Just Be Free
2014’s *Just Be Free* showed that even after being discovered by a national audience, Big Freedia could still turn out ultra-raw distillations of the New Orleans style in the form of “N.O. Bounce,” “Where My Queens At,” and “Explode.” Bounce music has always been manic, but it’s never been so muscular. The rest of the album envisions an outrageous melding of bounce, techno, and Dirty South hip-hop. “Turn Da Beat Up” puts the force of a parade band behind its break beats. You’d be hard-pressed to find another album with as much unbridled physicality.
Bounce queen Big Freedia is teetering on the brink of reaching a mainstream audience, and Just Be Free is her attempt to bring her music to that level. With help from producer Thomas McElroy (Madonna, En Vogue), Freedia and longtime producer BlaqNMilD reworked her trademark sound to make it cleaner, fuller, more nuanced, and more befitting a pop diva.
New Orleans' singer/screamer/rapper Big Freedia comes with that same kind of zest appeal, but this queen has an extra shot of edge and indie.
Big Freedia - Just Be Free review: “like living in a post modern nightmare” - Downer