can address the young “soldiers” in the field who make false claims. His ability to step up and speak out against the fallacies purported by Big Draco and others is a testament to the rapper/actor/former/baller/doctorate holder who has made himself into quite the businessman. From Papa John’s pizza, the General Insurance, to IcyHot and Buick, Shaq has followed in the steps of the likes of fellow Laker Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

Soulja Boy Tell’em is a businessman in his own right. With a few studio albums and a vault of mixtapes, gaming systems to his own “lean” on the market, the man has become to many the youngest legend in the game. What most people fail to remember is that Soulja blazed a trail for other performers to eat off of the Web.

YouTube views in the billions and subscribers in the millions show just how much of an impact Soulja has had on the hip hop arena.

If both men ever link up in some business situation, they will more than likely be billionaires. Their acumen is strong and their awareness of different markets show just how powerful they are when it comes to turning a coin.

But they are after more than just coins, Shaq and Soulja seek the big bills. While it is amusing to hold a million dollar bill, it is used only for promotional purposes. It bears no actual value but it is a statement to stunt on the next rapper. Though Soulja might not have been the first to keep the note, both he and Shaq and Soulja can be assured they will be fixtures in the rap game for all time.

Their time and dedication to the game(s) have proven to be lucrative for both hip hop artists. In a moment where more entertainers and athletes of color are snagging huge endorsement and sponsorship deals and even owning companies outright, it’s only right that both men continue to get that money. Will the two ever runca business together? That’s the million-dollar question.