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Behind the Stripes

Waka Flocka

By Atlanta United FC

September 14^th, 2017

Waka Flocka may not have been born in Atlanta, but he was certainly made here. Born in Jamaica Queens in New York City, he didn’t even start rapping until he moved South. And it was that famous Southern hospitality that made him stay.

“What got me was just the love in Atlanta. When I went out, there was just love. People were dancing in the club, it was hard but it was laid-back, people just wanted to party."

"It’s unexplainable, it’s a feeling you have to feel by being here.”

Waka caught the soccer bug a few years ago, as he happened to be in Barcelona when Messi and company faced Real Madrid.

“They said football, I’m like, ‘y’all like football?’ I showed up and it’s futbol – a soccer field – but the energy was unreal. The next day I got FIFA, then I was a Messi fan."

"I always used to think, ‘can Georgia get a team?’ Next thing I knew Atlanta United came.”

If the atmosphere is what first drew Waka in to the beautiful game, it was that same energy that made him fall in love with Atlanta United. While Waka may have rooted for the hometown team either way, that now-famous Atlanta crowd is what sparked his fandom.

“One thing Atlanta United brings is the youth. They recognize the youth, and these young people are loud."

"It’s the sport of the future.”

Once he was hooked, Waka says he was all the way in on the red, black and gold.

“Anything I can do I want to be down. Just for the love of the city, the love of Atlanta. Just recognizing the diversity of our city and not just focusing on one thing."

"So, when Atlanta United came I thought we’ve been fiending for this!”

While Waka has been to several games now, he’s not committing to a favorite Atlanta United player… yet.

“My favorite will be the one with the most outgoing, the most emotionally ambitious and with the most character.

"That’s what we love in Atlanta, somebody with some character.”

In the meantime, Waka urged the club to just stick to what they’re doing: keep embracing the city, and the diehards in Five Stripes nation will continue to show their pride.

“My advice would be to just be Atlanta. Love the team, just keep the fans in the spirit of the game. The fans are going to love you whether you score or you didn’t, that’s Atlanta man.”

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