Katey Red

American rapper

Katey Red
Born (1983-05-17) May 17, 1983 (age 40)
Melpomene Projects, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
GenresBounce music
Occupation(s)Rapper
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years activeLate 1990s – present
LabelsTake Fo' Records
Musical artist

Katey Red (born May 17, 1983) is a bounce artist and M.C. from New Orleans. Red is most known for being one of the first transgender rappers in bounce music and is credited with creating the sissy bounce genre.

Background

Red was born in the Melpomene Projects. She attended Walter L. Cohen High School and was part of the school's marching band.[1]

Career

In 1998, DJ Jubilee saw Red rapping at a block party in New Orleans and signed her to his label, Take Fo' Records.[1] She released her first album in 1999, titled "Melpomene Block Party".[2]

Considered the first openly gay bounce artist, Red developed a unique style of bounce, which is often referred to as sissy bounce.[3][4][5] Her style is high energy, often employing call and response.[6] She frequently performs and collaborates with other bounce artists, including Big Freedia, Sissy Nobby, Vockah Redu, and Cheeky Blakk.[3][7][8]

In 2011, Red, along with other New Orleans bounce artists, was the subject of an exhibition at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art entitled "Where They At?". The exhibition was also taken to the Abrons Art Center in New York City and the Birdhouse Gallery in Austin.[3]

Red is also a drag artist and performs under the name Keltnny Galliano.[9]

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1999: Melpomene Block Party
  • 2000: Y2 Katey
  • 2013: Katey's Hits

Singles

  • 1999: "Melpomene Block Party"
  • "The Punk Under Pressure"

Music videos

  • 2011: "Where Da Melph At", directed by David S. White
  • 2012: "Dreidel Song" by Gypsyphonic Disko, appears as featured artist[10]
  • 2013: "Don't Speak (Make Ya Booty Go)", directed by David S. White

Collaborations

  • 2000: It's a G Thang by K.C. Redd – performing "Tiddy Bop" with K.C. Redd
  • 2002: Choppa Style by Choppa – performing "Messy B***hes" with Choppa
  • 2010: Ya-Ka-May by Galactic – performing "Katey Vs Nobby" with Sissy Nobby, U.S. Billboard Chart No. 161[11]
  • 2011: New Orleans Bounce Essentials, Vol. 2 – performing "That's My Juvie" with Magnolia Shorty
  • 2013: Son of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys – performing "Sally Racket" with Big Freedia and Akron / Family

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Treme Herself TV series, episode: "Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get the Blues"[12]
2011 Prince Paul's Adventurous Musical Journey Herself TV series documentary, episode: "New Orleans Bounce"[13]
2014 The Body Electric Actor Music video by Hurray for the Riff Raff[14]
2015 Nola? Herself Documentary[15]
Forthcoming Mother Herself Documentary

Awards

In 2000, Red received the Best Emerging Rap/Hip-Hop Band or Performer at Offbeat magazine's Best of the Beat Awards.[16]

Personal life

Red married in 2017, her musical collaborator and friend Big Freedia was maid of honor.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b "Katey Red". French Quarter. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. ^ Fensterstock, Alison (May 21, 2009). "Gay rap show celebrates 10 years of Katey Red". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Berk, Brett (March 11, 2011). "New Orleans Sissy Bounce: Rap Goes Drag". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  4. ^ McDonnell, John (September 29, 2008). "Scene and heard: New Orleans Bounce and 'sissy rap'". the Guardian. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Flaherty, Jordan (2010). Floodlines: Community and Resistance from Katrina to the Jena Six. ReadHowYouWant.com. p. 35. ISBN 9781459602182.
  6. ^ Hollyman, Helen (September 27, 2013). "Katey Red's Guide to Daiquiri Drinking". Vice. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  7. ^ Sherman, Maria (June 27, 2014). "Katey Red Recalls Meeting Big Freedia For The First Time". Fuse. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  8. ^ Welch, Michael Patrick (November 1, 2012). "Bounce to This: Katey Red's Dream Team". OffBeat Magazine. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  9. ^ Fensterstock, Alison (August 29, 2013). "Another side of rapper Katey Red, at a Decadence weekend drag extravaganza". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  10. ^ Fensterstock, Alison (December 17, 2012). "A belated Hanukkah bounce video from Gypsyphonic Disko and Katey Red". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  11. ^ "Galactic – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  12. ^ Walker, David (May 15, 2011). "NOLA hip-hop explained: 'Treme' music consultant Alison Fensterstock breaks down bounce music". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  13. ^ Woodward, Alex (November 29, 2011). "Big Freedia, Katey Red featured in Prince Paul bounce documentary". Gambit. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  14. ^ Woodward, Alex (December 12, 2014). "Watch: Hurray for the Riff Raff's "The Body Electric"". Gambit. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  15. ^ "Nola? Irun meets New Orleans". Fermin Muguruza. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  16. ^ "Best of the Beat Award Winners: Complete List". OffBeat Magazine. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  17. ^ "'Big Freedia' Deleted Scene: Freedia & Katey Red's Touching Moment at Katey's Wedding". Fuse. October 25, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
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