MUSIC
Big Freedia’s Pandemic Perseverance
COVID hasnt stopped music star’s big plans
BY NICOLE AKOUKOU THOMPSON
The patron saint of New
Orleans, Big Freedia,
is irrevocably known
for her contributions to
the rump-shaking sub-genre of
rap known as bounce music. Still,
she also has a penchant for homestyle
cooking, community development,
and legacy-building. In other
words, the sky’s the limit for the
self-proclaimed Queen Diva.
Though not overnight, Freedia
seemingly unlocked the code for
industry success. In less than a
decade, she graduated from belting
“Gin in My System” into the night air
at local block parties to performing
it to sold-out stages across the globe.
She has developed a reality TV series,
released a memoir, and turned
heads with titillating dance-focused
performances in lockstep with the
release of banger after banger.
When the world skidded to a halt
one year ago, Freedia had plans for
a cross-country 26-city tour with
Ke$ha. Like everyone else, her
plans changed. The tour was canceled
along with all other in-person
appearances. Still, she seamlessly
pivoted and adapted to the contactless
new world order, keeping
the masses fed and entertained via
Friday Night Shakedowns, Kitchen
Gospel Sundays, private twerk lessons,
Watcha Cookin’ Wednesdays,
and Garden Cookouts. Her objective
throughout the COVID-19 crisis
has been to keep herself, her
team, and her fandom inspired.
“Every day, I want to keep things
going for myself and try to help my
team,” Big Freedia told Gay City
News during an interview. “The
pandemic has been a crazy rough
journey, but during this past year,
through prayer and God’s grace,
we made it through — well, some
of us have — and I want to focus on
being able to still tell my story.”
When probed about the source
of her inspiration, Freedia indicated
that she draws her infl uences
from the usual places: books, fi lm,
dreams and the like. “Sometimes it
comes from a conversation or something
I saw on a billboard while
Big Freedia at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in 2017.
driving, or when I see someone do
a funny dance that doesn’t have a
name for it,” she said. “It depends
on the day, the mood. I’ll pull inspiration
from anywhere, for sure.”
Speaking during Women’s History
Month, Freedia also credited
the women in her life, citing “my
sister, all of my cousins, all of my
aunts, and all of the women who
helped raise me.”
“My mom was my biggest inspiration,
and she was the one who
really helped to carry me throughout
my life and my career,” said
Freedia, whose mother died of
cancer several years ago. “And
shout out to the divas who are out
there doing the thing and shining
bright. From Beyonce to Oprah to
Kelly Price to Mia X, there are so
many women who are doing powerful
things, making noise, and
holding it down for the culture.
Shout out to all the women in the
world.”
Freedia’s memoir “God Save
the Queen Diva!” charts some of
her motivations and brings readers
into her world and elaborates
on celebrations, challenges, and
healing. Published six years ago,
the book doesn’t recount recent
successes or devastating losses.
On January 24, 2018, Freedia’s
younger brother, Adam Ross, was
fatally shot in New Orleans’ Central
City neighborhood. Ross’s
death and other gun violence incidents,
REUTERS/MARIO ANZUONI
including a 2004 shooting
Freedia survived, propelled her to
create a deeply personal documentary,
“Freedia Got a Gun.”
The fi lm investigates the burgeoning
gun violence epidemic
within New Orleans’ Black communities
and offers a sympathetic
glimpse into the heart of the
turmoil. The documentary highlights
the aftermath of the violence
(the memorials, vigils, and
the prayers), the community impact,
unaddressed trauma experienced
by youth, its connection
to the prison industrial complex,
and a plea for Black communities
to take a stance against the
bloodshed.
Gun violence, however, isn’t the
only matter Freedia hopes to tackle
in the form of a documentary. She
disclosed plans to create a documentary
focused on her life and
intends to publish a few children’s
books, including one that centers
on gender and identity.
“The most important advice that
I can tell someone, especially a
young queer artist or someone in
the LGBTQ community, is, fi rst of
all, you have to love yourself before
you can go out and expect the
world to love you,” Freedia said.
“Be humble, be patient, be kind
and get love and acceptance from
your parents and once you have
the confi dence, go out there and
conquer the world.”
When asked about the state of
Black excellence, Freedia correctly
asserted that it is nearly impossible
to discuss the resurgence of
Black Americans in art and media
without discussing the impact of
Black Lives Matter and the death
of George Floyd, who Freedia knew
personally. Floyd twice worked security
detail for her in Minneapolis
and would often ask when she
would take him on the road.
“There’s defi nitely a rise in Black
excellence, and that has to do with
the Black Lives Matter movement,
as well as my friend George Floyd,”
Freedia said. “They started a big
trend across the world that’s helped
to recognize the strength of Black
people. We have had a lot of support
from our allies, who are around us
and in our circle, who want to see us
do more and help us win, be great,
and continue to be excellent.”
We all have to continue to work
together, to help each other, be
creative, and be more visible,” she
said. “Each day, someone does
something different to continue
that growth process. It’s just one
step at a time. I’m just happy to see
a lot more of my Black folks doing
things on TV, writing more, and
doing more in general.”
Freedia has an abundance of
projects in the works, including a
screenplay adaption of her book, a
sequel, and plans for Hotel Freedia,
which will be a hotel and restaurant
located in Freedia’s hometown
of New Orleans. The combination
venue will be a feel-good hot-spot
“jumping with volume, people and
music.” Visitors will chill, laugh,
and enjoy incredible food.
“Yes, honey, you get to come and
eat down,” she said.
Additionally, Freedia is dropping
a cannabis line on 4/20, aptly
called The Royal Bud by Big Freedia.
With a laugh, Freedia said, “It’s
defi nitely that royal smoke that
will take you to a castle high.”
Freedia also teased a new EP,
scheduled for release this summer
— but details are under wraps for
now.
“It’s dealing with something
very big,” she said.
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