Bounce becoming another New Orleans export

From its world-famous Mardi Gras celebrations to its signature style of creating unique dishes to it being the home of jazz music, it comes as no surprise that New Orleans is one of the most creative and influential cities in the world.

New Orleans is a standout city in the Southern region of the United States and can hold its own weight when compared to larger cities such as San Diego or even New York. Attractions such as the world-renowned Bourbon Street and the French Quarter attract visitors from all over the world. Moreover, the feel-good, family atmosphere of the city is second to none.

John R. Kemp, author and former staff writer of the Times-Picayune, refers to the Crescent City as the "northernmost Caribbean city." Like the culture of New Orleans, Caribbean culture is known for its elaborative festivals and distinct musical styles.

The state of Louisiana is the home of many musical styles that include Cajun music, Zydeco music, and Delta blues. And as aforementioned, New Orleans is the home of jazz music and over the past decade or so, the Bounce musical style has emerged and solidified its place in New Orleans culture.

According to southernspaces.org, New Orleans hip hop music (bounce) started as early as the late 1980s, but took prevalence in the latter part of the 1990s.

The popularity of the party-ready music has helped it spread across the majority of the southern region of the US.

The bounce genre's first mainstream exposure occurred when the Cash Money Records produced such artists as the Hot Boys and Big Tymers. Though their style was predominantly gangster rap, some bounce elements could still be heard in their music.

Generally, bounce music mixes current popular or old school songs on top of an energetic, catchy beat sampling "Drag Rap" by the Showboys, "Brown Beats" by Cameron Paul, and "Rock the Beat" by Derek B, some of the pioneers of the movement.  Southern University alum David Banner sampled a chopped-and-screwed version of the ever-used "Triggerman" bounce beat in his 2003 hit "Like a Pimp."

A signature formula many bounce artists use is call and response as demonstrated in DJ Jubilee's "Get Ready, Ready." Call and response is a dynamic borrowed from Mardi Gras Indian chants.

Some of the most well-known bounce artists include DJ Jubilee, Choppa, the late Magnolia Shorty, and "sissy bounce" performers such as Sissy Nobby, Big Freedia, and Katey Red.

While the term "homosexual rapper" may appear to be an oxymoron to most, it is common in New Orleans. Some popular bounce artists are extremely flamboyant and even dress in drag.

An article for the New York Times stated, "There have been…several prominent, strongly voiced bounce rappers who are women. For whatever reason, though, the connection between them and an audience of straight women has never seemed as quick or as instinctive.".