Nicknames of Atlanta

• Contemporary nicknames of Atlanta include, in alphabetical order:
• The A or da A: It is used in local media such as Only in the A, a video channel shown on MARTA rapid transit trains in Atlanta,{{cite web|url=http://onllyinthea.com|title=Only in the A|publisher=OnllyInTheA.com|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501023452/https://www.onllyinthea.com/|archive-date=May 1, 2019|url-status=dead}} The Indispensable A, an Atlanta-based email publication,{{cite web|url=http://theindispensablea.com/|title=The Indispensable A|date=July 23, 2019|publisher=TheIndispensableA.com|access-date=15 October 2017|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723170702/http://theindispensablea.com/|url-status=dead}} and Straight from the A, an Atlanta-based blog targeted at African Americans.{{cite web|url=http://straightfromthea.com/about/|title=Aboutn|date=August 19, 2007|publisher=StraightFromTheA.com| access-date=15 October 2017}} "The A" or "da A" is also used in hip hop and rap songs such as Ludacris and Lloyd's "How We Do It (in da A)", Lil Scrappy's "The A", and T.I.'s "In da A". Atlanta newspaper Creative Loafing listed as one of its "reasons to love Atlanta" that it's "the only city easily identified by just one letter".{{Cite web|url=http://clatl.com/atlanta/because-were-the-only-city-easily-identified-by-just-one-letter/Content?oid=4291994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126104207/http://clatl.com/atlanta/because-were-the-only-city-easily-identified-by-just-one-letter/Content?oid=4291994|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 26, 2011|title="Because we're the only city easily identified by just one letter"|website=Clatl.com|date=November 23, 2011|access-date=November 22, 2021}}
• A-Town{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
• The ATL,{{cite news |url=https://www.ajc.com/atlanta-weather/love-or-loathe-it-citys-nickname-is-accurate-for-summer/UN3SNYM5UVGELOH6IJE3MMQ734/|title=Love it or loathe it, the city's nickname is accurate for the summer |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=June 16, 2008 |page=C1}} for its airport code
• The Big A, trucker CB slang{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
• The Big Peach[http://www.taglineguru.com/monikerlist.html U.S. City Monikers], Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
• Black Hollywood, Atlanta is home to a thriving black entertainment industry.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-10-02/tyler-perry-studios-atlanta-dedication|title=Tyler Perry Studios, the house 'Madea' built, becomes a landmark for black Hollywood|date=October 2, 2019|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 22, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news4jax.com/entertainment/2019/11/20/tyler-perry-studios-reshapes-hollywood-from-atlanta/|title=Tyler Perry Studios reshapes Hollywood from Atlanta|author=Lisa Respers France|date=November 20, 2019|website=News4jax.com|access-date=November 22, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/us/atlanta-emerges-as-a-center-of-black-entertainment.html|title=Stars Flock to Atlanta, Reshaping a Center of Black Culture|first=Kim|last=Severson|date=November 26, 2011|access-date=November 22, 2021|website=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://luxekurves.com/2020/08/17/is-atlanta-black-hollywood/|title=IS ATLANTA BLACK HOLLYWOOD?|website=Luxekurves.com|access-date=November 22, 2021|archive-date=June 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614013711/https://luxekurves.com/2020/08/17/is-atlanta-black-hollywood/|url-status=dead}}
• Black gay mecca{{Cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/news/2005/08/16/atlanta-new-mecca-black-gays|title=Atlanta the new mecca for black gays|date=August 16, 2005|website=Advocate.com|access-date=November 22, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://cassiuslife.com/66017/atlanta-black-gay-mecca/|title='Got Something To Say:' How ATL Became the Black Gay Mecca|website=Cassiuslife.com|date=June 8, 2018|access-date=November 22, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wunc.org/arts-culture/2014-08-22/black-lesbian-and-muslim-in-the-south|title=Black, Lesbian And Muslim In The South|date=August 22, 2014|website=Wunc.org|access-date=November 22, 2021}}
• Black mecca"A CHAMPION FOR ATLANTA: Maynard Jackson: 'Black mecca' burgeoned under leader", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 29, 2003."the city that calls itself America's ' Black Mecca'"; in William Booth, "Atlanta Is Less Than Festive on Eve of Another 'Freaknik'", Washington Post, April 18, 1996."'The Black Mecca' leads the nation in numbers of African American millionaires; at the same time, it leads the nation in the percentage of its children in poverty"; in Robert D. Bullard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NZSE0jbhzGwC&dq=maynard+jackson+%22black+mecca%22&pg=PA151 The Black Metropolis in the Twenty-first Century: Race, Power, and Politics], Rowman & Littlefield, 2007, p. 151.
• Capital City of the American South{{Cite web|date=2016-02-25|title=The new south: all roads lead to Atlanta, Georgia, city of black power|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/25/the-new-south-atlanta-georgia-city-of-black-power|access-date=2020-11-29|website=the Guardian|language=en}}
