Like many in Atlanta, 2 Chainz didn’t realize the intense fandom surrounding the Atlanta United until he attended a game.
“I was able to understand the true fan,” he said about witnessing the mania that accompanies seemingly every Five Stripes game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Atlanta rapper will mix his new fandom with his specialty — music — when he headlines the free MLS All-Star Concert at 6 p.m. Sunday at Historic Fourth Ward Park.
The show takes place three days before the MLS All-Stars battle Italy’s mighty Juventus at the downtown Atlanta stadium.
To attend the concert, fans must secure a reservation by visiting mlssoccer.com/allstarconcert. Registration does not guarantee entry, which is first come, first served. (If you see a note on the website about the event being full, keep checking in case more space opens up.)
2 Chainz, a College Park native, is a regular presence at Atlanta Hawks games, as well as a former basketball player, so his interest in another local sports club isn’t surprising.
“I support all of the home teams,” he said, “so when Atlanta acquired the (United), they automatically got my support.”
His performance at the concert, he said, will be “high energy,” and he wants fans “to be prepared for a show.”
David Bruce, vice president of brand and integrated marketing for Major League Soccer, said 2 Chainz was chosen because of his Atlanta roots.
“As the voice of the “Our Soccer” campaign anthem and headliner for the MLS All-Star Concert presented by Target, 2 Chainz’s authentic connection to Atlanta United and iconic place in the city’s culture brings to life the spirit of MLS,” Bruce told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Earlier this year, 2 Chainz announced his forthcoming album, "Rap or Go to the League," by flying a blimp emblazoned with the title around Los Angeles.
The rapper plans to release his new music by the end of the year and said many of the songs deal with “stereotypes in the African-American community.”
“There’s a wider basis for people to be successful in the community. The (title) is ‘Rap or Go to the League,’ but so many things fall under that. I am a rapper — a successful rapper. I love sports, that’s one thing; but let’s talk about other things as well,” he said.
A tour will coincide with the new release, but for now, 2 Chainz is keeping life simple.
“I’m staying active and doing my part for the community and supporting my family,” he said.
Tickets to the Aug. 1 MLS All-Star Game are $35 and up and are available at ticketmaster.com.
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