Magic City is a prominent strip club in Atlanta, founded in 1985[4] and currently owned by Michael “Magic” Barney.[1][2]
 | |
 Magic City in 2016 | |
| Company type | Strip club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Founder | Michael "Magic" Barney[1] |
| Headquarters | Atlanta , United States |
Key people | Michael "Magic" Barney[2] |
| Owner | Michael "Magic" Barney |
Number of employees | 150 dancers and 20+ other[3] (2010) |
| Website | magiccity.com |
Hip hop and rap ties
Described by Dan Gartland of Sports Illustrated as a "legendary strip club that should be familiar to anyone who knows anything about rap music",[5] Magic City has well-documented ties with the trap and hip hop scene. The club has been associated with the early careers of Future[2][6] and Migos.[6] DJ Esco worked at Magic City.[7] DC the Brain Supreme of Tag Team was working at Magic City when he released the hit "Whoomp! (There It Is)".[8]
In popular culture
Several rap and hip-hop songs mention Magic City,[9] including "Strip Club" by The 2 Live Crew,[10] "Magic City Monday" by Jeezy[11] and "Magic" by Future.[12] The reference to "Monday" is because Magic City is "supposedly the Holy Grail of Atlanta strip clubs on Monday nights".[13] In July 2015, GQ released a documentary Magic City about the strip club, directed by Lauren Greenfield.[14]
Notable visitors and events
In addition to the artists mentioned in the § Hip hop and rap ties section, Magic City has been visited by 2Pac and Biggie,[2] and Michael Jordan.[8] In November 2018, Magic City was temporarily refashioned as "Future City" to celebrate Future's thirty-fifth birthday, and was visited by him, Drake, Lil Yachty, Jacquees, Pastor Troy, and others.[15] Drake allegedly had an armored truck deliver $100,000 in cash to the strip club.[15] In December 2018, Atlanta United FC players celebrated their MLS Cup victory at Magic City.[5]
Magic City's food menu includes "Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ" chicken wings, named after professional basketball player Lou Williams, who played for the Atlanta Hawks (2012–2014).[16] During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he was on an approved absence from the NBA Bubble to attend the funeral of a family friend in Atlanta.[17][18] Afterwards, he visited Magic City, where rapper Jack Harlow posted a picture on Instagram of him and Williams at the club.[19] Williams, who said he was at the club for food, was required by the NBA to undergo a 10-day quarantine before re-entering the bubble.[16][18]
.svg){kind=small}