Despite reports claiming NBA YoungBoy was honored with a key to the City of Atlanta, officials say that’s simply not true.
The confusion began after the Louisiana rapper’s October 15 stop at State Farm Arena, part of his Make America Slime Again Tour. During the show, State Representative Inga Willis, Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington, and Fulton County Probate Judge Kenya Johnson joined him onstage to present what was described as a “key to the city.”
The moment quickly went viral, with several outlets reporting that Atlanta had officially recognized NBA YoungBoy’s contributions to anti-gun violence initiatives and community outreach programs.
However, the City of Atlanta has since issued an official statement clarifying that no such key was granted by the city itself.
“The City of Atlanta would like to clarify recent reports regarding a presentation to Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling recording artist, NBA YoungBoy,” read the statement from the Mayor’s Office of Film, Entertainment, and Nightlife.
“While we respect all individuals and agencies who choose to recognize cultural or community impact, the City of Atlanta and the Mayor’s Office of Film, Entertainment, and Nightlife were not involved in this presentation. This recognition was made by representatives of Fulton County and the State of Georgia.”
The statement went on to emphasize that the City of Atlanta hasn’t issued an official key in years, adding:
“To be even clearer, the City of Atlanta has not provided a Key to the City in a very, very long time and currently does not issue this commendation. We do hope everyone enjoyed the concert.”
NBA YoungBoy’s “Key to the City” Confusion
The clarification means Ludacris remains the only rapper to officially receive the key to Atlanta, an honor he earned back in 2004 for his extensive community work and representation of the city’s culture.
Even with the misunderstanding, the night was still a major moment for NBA YoungBoy, whose appearance marked another milestone in his first-ever headlining tour. The rapper has recently focused on positive community engagement, particularly promoting anti-violence initiatives in schools across the South.
Currently, YB is continuing his tour, performing next in Nashville, with the run set to conclude on November 12 in Seattle.
While he might not hold the official key to Atlanta, it’s clear NBA YoungBoy’s influence continues to unlock conversations around growth, redemption, and giving back to the community.
