New Orleans native Aaron Hartley grew up going to Norman Mayer Library with his sister and his mom — a schoolteacher and stickler for due dates. Now, Hartley’s own work is housed in the Library’s collection. Better known as Flagboy Giz, the musician and Mardi Gras Indian is featured on Crescent City Sounds, a free streaming platform for local music created by the New Orleans Public Library.
“It’s a huge honor for me,” Giz said. “I’ve learned a lot at the Library over the years, and to know that the staff there liked my content and thought it was good enough to be stored in their collection is a real honor.”
In addition to expanding his audience, Giz hopes that having his album on Crescent City Sounds will help to educate New Orleanians about the history, culture, and traditions of Mardi Gras Indians.
“I make and record the traditional Mardi Gras Indian music of New Orleans,” Giz said. “Most people know a little bit about what that means, but the general population of New Orleans recognize us for our look – our masking and our performances out there on Mardi Gras Day or Super Sunday – but they might not know about our music and what else we do.”
Music is an important element to Mardi Gras Indian culture, Giz said, and it’s something he takes very seriously.
“Some of the most famous New Orleans songs are really Mardi Gras Indian songs, but I don’t think that’s something a lot of people realize,” he said. “Most of the songs I’m singing are the traditional call-and-response songs that we’re known for, but I put my own beats on them and I try to put a younger feel for it. I want to make something that people want to listen to outside of Mardi Gras.”
Flagboy Giz’s debut album “Flagboy of the Nation” was selected to be featured on Crescent City Sounds when the platform launched in October 2022. The album is “a hip-hop infused spin on traditional Mardi Gras Indian music,” a combination that Giz describes as an authentic reflection on Black New Orleans culture. The album is produced and written entirely by Giz. Among other celebrated local artists, the album features members of the legendary Wild Tchoupitoulas, the tribe Giz has been a part of since 2015.
The album is undeniably Mardi Gras Indian music, Giz said, but his music is about more than just parading or trash talking other tribes.
“A lot of my music is about the cultural changes we’ve been witnessing here in New Orleans since Katrina,” he said. “But I’m not just talking about housing prices or changing demographics, in songs like “Gentri Fire in the City.” I’m talking about how the Black holidays are changing and how the black areas where we celebrate are changing, and if we don’t stand up, then what’s going to happen to them?”
Ultimately, even when he’s not singing about Mardi Gras, Giz said his music is honoring another key element of the genre.
“The art form of masking and of Mardi Gras Indian music is done out of rebellion, and that’s what I’m doing with my music,” Giz said.
Giz has been making music since he was in high school at Warren Easten, where he was in the marching band. He continued to make beats in college and started recording at home about 15 years ago.
“I’ve been a full-time musician ever since,” he said.
In addition to writing and producing his own music, Giz designs and sews all his suits himself. Over the past two years, Giz has made waves in the local music scene and been nationally recognized for his contributions to New Orleans culture. He’s recorded with Mannie Fresh, made a headdress for Black Panther production designer Hannah Beachler, and was even featured in a question on Jeopardy. Since putting out “Flagboy of the Nation,” in 2021, Flagboy Giz has released two more albums and is working on a fourth.
But, despite all his success, Flagboy Giz said his mission remains the same.
“If I’m just able to educate people about Mardi Gras Indians and New Orleans Black culture, I’ll be happy,” he said. “That’s what matters most to me.”
The Library is planning to open another Crescent City Sounds submission round in March and is currently seeking volunteers to help curate the collection. If you’re interested, visit crescentcitysounds.org for more information about applying.
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