Whether or not you’ve heard of Big Freedia, you’ve likely heard the New Orleans rapper on the radio.
Sampled in the intro and chaotic breakdown of Drake’s 2018 chart-topper “Nice For What,” snippets from her live performances act as a jarring interjection — the force with which she chants the line “these hoes, they mad” is somehow more empowering than any motivational lyrics Drake could muster.
Though Freedia has only recently garnered the mainstream attention that comes with a 2016 Beyoncé collab and subsequent major label deal, her musical influence has been felt since the early 2000s. She first made a name for herself in Louisiana’s “Bounce” scene, known for its frenetic beats and shouted call-and-response vocals: an early precursor to what’s known today as Trap music.
Attracting attention from Indie artists like Matt and Kim and The Postal Service in the 2010s, Freedia’s popularity eclipsed New Orleans, even spawning a reality show (Queen of Bounce) and appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Her “Azz Across America” tour, which runs until Nov. 21, follows the launch of her own Ben & Jerry’s flavor: Big Freedia’s Bouncing Beignets. Iconic.
8 p.m. Friday. $20. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, bogarts.com.
This article appears in Aug 14-21, 2019.
