Freddie Ross Jr.[2] (born January 28, 1978), better known by his stage name Big Freedia (/ˈfriːdə/ FREE-də), is an American rapper and performer known for his work in the New Orleans genre of hip hop called bounce music.

At the end of 2016, Freedia was featured in a local New Orleans television ad for Juan LaFonta Law Office, in which he is shown rapping with bounce music and dancers.

He has collaborated with artists including Beyoncé (who sampled his voice for her song, "Formation" and on her 2022 number-one hit "Break My Soul"), Kesha, Lizzo, Slayyyter, New Kids on the Block, Jordin Sparks, Naughty by Nature, Boyz II Men, Jake Shears, and with Drake on his 2018 number-one hit "Nice for What".

As a child, he took piano lessons and sang in the choir of the neighborhood Baptist church, "Pressing Onward M.B.C.

Freddie's mother exposed him to artists such as Patti LaBelle, and he was also influenced by disco singer Sylvester, Michael Jackson, and Salt-N-Pepa.

[11] In 1998, a young drag queen by the name of Katey Red performed bounce music at a club near the Melpomene Projects where Ross grew up.

[12] In 1999, Katey Red released Melpomene Block Party on the city's leading bounce label, Take Fo' Records.

According to Ross, "I wanted a catchy name that rhymed, and my mother had a club called Diva that I worked for.

"[13] He played six to ten shows a week at block parties, nightclubs, strip clubs, and other venues while the city recuperated.

"[12] Freedia began to gain national exposure after a 2009 fest-closing gig with Katey Red and Sissy Nobby at the Bingo Parlour Tent and the 2009 Voodoo Experience.

[13] Along with Katey Red, Cheeky Blakk, and Sissy Nobby, he was a guest on the May 2010 album Ya-ka-may by funk band Galactic.

[19] In May 2010, Freedia began touring with DJ Rusty Lazer and a team of "bootydancers", along with pop band Matt and Kim.

[12] He continued to tour throughout the United States, and in Fall 2010 had his first national television appearance on the Last Call with Carson Daly.

[21] Freedia toured with The Postal Service in 2013, opening for the band at numerous venues throughout July and August.

During publicity for the show, Freedia led a crowd of hundreds in New York City to set the Guinness World Record for twerking.

Freedia immediately flew back to New Orleans and planned a jazz funeral through the streets of the city, which the show aired.

[23] The show has been airing for six seasons, was expanded from 30 minutes to an hour, and is now called Big Freedia Bounces Back.

[25][26] The book, Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva!, written by the "gay, self-proclaimed mama's boy who exploded onto the formerly underground Bounce music scene" along with Nicole Balin, was released July 2015.

[27][28] On February 6, 2016, Beyoncé released a surprise single, "Formation", and an accompanying music video, filmed in New Orleans, which sampled speech from Messy Mya and Big Freedia.

[35] In September 2017, Big Freedia released the single, "Dive" which featured rapper Mannie Fresh, who is also from New Orleans.

[36] The song was originally going to be included on a joint mixtape called The Bounce Back, but the album was scrapped for unknown reasons.

[37] "Make It Jingle" is part of the track list for the rhythm music game Just Dance 2018,[38] as well as the song's inclusion on the Office Christmas Party soundtrack.

[39] In April 2018, Drake's number-one hit "Nice for What" featured uncredited vocals from Freedia in the introduction to the track.

[41] On October 24, 2019, Freedia was featured on Kesha's "Raising Hell", the lead single for her fourth studio album High Road.

On February 10, 2021, a remix of Rebecca Black's song "Friday" was released, featuring Big Freedia along with Dorian Electra and 3OH!3.

Freedia appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 6 episode 2 in June 2021.

Freedia operates an interior design business whose clients included the administration of Ray Nagin when he was the mayor of New Orleans.

[13] In 2016, Freedia was indicted on charges of theft of government funds after he failed to report his income earnings between 2010 and 2014 while still claiming Section 8 housing benefits.

[49] In 2018, Big Freedia revealed in an Instagram video that the judge in the case had granted his request to end his probation one year early for good behavior.

Although some of my early influences were the drag queens of New Orleans (including my uncle), I don't wear dresses or high heels.