Big Freedia Means Business isn’t just the title of her new reality show. It’s also the way the legendary Queen of Bounce approaches our quick-fire questions: from start to finish, Freedia is fast, funny and hardly wastes a word.
Of course, you already know the charismatic rapper from Beyoncé’s Break My Soul, which samples Freedia’s 2014 banger Explode. That’s her telling us to “release ya trade, release the stress, release the love, forget the rest”. You probably also know Freedia from her collaborations with everyone from Lizzo and Kesha to Drake and RuPaul – she didn’t become the queen of New Orleans’ bounce scene by accident.
Now, you’re also going to know Freedia for her commercial savvy. “This show is chronicling my life, my music and my business,” she promises. “And it’s about to go down with me shaking up things in the business world." But first, she has 50 questions to blitz through.
1. Where are you right now? New Orleans.
2. What will you be doing after this interview? More interviews!
3. What is your greatest skill as a businessperson? Walking into the room, lighting the room up, and making things happen.
4. Are you good at delegating? I have definitely learned to delegate over time, and I think I’m pretty good at it. I have a good team of people around me now, so they know when they need to delegate too.
5. What do you look for in a new member of Team Freedia? Honesty, loyalty, trust and hard work. Hard work is the most important – we all work really hard to make things happen.
6. If you have to write your job title on a form, what do you write? Queen diva, owner and CEO.
7. If someone asks you for a selfie on the street, do you say yes? Of course, as long as my glam is done. But I wear make-up to grab a pack of cigarettes from the corner store at 7am.
8. Do people ask you for selfies in inappropriate places? Oh yes. I’ve been asked at funerals – and even when I’ve had a big old hamburger in my mouth.
9. How would you describe your personal style? Fabulous, flamboyant, very outspoken.
10. What would your parents like you to have done for a living? Probably become a nurse, because I did go to nursing school.
If you have to write your job title on a form, what do you write? “Queen diva, owner and CEO” – Big Freedia
11. What are you most proud of? How far I’ve come from where I came from.
12. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned? Keep God first in everything. I pray and I push – that’s my formula.
13. What did you learn growing up in New Orleans? How to deal with the people of New Orleans. We’re a very open-minded, friendly and welcoming city, but we can also be rough around the edges when it’s time. That’s New Orleans for you.
14. What did you learn on the bounce music scene? Once I finally started to take bounce music super-seriously, that it was going to change my life for the rest of my life.
15. What did you learn from singing in church? How not to get stage fright.
16. What makes Beyoncé Beyoncé? Her fierceness – the Sasha Fierce in her.
17. What’s the best way to release the stress? Oh, to release the wiggle.
18. Do you believe in love at first sight? Most def. I experienced it with my partner, and we’ve been together going on 18 years. It’s our love that’s kept us together.
19. Do you believe in the concept of a guilty pleasure? Yes. For me, it’s usually eating the wrong thing.
20. Do you believe in destiny? I do. It’s played out very well for me.
21. What do you do when you have a day off? Sleep, because I don’t get many of them these days.
22. Where is your happy place? The stage.
23. What is your purpose on stage? To bring people together through the power of ass.
24. When did you realise you could bring people together? I knew that in church when I was the choir director, making people sing and pulling them together.
25. What keeps you awake at night? I mean, when I have to hit the stage at 2am. And after a 2am show, I probably go straight to the airport.
26. What’s the key to making a great reality TV show? Keeping it real. I remain who I am regardless of who’s around and how many cameras are around.
27. What does RuPaul smell like? She smells like flowers and money – $100 bill money.
28. What does the word queer mean to you? Me.
29. Do you mind what people call you? I’m very open – you can call me ‘he’ or ‘she’. It doesn’t matter when you know who you are.
30. What’s the enemy of drag? Bigotry. And Tennessee.
What is your purpose on stage? “To bring people together through the power of ass” – Big Freedia
31. Who do you call when you need a good time? Anybody in my circle, because we always have a great time when we’re together.
32. What’s your worst habit? Smoking cigarettes. I smoke a lot.
33. What’s the most overrated thing in the world? The government.
34. Is bigger always better? Yes.
35. Are you a tidy person? Very tidy. Before I leave a dressing room, everything will be put back in order just the way that I found it.
36. What’s on your rider? Oreos, olives, pickles, Patrón, sandwiches, fried chicken, fruit, incense and candles. And lots of towels.
37. What’s your most treasured possession? My life. I realised that a long time ago.
38. What does true luxury look like to you? Just being fabulous from the time you arrive to the time you leave – from the room to the car to the outfit, all the way down.
39. Can you rough it? Oh, I can be a rough rider or do it very luxury. It doesn’t matter to me.
40. If someone reading this interview wants to sample your music, what should they do? Reach out to my manager. If it’s the right person and the right sample, I usually don’t have a problem with it.
41. Does it feel like Break My Soul is following you? Definitely. I was just in my hotel in New York and every time I took the elevator down to the lobby, Break My Soul was playing. I love it.
42. What are you manifesting for yourself in 2024? More money, more money.
43. Where do you like to spend your money? In fabric stores, because I like to get custom pieces made.
44. How do we end heteronormativity? By making sure we keep being who we are. And we need the allies, too.
45. Who would play you in a movie of your life? I could play me at a certain point, but we’d need a younger me too. So, let’s set up some interviews.
46. What can’t you leave the house without? My house keys, but believe me, I’ve done it. That’s why you need pin-code entry.
47. Do you like a group text? Oh, most definitely. We’re always in group texts, especially when everybody has to meet at the airport.
48. What advice would you give to someone who wants to make it in business? Give respect so respect is given.
49. How would you describe Big Freedia? Fabulous.
50. Finally, did you enjoy this interview? I rapid-fired your questions, and I loved it.
Big Freedia Means Business is airing exclusively on WOW Presents Plus in the UK.
