Back in the early 90’s, years before Outkast told the world that “the South got something to say,” the American hip hop scene was dominated by two cities: New York and LA. And 25 years ago nearly to the day, a new group called the Wu-Tang Clan burst onto the scene with their iconic debut album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).”
But things have changed since then, so to celebrate the anniversary of that album, they came to the new epicenter of American culture and hip hop, Atlanta. But while they were here, they couldn’t leave without checking out this craze they’d hear about at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Standing in the tunnel as the team kicked off to the roar of yet another sold-out crowd, Masta Killa shook his head in disbelief. “I’ve never been to a soccer game,” he said, “any soccer game at all. But I couldn’t pass on this opportunity.”
MC Masta Killa and Wu-Tang’s DJ, Mathematics, may have never been to a soccer game, but they had heard about the Atlanta United movement across the country, and they are both decked out in red, black and gold for the occasion.
“First we heard about the team,” Mathematics says. “Then we definitely heard of the crowd, you hear about that everywhere. I heard about the sellouts, that y’all have never not sold out a game. And of course we heard about the players, we heard Atlanta United had some real nice players too.”
Those “nice” players put on a show for their newfound fans in hip hop royalty, taking another step closer to what’s shaping up to be a historic season. And as Masta Killa and Mathematics were met with thousands of renditions of the signature Wu-Tang hand sign, they realized that the spectacle in Atlanta was just as much about what was happening off the field as on it.
“I watch the World Cup, but really we’re just sports fanatics,” Masta Killa said. “So to get this close and personal with it, was just something I couldn’t pass up. And it was just amazing. You hear that crowd roar, that’s the kind of noise I want to hear at our shows.”
The crowd’s booming crescendo faded into the warm Georgia night after another unforgettable win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And as the basked in the afterglow of yet another special night for soccer in Atlanta, they couldn’t help but reflect on what this could mean for the sport in general in the United States.
“A lot of the world is already so into it, but it’s growing so fast here in the United States,” Masta Killa said. “It’s just getting bigger and bigger here. And it doesn’t seem like it gets any bigger here in the States than it is here.”
And in a way it’s reminiscent of those days of early Southern hip hop. After years of dominance from each coast, there’s a new swagger being brought to the scene in American soccer, and it’s coming from Atlanta. Atlanta United is proving once again that the South’s got something to say, and the world can’t help but hear it.
© 2026 Atlanta United FC
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