“Turn down for what!”
You may know Jonathan Smith by his iconic phrases – like that one – and his unique voice, or at least by his stage name Lil Jon. But before he was a Grammy-award winning producer and rapper, Lil Jon was just another aspiring kid trying to make it in the ATL.
“Atlanta is everything. It’s where I was born and raised, where I started my musical career. It’s the city that supported me first, the place and people that supported me first.”
But Atlanta is more than just a home to Lil Jon. It’s the setting – the culture and its people – that made him a success story, but more importantly, formed him into the person he is today.
“We don’t try to please other places or people. That’s the best thing about Atlanta, you can always tell when someone is from Atlanta by their swagger. I think we just do us and people emulate what we do and that’s what makes us amazing.”
If there’s one lesson to be learned from Lil Jon it’s that: just do you, be original, and people will follow. That’s the advice he gave to the city’s first MLS team, Atlanta United as he got a sneak peek at their new home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“I’m a guy that’s traveling internationally all the time, you can’t watch football or basketball all the time so you get into other sports."
"Soccer is one of the biggest sports in the world, so it’s great that my hometown of Atlanta has their own team. And we get to watch some great games.”
Lil Jon knows he’s fortunate to have been able to see the world, but he’s also aware that not everyone has that opportunity. That’s what makes having a professional soccer team in his hometown so important to him.
“I think Atlanta United will culturally diversify the city even more. Even though we have a diverse city, it will bring a little more of an international flair to Atlanta, which will only help us continue to grow."
"I love the fact that we have that international essence in the city now.”
Lil Jon’s hectic tour schedule has kept him from making it to a match in Atlanta United’s inaugural season so far, though he says he’s looking forward to catching the Five Stripes in person at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But he has noticed the crowds from afar, and says he’s not surprised Atlanta has embraced its newest professional team with such passion.
“Atlanta fans are loyal. Win or lose we are at the games. We’ve seen some ups and downs, but we’re diehard fans."
"It’s just another reason to cheer on the city and to bring us all together.”
On top of the league-leading attendance numbers, Atlanta United is on track to become the second expansion team since 1998 to make the MLS playoffs. Lil Jon says Atlanta’s fans have as much say in that as anyone, turning the home-field advantage into a truly valuable asset in such a competitive league. And he’s urging the fans to keep that momentum going.
“Just keep the pride up for Atlanta. That’s what brings us together, and that’s the strength. We have strength in numbers, we come together and that positive energy keeps rolling and rolling and it’ll keep rolling us into these playoffs.”
© 2026 Atlanta United FC
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