Big Freedia has reigned as the “Queen of Bounce” in New Orleans for years, but the rapper gained national recognition after her appearance on Beyoncé’s 2016 single “Formation.” The “Booty-Whop” singer, 38, is also the star of her own Fuse reality-television series, Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce, which airs Wednesdays at 11 p.m. ET.
The NOLA diva exclusively shared her top bounce tracks of all time with Us Weekly. Here’s what she’s twerking to:
“Jubilee All” by DJ Jubilee: “DJ Jubilee is an originator of bounce music. This is one of the first bounce songs to be recognized nationally. Everyone in New Orleans knows it!”
“Let Me Find Out” by 5th Ward Weebie: “This song was huge in New Orleans a couple of years ago. Down here everyone says, ‘Lemme find out.’ It’s part of the bounce language, and Weebie’s beat on that song is so catchy, you couldn’t go a block in NOLA without hearing it coming out of someone’s car.”
“Punk Under Pressure” by Katey Red: “Katey was the first gay bounce rapper to really come out in New Orleans. She is a legend still. This song is timeless because as gay artists we were always under pressure. I’m still under pressure to make things happen!”
“Back That Azz Up” by Juvenile, featuring Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne: “‘Back that Azz Up’ was a major hit nationally. It helped put bounce rap on the map all over the country. This song will go down in history as one of the best raps songs. Period!”
“Express Yourself” by Diplo, featuring Nicky Da B: “This more current song is an example of how bounce is evolving. You can hear Diplo’s electronic influence here. It helped open doors for bounce. It shows the progression of where bounce can go.”
“Consequences” by Sissy Nobby: “This song is a relationship song about a longing to love. Who cannot relate to that? This was a big song for us in New Orleans, and Nobby is one of the shining stars of bounce.”
“I Heard” by Big Freedia: “This is my newest single, and it’s fun and different. It really speaks to me and where I am right now because of my TV show. Everyone asks, ‘Have you heard of Big Freedia?’ and then says, ‘I hear you’re doing big things.’”
