The Sounders’ new primary kit goes beyond its representation of the team.
The Evergreen State Kit embodies the right to play and belong through its partnership with RAVE Foundation and their initiative to build 52 mini-pitches across the state of Washington.
It pays tribute to those fields that provide opportunities for kids in the region to learn, grow and find strength through soccer — something that is close to local hip-hop artist Oblé Reed’s heart.
Reed is best known for his work in the music industry. But soccer is what laid the foundation for him to be the successful, driven individual he is today.
Hailing from Shoreline, Reed grew up playing for local youth club Seattle United – just like First Team players Paul Rothrock, Jackson Ragen and Reed Baker-Whiting. As he weaved through the ranks of the youth soccer system, he dreamt of one day competing at the professional level. His love and passion for music ended up taking him on a different career path, but the discipline and structure the game provided for him has ultimately allowed him to thrive in challenging moments today.
“That's where I found my competitiveness, like all of those things that I see now, carrying me forward in my music career, were born from soccer, which was the first sport that I played,” said Reed.
It was a pathway to dreaming bigger for the now 24-year-old.
“I think when I started playing club soccer, you had to do tryouts and you had to get selected. And everybody starts together and they separate you into groups based on your skill. And I got to go up and play with the premiere side of my club [Seattle United], and it showed me, like, ‘Okay, I'm a step above. I've worked on my skills. I've worked to get to this point. I can grind and get on that team,” said Reed.
“I'm just very competitive and so that meshed with my work ethic [was] getting me to the places that I wanted to go,” he continued. “And at that time, it's such a small scale, right? Like, I have school and I have sports, [and] I'm finding success in both the classroom and on the field. [And so,] it really made me feel like I could really do anything. I just gotta work for [it].”
From playing the sport, to watching the Sounders’ inaugural match at only seven-years-old, soccer has been ingrained into his life for as long as he can remember. In addition to the belief he found within himself, he’s found a sense of community through the sport.
He’s connected with Sounders alumni like Lamar Nagal to play in pick-up games. He sparks conversations with fellow Sounders fans on the street if he notices they are wearing club merch. He’s even reconnected with a former soccer teammate in the music industry, working as a video producer for one of Reed’s recent projects.
Now, that sense of community continues to grow through his involvement with the Sounders and the Evergreen State Kit.
“My seven-year-old self that was at that inaugural game, is screaming, crying,” said Reed. “I prayed and manifested a moment like this. And so for me to get to be a part of something so amazing, and to work with a team that I've looked up to since I was a young, it's surreal.”
Reed’s story reflects what the club strives to pass onto kids who play on RAVE Foundation's mini pitches: confidence, connection, and the joy that comes from the game of soccer.
“It's an honor, and it's a great responsibility, knowing that I've grown to a place where I have the power to inspire and influence a coming generation,” said Reed.
What began as valuable skills and qualities instilled in him at a young age, has turned him into a well-known hip-hop star in Seattle and beyond.
“I hope that people can see my journey, and the youth can see that, it doesn't matter what age you are, you can get started at any time and make your dreams come true,” said Reed.
“I felt deeply passionate about wanting to take a risk on my art and my dreams and my creativity, and I did that. I committed 100% to it. And I was able to make those dreams into plans, into execution, into reality, and I hope that kids see that you really can do anything.”