• City in a Forest{{cite web|url=http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/atlanta-may-no-longer-be-the-city-in-a-forest/nDLGr/|title=Atlanta May No Longer Be 'The City In A Forest'|last=EndPlay|date=July 22, 2011|publisher=WSB-TV|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028224916/http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/atlanta-may-no-longer-be-the-city-in-a-forest/nDLGr/|archive-date=October 28, 2014|url-status=dead}} or City of Trees,Snyder, Karen K. (2007), [https://books.google.com/books?id=hpVTNtNqEywC&pg=PA3 Frommer's Atlanta], page 3 for its unique tree canopy
• Dogwood City{{Cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,967981,00.html|title=The Democrats Atlanta: A City of Changing Slogans - TIME|date=October 18, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018010734/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,967981,00.html|access-date=November 22, 2021|archive-date=October 18, 2007}}
• Empire City of the South{{cite web|url=http://www.11alive.com/video/2181101327001/1/Could-Empire-City-of-the-South-play-host-to-2024-summer-games|title="Could 'Empire City of the South' play host to 2024 summer games", s|publisher=11Alive.com|access-date=October 15, 2017}} {{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• Hot 'Lanta, also spelled Hotlanta, first popularized by an instrumental song performed by the Allman Brothers Band. It debuted on their live album At Fillmore East, released in July 1971, the fifth song on the album.{{cite news|last1=McManus|first1=John|title=Taylor Morrison, Acadia Deal: What it Means|url=http://www.builderonline.com/builder-100/strategy/taylor-morrison-acadia-deal-what-it-means_o|access-date=May 25, 2016|work=Builder|date=January 11, 2016}}{{cite news|title=Florida city America's sex capital?|url=http://www.nbc-2.com/story/19059397/fl-city-americas-sex-capital|access-date=May 25, 2016|publisher=WBBH|location=Fort Myers, Florida|date=July 18, 2012}}
• Hollywood of the South, became popular recently due to the city's boom in the film industry.{{cite news|title=How Atlanta became the Hollywood of the South|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/29/how-atlanta-became-the-hollywood-of-the-south/?page=all|access-date=25 May 2016|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=August 29, 2015}}
• LGBT Capital of the South{{Cite web|url=https://www.nostraightnews.com/atlanta-the-gay-capital-of-the-south/|title=Atlanta: The Gay Capital of the South|website=Nostraightnews.com|date=July 15, 2020|access-date=November 22, 2021|archive-date=September 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917190104/https://www.nostraightnews.com/atlanta-the-gay-capital-of-the-south/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://saportareport.com/atlanta-still-lgbtq-capital-of-south-but-census-reveals-decline-in-households/sections/reports/david/|title=Atlanta still LGBTQ capital of South, but Census reveals decline in households|date=October 13, 2019|website=SaportaReport.com|access-date=November 22, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://queerintheworld.com/gay-atlanta-georgia-travel-guide/|title=Gay Atlanta : The Essential LGBT Travel Guide|website=Queerintheworld.com|date=November 15, 2019|access-date=November 22, 2021}}
• Running City USA{{cite web|title=Atlanta named 'Running City USA' because of AJC Peachtree Road Race|url=https://www.11alive.com/article/sports/ajc-peachtree-road-race/atlanta-named-running-city-usa-because-of-ajc-peachtree-road-race/85-570246696|access-date=24 November 2018|date=3 July 2018|publisher=WXIA-TV|last=King|first=Michael}}
• Silicon Peach{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/10/19/silicon-peach-atlanta-surging-up-lists-of-top.html|title='Silicon Peach': Atlanta surging up lists of top startup cities|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=November 22, 2021}}
• Wakanda: Atlanta has been compared{{cite news |last1=Harriot |first1=Michael |title=Atlanta Is the Real Wakanda |url=https://www.theroot.com/atlanta-is-the-real-wakanda-1832715696 |access-date=April 7, 2019 |work=The Root |date=February 19, 2019}} to the fictional country that is the home of the Black Panther in the Marvel Comics Universe, and portions of the 2018 film Black Panther were filmed in the Atlanta metro area.{{cite news |last1=Stafford |first1=Leon |title='Black Panther': Five things to know about the movie's ties to metro Atlanta |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/black-panther-five-things-know-about-the-movie-ties-metro-atlanta/bG3oisouqehC9SSRmvECwK/ |access-date=April 7, 2019 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=February 18, 2018}} Rapper and Atlanta native Killer Mike told Stephen Colbert, "Atlanta is Wakanda, for real.".{{cite news |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Watch Killer Mike Talk Trigger Warning, Starting His Own Religion, & Why Atlanta Is Wakanda On Colbert |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2029140/watch-killer-mike-talk-trigger-warning-starting-his-own-religion-why-atlanta-is-wakanda-on-colbert/video/ |access-date=April 7, 2019 |work=Stereogum |date=January 18, 2019 |quote=I'm a black kid that grew up in Atlanta. In Atlanta, everything is possible for black kids, right? So I never really had a box to keep me in my imagination… …because Atlanta is Wakanda, for real.}}
