When Beyoncé released Formation in 2016, the song immediately exploded into a cultural phenomenon. Its unapologetic celebration of Black Southern identity, paired with striking imagery and political commentary, transformed it into far more than a hit single. But one of the track’s most unforgettable elements came from a voice many listeners did not initially recognize — the late New Orleans personality known as Messy Mya.
Before the beat fully drops, a haunting phrase cuts through the silence: “What happened at the New Orleans?” The line feels eerie, urgent, and deeply rooted in the streets of Louisiana. That brief moment became one of the emotional anchors of the song, instantly placing listeners inside the culture, pain, humor, and resilience of New Orleans.
Messy Mya, born Anthony Barre, was a beloved internet figure and comedian whose energetic videos captured the raw spirit of New Orleans life. Long before viral influencers dominated social media, Mya built a devoted following with bold personality, humor, and unforgettable catchphrases. After his tragic death in 2010, his voice remained woven into the city’s cultural memory.
By sampling him in Formation, Beyoncé did more than add regional flavor to a song. She connected the track directly to the lived experiences and voices of Black communities in the South. The sample gave Formation an authenticity that could not have been manufactured in a studio alone.
The song’s accompanying video intensified that impact. Images of flooded streets, sinking police cars, and Black children dancing before lines of officers transformed the project into a powerful statement on race, identity, and systemic injustice in America. The presence of Messy Mya’s voice at the beginning helped establish the emotional tone — playful on the surface, but carrying deeper echoes of pain, survival, and remembrance.
For many fans, the brilliance of Formation lies in how it blended art, politics, and regional culture into one unforgettable experience. The song celebrated Black excellence while also confronting the realities of police brutality and historical neglect in places like New Orleans, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Years later, listeners still point to that opening sample as one of the track’s defining moments. In just a few words, Messy Mya’s voice gave the song texture, history, and emotional weight. What could have been simply another chart-topping anthem instead became a cultural landmark.
The collaboration — even posthumously — ensured that Messy Mya’s spirit reached audiences across the globe. And in doing so, Formation became not only one of Beyoncé’s boldest artistic statements, but also a tribute to the voices and stories that shaped Black Southern culture long before mainstream America began paying attention.