Katey Red

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.

Katey Red
Born	(1983-05-17) May 17, 1983 (age 42) Melpomene Projects, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
Genres	Bounce music
Occupation	Rapper
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	Late 1990s – present
Labels	Take Fo' Records

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]