Soulja Boy Says Air Jordan 13 ‘Flint’ Inspired “Crank Dat”

Soulja Boy is crediting the Air Jordan 13 “Flint” for helping spark one of the most defining rap songs of the 2000s.

In a video shared on social media, the rapper unboxed a fresh pair of the iconic sneakers and explained how wanting them as a teenager directly fueled the grind that led to “Crank Dat.” For Soulja, the shoes weren’t just footwear; they were a source of motivation.

“Fun fact, these is the shoes that made me create ‘Crank Dat,'” he said. “These are the shoes that made me want to get out the hood.”

Back in 2007, when Soulja was still trying to make a name for himself, the Jordan 13 carried a retail price of about $150, a figure that felt completely out of reach for him at the time. Seeing a classmate rock the coveted pair of sneakers only intensified the hunger.

“I went to school, I was living in Atlanta, n***a had these shoes on. I wanted them bad as fuck. We could not afford them. My momma couldn’t afford them,” he recalled. “I ain’t even get mad though. I understood we were struggling.”

Originally released in February 1998, the Air Jordan 13 “Flint” stood out with its navy blue upper and holographic Jumpman, quickly becoming a status symbol in early-2000s hip-hop and sneaker culture. The pair has been rereleased in 2005, 2010, and most recently in 2020. According to Footwear News, the Air Jordan 13 “Flint” is scheduled to return in Summer 2026.

Soulja’s aspiration for the sneakers pushed him to work harder, turning his frustration into ironclad focus.

“I feel like these shoes was the shoes that made me hustle and go get it,” he said.

That drive paid off wonderfully for Soulja as “Crank Dat” debuted at No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2007 before rocketing to No. 1, where it stayed for seven consecutive weeks. The song not only changed Soulja Boy’s life, but also reshaped how viral music could break through in the internet era.

Looking back, the rapper claimed the sneakers represented more than style; they symbolized possibility, and he had some words of advice for kids who really wanted something but had no means to acquire it.

“All my kids out there… if y’all got something that you want in life but y’all can’t afford it, don’t worry bro, one day you going to get it,” he said.