Big Freedia

“I was young so when I had that job at Burger King, I was still in high school and I just needed to help out my mom. And help myself because I needed to buy some of my clothes. I did that for about three years and I had became a shift manager working at Burger King, doing my thing. I was young and excited to make my own money.”

“I was so big, so I had to always come up with my own creations. Like, when I would do junior prom and stuff, I would have stuff specially made or added to my outfit. I definitely was always into trying to do something a little over and beyond.”

“Being a big kid, I was kind of fat and chubby, and I got picked on quite a bit.”

“My mother was my rock and my inspiration.”

“Gay folks go to church. We pray to the Lord too.”

“The first club that reopened in New Orleans was Caesar's, and they called me immediately and said let's do a regular night with you here. So we started FEMA Fridays. It was the only club open in the city, and a lot of people had a lot of money from Katrina, the checks and stuff, so the joy inside that club - I don't think that'll ever come back.”

“Some issues just need to be dealt with - that we're still dealing with in the world, with police brutality and racism.”

“I got my style from my mom, she was a classy lady.”

“The journey after Katrina, it opened a lot of doors for a lot of people. Coming from a rooftop to going to Hollywood and around the world, internationally teaching people about bounce music, definitely God is good and amazing about what he can do with your life.”

“Outside of Bounce, I listen to Beyonce, Sia, Rihanna.”

“Being gay and coming up in New Orleans was not easy. At first I was very terrified and very timid.”

“For a long time a lot of people thought New Orleans wasn't a safe place and that it was very ratchet.”

“I love Red Bull, they support everything that I do. They always support music and they're always pushing music.”

“Bounce is taking flight all over the globe. New York especially, and L.A., Canada, Portland, Washington. It keeps getting bigger and bigger.”

“I'm always honored to see my music and New Orleans Bounce make its way into mainstream culture.”

“I come from the city of New Orleans where it's live and vibrant.”

“I've always loved to cook. It helps me to relax and gives me peace. It's my nourishment.”

“Beyonce has a platform; what's a better way to speak on your platform than through your music?”

“If I'm just trying to get to different levels... and it takes levels to get to levels, and I just have to do what I have to do to keep on climbing the charts and getting where I need to be.”

“Everybody in the world now wants to twerk. We don't twerk here in New Orleans, we bounce, we wiggle, we wobble, we shake, we bust it open, bend it over, we do it all.”