Big Freedia is one of the biggest names in bounce music, a form of hip-hop birthed out of New Orleans. The big personality and bounce star (who prefers to be called “she) has been catapulted onto a new fame level with her spoken appearance on Beyonce’s new single “Formation.”
On the song, Freedia is quoted saying, “I did not come to play with you hoes, haha. I came to slay, bitch! I like cornbread and collard greens, b*itch! Oh yas, you besta believe it” among other things.
Big Freedia sat down with NOLA.com at the New Orleans Public Library on Saturday (Feb. 13) to explain what it was like getting the call from Beyonce to be featured on the song.
Also at the beginning of “Formation”, there’s an audio sampling of Messy Mya (rapper, comedian, and YouTube star who was murdered in New Orleans in 2010) saying “What happened at the New Orleans?/ B*tch I’m back, by popular demand!” Beyonce included Messy’s voice to pay homage to a piece of NOLA culture, and shine light on the city’s ongoing battle with crime and violence.
