Sat 6/16 @ 9PM
Back in the early ’00s, at the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, I caught an artist named Katey Red, an entrancing, theatrical performer in the distinctive New Orleans rap variation called Bounce. Dubbing herself the first queer rapper, she put her own spin on it, which she called “sissy rap.”
Although slightly older than Katey Red, Big Freedia became something of her protégé, performing as her backup singer before stepping out on her own and becoming a successful star in this niche. Appearances on the TV show Treme and her own reality show on the Fuse network, Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce, gave her a national profile, and Beyonce even sampled her on the track “Formation.” She’s now signed to Asylum Records and just released the album 3rd Ward Bounce. Currently she can be heard on your radio dial adding vocals to Srake’s latest single “Nice for What.”
Born Freddie Ross, Big Freedia says she is not transgendered, but just a gay male who adopts women’s mannerisms and prefers the pronoun “she.” Catch the “Queen of Bounce” at the Grog Shop where she’ll be performing this week. Also on the big is Cleveland DJ Zoe Renee Lapin. Tickets are $16 in advance, $18 at the door.
Cleveland, OH 44106