Soulja Boy's Ex Moves To Seize His "Crank That" Royalty Checks To Collect A $4.25 Million Judgment

For nearly 20 years, Soulja Boy has been attached to one of the most important internet-era rap hits ever released.

Released in 2007, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, helped turn YouTube into a music-discovery machine, inspired a viral dance craze, and made Soulja Boy one of the first true social-media superstars in hip-hop history.

Soulja has also spent years publicly suggesting that "Crank That" made him many millions of dollars. Unfortunately, that royalty stream might soon dry up…

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Soulja Boy's ex-girlfriend and former personal assistant, identified in court records as Jane Doe, has filed notice of her intent to sell his rights to future BMI royalty payments in an effort to collect on a $4.25 million civil judgment.

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The $4.25 Million Judgment

The judgment stems from a lawsuit Doe originally filed in 2021. She alleged that she began working for Soulja Boy as a personal assistant, that the relationship later became romantic, and that the relationship eventually turned abusive.

Doe claimed she and Soulja dated on and off between 2014 and 2019. Her lawsuit included allegations of sexual battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment, and unpaid wages. She initially sought $73 million in damages.

Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, denied wrongdoing while acknowledging that he and Doe had been in a relationship.

In April 2025, a jury found Soulja Boy liable on several claims, including sexual battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment, and failure to pay wages. He was cleared of some other claims, including false imprisonment. The jury ultimately awarded Doe roughly $4.25 million.

After the verdict, Soulja maintained his innocence and said he planned to appeal.

Now She Wants The Royalties

According to the new filing, Doe is now seeking to collect on the judgment by selling Soulja Boy's rights to future BMI royalty payments to the highest bidder.

BMI is one of the major performing-rights organizations that collects and distributes royalties when songs are played publicly. That can include radio, television, film, streaming-adjacent uses, live venues, bars, restaurants, and other licensed public performances.

The proposed sale would not necessarily mean Soulja Boy is losing ownership of his entire music catalog. It also does not mean someone is buying the master recording of "Crank That" or taking control of all of his music.

Instead, the issue appears to involve a specific income stream: future BMI royalties. If sold, those payments could be redirected to help satisfy the $4.25 million judgment.

That is still a big deal. For an artist whose biggest song remains culturally relevant nearly 20 years after its release, performance royalties can be one of the few pieces of income that keep arriving long after the initial fame cycle ends.

The "Crank That" Money Mystery

This is where the story gets especially interesting from a celebrity-finance perspective.

Soulja Boy has long projected the image of someone who made a fortune from "Crank That." He has claimed to own the publishing and has encouraged people to calculate what the song must have generated across sales, radio, licensing, and long-term usage.

But during testimony in the 2025 trial, the numbers became much less clear.

Soulja testified that he did not know the precise royalties he has earned, or currently earns, from "Crank That." He said the song is owned by Interscope and that he did not know his royalty percentage.

When asked to confirm or deny past claims that he made $15 million to $20 million from the track, Soulja reportedly answered: "I'm not sure."

Soulja's Own Income Testimony

The trial also produced a rare look at Soulja Boy's broader finances.

He testified that he was paid $50,000 to perform at the Crypto Ball during Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration. He also cited $50,000 in earnings from a cologne line and $30,000 to $40,000 from a now-defunct marijuana strain.

He said online streaming had earned him only around $18,000 so far in 2025, explaining that streaming payouts take time to process. He claimed to have made around $100,000 from TikTok over the previous two years, including one $17,000 livestream payday, though he typically earns just $300 to $400 per session.

When asked about a rumored $140 million video game console deal, Soulja said the deal did not go through because Nintendo sent a cease-and-desist letter.

At one point, the plaintiff's lawyer asked if his net worth was $100 million. Soulja laughed and replied:

"Damnnn… Look, I don't want to get y'all confused here in this courtroom."

He then testified that he does not "have access to multimillions," that the lawsuit had hurt his finances, that he rents a home for $25,000 per month, and that he does not have health insurance. He said he owns five cars and described himself as a working artist who earns through shows, merchandise, and business ventures.