One week after “We Ready” rapper Archie Eversole (born Arthur Eversole) died of gunshot wounds sustained in an Atlanta area shooting on March 25, the MC’s brother has been charged with his murder. Eversole, 37, was shot last month and taken to a nearby hospital, where he died on April 3 from his injuries, according to a statement from the DeKalb Country Police Department.
According to investigators, they were called to a Chevron station last month and discovered a victim with a gunshot wound. According to police, Eversole’s brother, Alexander Kraus, was found at the Chevron where the shooting occurred and taken into custody without incident. Kraus was charged with aggravated assault, but the charges were upgraded after Eversole died. At the time of publication, police said Kraus was being held in the DeKalb County Jail on a murder charge.
Eversole’s breakout single “We Ready,” which features Bubba Sparxxx and samples Steam’s 1969 No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Na Na Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,” peaked at No. 64 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 2002 and became the anthem for the Atlanta United soccer club and its fans, the Five Stripes nation.
Atlanta United paid tribute to the rapper in a statement released on Thursday (April 14), writing, “We are heartbroken to hear of Archie Eversole’s tragic passing.” Archie, a fixture in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene, adopted Atlanta United before our first season and remained one of our club’s most ardent supporters. In addition to his distinguished musical career, his voice will live on in the minds of Atlanta United fans as ‘We Ready’ billows through the speakers before kickoff at Atlanta United matches. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.”
Other sports have also embraced his music, with the NFL using it as the soundtrack to a 2019 season kick-off campaign. Eversole’s Ride Wit Me reached No. 85 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Ride Wit Me Dirty South No. 83 on the Billboard 200.