• Historical nicknames for the city include:
• Gate City, Gate City of the South, or Gate City of the New South (from Reconstruction through the early 20th century){{Cite web |url=http://atlnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/atlnewspapers/view?docId=news%2Fssw1891%2Fssw1891-0021.xml |title="Our Quiz Column", Sunny South, p.5 |access-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218204849/http://atlnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/atlnewspapers/view?docId=news%2Fssw1891%2Fssw1891-0021.xml |url-status=dead }}Rebecca Burns (2009), [https://books.google.com/books?id=o1-S8bllfYkC Rage in the Gate City: The Story of the 1906 Atlanta Race Riot], University of Georgia Press, {{ISBN|0-8203-3307-7}}.
• New York of the SouthSources documented on Barry Popik's [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/new_york_of_the_south/ Big Apple] blog:
• 5 October 1872, Appletons' Journal of Literature, Science and Art, pg. 376: "Marvellous tales are told of this antique period in the history of the present 'New York of the South,' concerning acres upon acres of land, near the heart of the city, selling for fifty cents per acre, but which now are worth a snug little fortune. Such was Atlanta less than three decades ago."
• 17 June 1879, Daily Constitution (Atlanta, GA), pg. 4: "...the future New York of the south,France of Britain- as it was predicted at the opening of the Port Royal railroad in 1873."
• The Mother Of Continental Parliaments
• 6 July 1881, The New York Times, pg. 4: "The New-Orleans Democrat says that that city is the New-York of the South, and yet has no public library."
• 29 January 1884, Atlanta Constitution, pg. 4: "The New York of the South. From the New York Tribune: THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION draws a sad picture of its environment. "Within one hundred yards of the officer," is its plaintive mean, "wagons are literally up to the hub in mud. Part of Ellis street, in a quarter mile of the depot, is literally impassable." Assuming that our contemporary's account of these wagons and this streets is literally correct, it looks as if Atlanta was likely to be known as the New York of the south."
• 12 November 1891, Atlanta Constitution, pg. 4: "Atlanta is a grand city. It is the New York of the south, and henceforth it can get the finest attractions produced, for its patronage is sufficient to make the very best and most expensive show a financial success."
• 21 October 1892, Atlanta Constitution, pg. 5: "Work will cease altogether and the New York of the south will pay honor to the brave navigator, who in spite of the hardships he had to endure, pointed out a new land to the ignorant people of the time."
• 19 January 1895, Atlanta Constitution, pg. 4: "Cedartown Standard: Atlanta aspires to be the New York of the south - in fact, she is, and so it is perfectly natural that she should follow New York in having the big police scandal and investigation that is now on hand (1870s–1890s)
• Chicago of the South (1880s–1900s): for Atlanta's "new men, new industries, new buildings, and new spirit" - though it was often remarked that the nickname was not quite accurate in terms of the size of Atlanta vs. the much larger Chicago{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bo4YAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA62|title=Proceedings of the Annual Convention|first=National Association of Life|last=Underwriters|date=15 October 1893|access-date=15 October 2017|via=Google Books}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=foGTgJkUOTEC&pg=PA529|title=The American South: A History|first1=William J. Jr.|last1=Cooper|author-link1=William J. Cooper, Jr.|first2=Thomas E.|last2=Terrill|date=16 January 2009|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|access-date=15 October 2017|via=Google Books|isbn=9780742564503}}{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/urbanamericahist0000stil|url-access=registration|quote=chicago of the south.|title=Urban America: a history with documents|first=Bayrd|last=Still|date=15 October 1974|publisher=Little, Brown|access-date=15 October 2017|via=Internet Archive}}
• The City Too Busy to Hate[http://www.atlantaga.gov/Visitors/History.aspx History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227063445/http://www.atlantaga.gov/Visitors/History.aspx |date=2011-12-27 }}, on City of Atlanta websiteRon French, [http://www.detnews.com/specialreports/2002/segregation3/b07-401355.htm Atlanta: Black-white gap shrinks], The Detroit News, January 28, 2002 (during Jim Crow and the Civil Rights struggle)
• Convention City of Dixie (Land) (1910s–1920s)[http://www.georgiahistory.com/files/0000/0276/GHT_V.2.3_Smaller.pdf "Whatever Happened to Georgia's Downtown Hotels?"], Georgia History Today{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VFgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA496-IA1|title=The Rotarian|first=Rotary|last=International|date=1 June 1916|publisher=Rotary International|access-date=15 October 2017|via=Google Books}}
• Dogwood City

