Big Freedia Enlists Lil Wayne and Boyfriend On "El Niño"

The fourth track off of Big Freedia’s forthcoming ‘Central City,” “El Niño” is a triage of NOLA pride.

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Big Freedia has never shied away from showing her hometown pride. On her latest single “El Niño,” whose title nods to hurricane season in NOLA, the New Orleans bounce legend links with two other New Orleans-bred artists to help share the song’s motivational message. For the first time ever, OG hometown hero Lil Wayne has joined Freedia and her frequent collaborator, rising rapper Boyfriend, with a new track that empowers listeners to conquer whatever comes their way … even if it’s a hurricane.

“El Niño” is the fourth track off of Freedia’s upcoming (and highly anticipated) sophomore album, Central City, which is set to release almost a decade after her first album. The track opens with a contagious piano beat and a “Freedia, I got you” by Wayne, before introducing listeners to the repetitive “I’m bout to go el niño” line that carries throughout. Boyfriend primes us for Freedia’s first verse, rapping recurring hook, “this b*tch ’boutta be gone with the wind, coming at ya category 10” before Freedia takes the mic. Wayne bodies the second verse, opening with “I’m ’bout to go el f*cking niño,” – which he then does for a fire run of bars, complete with a Megan Rapinoe shoutout – before closing out with “Weezy F, baby, please say the F.”

“It’s about going hard in any storms that come in your life and conquering them,” Freedia said in a recent press release – in which she also referred to “El Niño” as her favorite track from the star-studded Central City.

Central City is set to drop this Friday, June 23. Until then, “El Niño” is available to stream on Spotify on Apple Music. Check out the track’s complementary on-theme visualizer above.

For more in music news, XXL recently announced its 2023 Freshman Class.

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Elaina Bernstein
Elaina Bernstein Editor

Elaina Lauren Bernstein is a New York-based writer and editor, overseeing Hypebeast's music vertical, Hypetrak. She handles both editorial and social coverage for Hypetrak, and served as the Deputy Editor for Summer 2025's Hypetrak Magazine — the first in 10 years. With a particular affinity for underground hip hop, she has racked up a wide range of interviews and cover stories, spanning A$AP Rocky, Larry June, Shaboozey, Leon Thomas, Rihanna, Brent Faiyaz, Jean Dawson, and Miguel, and has covered major music tentpole events including the Grammys and Coachella. The intersection of fashion and music guides her coverage as well.

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