Big Freedia received the key to the city of New Orleans at Gallier Hall on Thursday, offering her support and praise to Mayor LaToya Cantrell during her speech at the ceremony.
The undisputed queen of bounce has spent years introducing the world to the raunchy lyrics and upbeat tempos of New Orleans’ unique style of hip hop music. Raised in Uptown, Freedia launched her bounce music career with her 2003 studio album, Queen Diva. Nearly two decades later, one of Freedia’s powerful, bass-heavy anthems was sampled by Beyoncé on her 2022 single, Free My Soul. The local rapper has also appeared on numerous songs by pop stars, including Kesha, Lizzo and Drake.
In her speech, Cantrell said Freedia’s musical and cultural influence reaches beyond New Orleans.
“Big Freedia has contributed greatly to our city’s culture and music community locally, nationally and internationally,” Cantrell said.
In a post on his Instagram account, Mayor Cantrell called Freedia “a Grammy Award winner, a passionate LGBTQ+ advocate, and a fierce advocate for the community whose influence reaches far beyond music,” adding that Freedia embodies the “resilience and creativity” that make New Orleans a special city.
From Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s Instagram account.
Freedia, a longtime supporter of the mayor, said Cantrell has brought love, culture and “hard work and dedication” to New Orleans since taking office in 2018.
“We are watching you. We are watching you. And we are rooting for you and cheering you on,” Freedia said. “I love you so much and I’m so grateful.”
Freedia wasn’t the only New Orleans-based hip-hop artist Cantrell praised last year. Earlier this summer, Cantrell made June 11 an official city holiday, “Back That Azz Up Day,” to honor Juvenile’s 1999 hit hip-hop song.
Freedia joins a long list of local music legends who will receive a key to the city in 2024, including radio personality Wild Wayne and Brian and Ronald Williams, co-founders of the famed record label Cash Money Records.