SWATS, The S.W.A.T.S. or S.W.A.T.S. ("Southwest Atlanta, too strong"){{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kysEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA106|title=Vibe|first=Vibe Media|last=Group|date=July 22, 1998|publisher=Vibe Media Group|access-date=November 22, 2021|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/SWATSATLTV|title=SWATSATLTV|via=YouTube|access-date=October 15, 2017}} is, in street, hip-hop, or local contexts, Southwest Atlanta, plus territory extending into the adjacent cities of College Park and East Point.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} The term "SWATS" came into vogue around 1996{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} and was initially made popular by LaFace Records groups OutKast and Goodie Mob. This was the same time that "ATL" became popular as a nickname for Atlanta as a whole.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkCncJ7j744C&pg=PA475|title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide|first=Mickey|last=Hess|date=November 22, 2009|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313343216|access-date=November 22, 2021|via=Google Books}}

SWATS in Lyrics

The OutKast song "Peaches (Intro)" states: "For ... the SWATS ... Cause it ain't nuttin but King Shit, all day, err'day".{{cite web|url=http://www.lyricsmania.com/peaches_intro_lyrics_outkast.html|title=Lyrics Mania|website=Lyricsmania.com|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128020228/http://www.lyricsmania.com/peaches_intro_lyrics_outkast.html|archive-date=January 28, 2013|url-status=dead}} Another Outkast song, "Ova da Wudz" states "put the SWATS, SWATS on your car."

Goodie Mob song "I Refuse Limitation" states "SWATS G.A. by way of Cascade Heights", while their song "Goodie Bag" states "Cause in da SWAT's red hots don't drip or bleed", and in "All A's", Cee Lo Green's chorus states "But don't you dare ride through the SWATS without, at least 30 shots".{{cite web|url=http://ohhla.com/anonymous/goodie/world/all_as.gmb.txt|title=The Original Hip-Hop (Rap) Lyrics Archive|website=ohhla.com|access-date=October 15, 2017}}

Erick Sermon rapped "I'm in New York now but I represent the SWATS and A-Town.", in his song "Future Thug" from his sixth solo album 'Chilltown, New York' in 2004.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Media and artists named after SWATS

S.W.A.T.S. is the name of a 2010 web television series by Golden Street Entertainment taking place in Southwest Atlanta.

S.W.A.T.S. is the name of a song by rap group 9.17 on the album Southern Empire released by Motown in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/the-917-family/album/southern-empire/track/swats|title=Southern Empire|date=April 24, 2001|publisher=Rhapsody.com|access-date=October 15, 2017}}

Young Ju King of da SWATS is an artist featured on ReverbNation."Young Ju Prince of da SWATS" on ReverbNation

Also referenced as location of "Gina's Beauty Shop" in the movie with Queen Latifah.

Nawf Atlanta, or Nawfside is, a term popularized by rap trio Migos in reference to their place of origin Gwinnett County, primarily the central portion which is located north of the city of Atlanta via Interstate 85.{{Cite news|url=https://uproxx.com/hiphop/migos-northside-atlanta-the-nawf-culture-2/|title=How Migos Claimed Atlanta's Northside For The Trap|date=2018-02-08|publisher=Uproxx.com|access-date=2018-03-31|language=en-US}}

• List of city nicknames in Georgia (U.S. state)

{{Reflist}}

{{Atlanta}}

{{Atlanta history}}

Atlanta

Category:Culture of Atlanta