Atlanta United and its supporters are mourning the death of rapper Archie Eversole, known for his 2002 hit “We Ready” that was adopted by fans and is sung before each of the Major League Soccer club’s home matches.
An Atlanta native whose hometown heavily influenced his music career, Eversole was fatally wounded when he was shot by his brother last month, DeKalb County police said. The 37-year-old spent more than a week in the hospital but died from his wounds April 3, according to police.
Atlanta United posted a statement Thursday on social media that described Eversole as one of the team’s “most fervent supporters.”
“In addition to his decorated musical career, his voice will long live in our supporters’ minds as ‘We Ready’ billows through the speakers for kickoff at Atlanta United matches,” the club said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.”
On March 25, Eversole was found suffering from a gunshot wound at a gas station at 4410 Snapfinger Woods Drive, DeKalb police said in a statement. Officers located the suspected shooter, Eversole’s brother Alexander Krause, around the corner at an apartment complex where the shooting took place.
Krause, 41, was taken into custody without incident, police said. He was booked into the DeKalb County Jail, where he remains without bond.
The charges against Krause, who initially faced one count of aggravated assault, were upgraded to murder, according to online court records. He was also charged with possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, jail records show.
Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
Police did not share any details about the circumstances around the shooting.
Through his song “We Ready,” a track from his 2002 debut album “Ride Wit Me Dirty South Style,” Eversole enjoyed enduring success. In 2018, the song was the centerpiece of a commercial promoting the NFL playoffs, and the league used the song again to promote the start of the next season in another commercial.
Before an Atlanta United match on Sept. 20, 2017, Eversole led the team’s supporters in a “We Ready” chant and hammered the golden spike. The following year, the club partnered with Eversole to release the song “United We Conquer.”
“At first it was overwhelming, even for someone who’s performed at stadiums,” Eversole said in an interview published by Atlanta United. “I’ve never seen the energy that I see at Atlanta United games. We went up on the capo stand and did ‘We Ready,’ and I’m telling you, we couldn’t even see the end of the fans.”
On social media, Eversole showed that his support extended to Atlanta’s other major sports teams and the city itself. In his interview with Atlanta United, he credited the city for inspiring his musical career.
“Everything about Atlanta is me and everything in my music is Atlanta,” Eversole said. “It’s the heart of everything I do musically.”
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