Big Freedia is Blessed

I would say probably in about 2005, around Katrina time, I decided that I was going to go full force with it—no looking back. Right before Katrina hit, I had decided that, and once Katrina hit, it just put a fire under me and sparked something different. I had been doing it before that, so it was just like, "Okay, the decision is made, now to go full force with it. No looking back. Straight ahead."

I think just being humble. Being that I was doing music for so long and it was underground and then finally stepping out into the world, outside of New Orleans. It was preparing me for the present. Also, [it keeps] me grounded to not lose myself, and to stay true to myself and the culture of New Orleans and bounce music. Those beginning days were my stepping stones to prep me for where I am now in my career.

All of that is growing pains. You may know my voice [and] you may not see my face, but we’re getting to the point where if the voice is you, then you’ll see the face. All of those were opportunities to open doors for myself and for the LGBTQ community—to let them know that no matter where you start or where you come from, you grow and you’re going to still have moments like this. I’m still grateful. I started to pick up the Beyhive fans and Drake fans and it’s a great opportunity for me to cross-promote and cross-reference my music with theirs, and it keeps people talking. You may not see the face, but you could always Google me.

The fans made something out of a situation that’s really not stopping [me]. Shit, as long as I got paid. I got my check. I got bills to pay. I’m not worried. Sometimes, it’s like you’re a voice, but you’re a background voice. Not all the time is the background voice heard. For example Aretha Franklin and her background singers: you wasn’t talking about the background singers, you was talking about Aretha Franklin. You understand what I’m saying? People get it twisted about where it should be at in their view. But, if you [really] support the artist, and love the artist, whatever they choose to do, you’ll roll with them.

My main thing is spreading love, great energy, and positive vibes. Just letting people know my backstory, where I come from and where I’m at now in my life, [and that] anything is possible. I come from growing up seeing poverty in my neighborhood, racism, drugs, gangbanging, murders, I’ve seen it all. To be able to make it through all of that in itself is a blessing.

Yeah, definitely. But they can’t put me in a box, child. I don’t let ‘em. I get this question every interview: “What is your preferred pronoun?” and all of that. I’m me. That’s my preferred pronoun. I tell people all the time, it don’t matter if you call me “he,” “she,” “it,” whatever. I know who I am and that’s all that matters.

The biggest challenge I experienced this year is losing my brother to murder. It was life-changing, again. Growing up with my sibling and losing my only brother was really rough. It was around my birthday time, so yeah that was probably the roughest thing I went through this year. God does everything for a reason and we can’t question what he does, so I just take it one day at a time. I keep praying for strength and to make it through.

Sometimes I have that thought. You know, just like, “Why this person didn’t recognize me?” Then I be like, “Fuck that. I don’t need validation from nobody.” I am who I am and I’m doing what I do and I don’t need nobody to validate it. When God allows things to be seen or heard or wanted in the light, he’ll put it there. That’s just the way I look at it now. You’ll get all wrapped up if you don’t get validation from a certain person or a certain group of people, and it will have you fucked up.

Yes, definitely. Ever since home, my background is church. I was a choir director for many years. I directed many a choir, sung in many choirs. I was the director at my high school. It’s always been a part of me, and that’s my backstory. My strength comes from it. When you’re having a bad day, I promise you, gospel brings me to where I need to be at in my life.

[I have] five dogs: Rita, Sensation, Royal, Yoncé, and King. Four girls and one boy. They’re pretty amazing. It’s like five different children and it’s a job. I have two poodles (a small one and a giant one), a Miniature Schnauzer, a Pitbull, and a Bulldog. I’ve had them all since they were small, so they all get along. So, I have five dogs, three best friends, quite a few associates, and I also have a lover. I’ve been with him for a while now—going on 13 years.

It’s a showstopper, period. When you see somebody twerkin’ they ass, it gets your attention more than any other dancing they could be doing. They could be doing the milly rock, they could be doing whatever the shit they doing. But when you see somebody bending over and shaking they ass, baby it’s a showstopper. Everybody wanna do it now.

Right now in my life, just looking at my experiences, I’m learning to love me more, and learning to love me first. Everything else falls in place after that. It’s important for people to love [themselves] first before they can love somebody else. That’s where I’m at in my life. It’s a learning process. The same energy you give me is the same energy I’ma give you back.