The music and dancing of the New Orleans funeral served a two-fold purpose: to help the deceased find their way to heaven and to celebrate the release from their earthly bonds. The latter was also originally viewed in the Americanized funeral tradition as a release from the bonds of slavery. This music also served as a kind of cathartic release for the mourners and signified a life well-lived by the deceased. The jazz funeral, once the favorite of the poor, later became New Orleans highest honor funeral, being used for the funerals of celebrities, police officers and other important members of the community. One of the most recent and highest profile funerals was in honor of those who lost their lives due to Hurricane Katrina. This tradition was also adopted by street gangs and rappers and was infused with hip-hop and rock influences in the process. (Funeral Customs,