Soulja Boy Apologizes for Anti-Army Lyrics

Soulja Boy has apologized for criticizing the United States military in a recent song.

The Atlanta rapper, who gained his popularity via online social networks, ran afoul of the U.S. armed forces, when he released a song entitled 'Let's Be Real,' earlier this summer, containing the lyrics "F--- the FBI and the army troops/ Fighting for what? Be your own man."

Soulja Boy's statements caused a serious backlash online, where the military community has launched a full-scale assault against the 'Crank That' rapper via the very medium that brought him his fame. In addition to the droves of YouTube, Twitter and MySpace users insulting and threatening the 21-year-old MC, a retired Marine has circulated an online petition calling for his music to be banned from U.S. military bases, and an infantry sergeant named Leo Dunson called out Soulja Boy in a response track entitled 'Change Your Name.'

"You never been in combat, never been shot at/ There ain't nothin' soldier about you, it's just an act," raps Dunson, who also threatens "You better change your name, or you will get touched."

Over the weekend, Soulja Boy backpedaled from his incendiary statements via a blog post on Russell Simmons' GlobalGrind.com, where he claimed, "I let my words get the best of me," and blamed Sept. 11 for his anti-army sentiments.

"As a young man who grew up in the post-9/11 era, I have watched our country fight two wars that seem like they are never going to end," Soulja Boy explained. "I have seen thousands and thousands of our brave men and women get killed in battle and often times, I think for what? A lot of people in this country are struggling to make ends meet and I think a lot about what if we had never gone to war. Where would our economy be? Our schools, our after-school and work programs, our streets? I mean, damn, 48 people got shot in New York City just this past weekend ... I am just frustrated that we haven't been able to bring you all home quick enough and my frustration got the best of me. I am deeply sorry."

Soulja Boy recently released a new mixtape, 'The Last Crown.'