The phrase “Welcome to Atlanta” carries with it a wide range of meanings.
It’s a form of commonality, a lyrical tether that binds all who have affection for a diverse and proud city. It’s a statement, a herald that emphatically endorsed Atlanta’s right to be recognized among the country’s iconic cities. It’s unique, a testament to the creativity and individuality of the place it represents, making that statement with the type of flair that’s become synonymous with Atlanta.
And in 2018, consider it a warning.
Iconic Atlanta rappers Jermaine Dupri and Ludacris, who released the anthemic “Welcome to Atlanta” in 2002, reunited for a remixed edition of the song to help the Falcons put their opponents on notice.
“Atlanta, and the Falcons basically go hand in hand,” Dupri said. “We’ve always been a city that people tried to count out of being a city. I remember when I first started making music, there use to be these t-shirts that you could get at certain places that would say ‘London, Tokyo, Chicago and New York’ or something like that. That’s what they used to say on the front, they would never say ‘ATL.’ They would never say Atlanta. I’m like Chicago? Then I saw another one say ‘Los Angeles, London, Chicago, New York.’ Never Atlanta.
That was until 2002 with the original song, and now again with 2018 Falcons Remix.
“As time has [passed and Atlanta has grown], musically and just the city growing, you see people – movies being shot here. But we still haven’t won a Super Bowl” said Dupri. “It’s the badge of our pride. We’ve got to get it.”
Dupri and Ludacris are back to turn the tables on teams this season. Using their artistic abilities to create a rallying cry that will uplift their fellow ATLiens and intimidate their foes.
Like the brotherhood the Falcons have built, the city of Atlanta has an enduring community as well. “Welcome to Atlanta” is a mantra to those on the inside of that community, connecting generations who grew up inside of the city. From those who watched Billy “White Shoes” Johnson and William Andrews to those who cheer on Matt Ryan and Julio Jones.
No matter what generation you grew up in, all can agree that something special is brewing with these 2018 Falcons.
“We are ‘this’ close,” said Ludacris. “This is our year. It’s not about how we fall, it’s about how we rise. The whole Brotherhood moniker that’s going on, I feel like everybody is really identifying with that and we feel like family and everybody is really coming together.”
That sense of belonging and pride in one’s city is what helps unite people from differing backgrounds and bring them together to build a community. As part of the Atlanta community and the Falcons community, Dupri and Ludacris want nothing more than to help motivate the team they’ve grown up watching.
Dupri and Ludacris believe this is a time in which doubt should be replaced with confidence.
Their 2002 song became a proud slogan of sorts for those intimately aware of how great Atlanta truly was and why it deserved recognition among the very best. This remix can accomplish the same thing with the Falcons – a team just two years removed from a Super Bowl run and one of the best in the NFL.