Latto

American rapper (born 1998) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Latto

Alyssa Michelle Stephens (born December 22, 1998), known professionally as Latto (formerly known as Mulatto), is an American rapper and singer from Atlanta. She first appeared on Jermaine Dupri's reality television series The Rap Game in 2016, where she was known as Miss Mulatto and won the show's first season, but rejected its award of a recording contract with Dupri's So So Def Recordings.

Quick Facts Background information, Birth name ...
Latto
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Latto during a WHTA radio interview, 2024
Background information
Birth nameAlyssa Michelle Stephens
Also known as
  • Miss Mulatto
  • Mulatto
  • Big Latto
  • Big Mama
Born (1998-12-22) December 22, 1998 (age 26)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
DiscographyLatto discography
Years active2010–present[2]
Labels
  • RCA
  • Streamcut
  • Pittstop
Websitebiglatto.com
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Latto rose to prominence after releasing her 2019 single "Bitch from da Souf," which received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Upon signing with RCA Records, it was issued as the lead single for her debut studio album Queen of da Souf (2020), which performed moderately on the Billboard 200 and spawned the platinum-certified single "Muwop" (featuring Gucci Mane).

After a name change to Latto, she reached wider mainstream recognition after the release of her 2021 single, "Big Energy." The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, received triple platinum certification by the RIAA, and landed at number seven on the Year-End Hot 100 chart; its live performance was nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance, while Latto herself was nominated for Best New Artist at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. "Big Energy" served as lead single for her second studio album 777 (2022), which trailed the song commercially at number 15 on the Billboard 200. Her guest appearance on Jungkook's 2023 single "Seven" became her first song to peak atop both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200, while her single "Put It on da Floor Again" (remixed featuring Cardi B) peaked at number 13 on the former chart that same year. The latter served as lead single for her third studio album, Sugar Honey Iced Tea (2024), which matched her previous on the Billboard 200.

Latto has won two BET Awards, a BET Hip Hop Award, a Billboard Music Award, a MTV Video Music Award, and two Grammy nominations. She was included on the 2020 XXL Freshman Class, and was named MTV's "Global Push Artist of the Month" in 2021. Latto was recognized as Variety's "Breakthrough Artist" of 2022, and at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards, Latto won Song of the Year for "Big Energy" and was nominated for Album of the Year for 777. She also won the BET Awards for Best New Artist in 2021 and Best Female Hip Hop Artist in 2023.

Early life

Alyssa Michelle Stephens was born in Columbus, Ohio, on December 22, 1998[1] to Misti Pitts and Shayne Stephens. She attended Lovejoy High School in Hampton, Georgia, south of Atlanta and outside of the metro area. She credits Clayton County as the place which gave her street credibility. Her mother is white and her biological father is African American.[3] Alyssa was bullied in school for being "light-skinned" which inspired her to later adopt the stage name Miss Mulatto when she began her rapping career, after the "mulatto" racial classification.[4] At the age of ten, she decided to become a rapper and began writing her own rap songs.[5][6] Prior to being in music, she was in drag racing.[7]

Career

Summarize
Perspective

2016–2018: Career beginnings and The Rap Game

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Latto during a WHTA interview, August 2018

In 2016, Alyssa Stephens was a contestant on the Lifetime reality series The Rap Game, produced by Jermaine Dupri and Queen Latifah. The boot camp-style series followed young aspiring rappers in a competition against one another over a span of eight weeks. Latto, under the stage name "Miss Mulatto" at the time, was the overall winner of the competition. She was offered a recording contract from Dupri with So So Def Records but ultimately turned down the deal claiming it was not enough money, opting to be an independent artist.[8]

Stephens' second mixtape, Latto Let 'Em Know, was released in April 2017. The tape featured artists like Molly Brazy, Lil Key, Crucial, and Silentó. The single "Response Diss" is a diss song directed toward Young Lyric, a fellow competitor from The Rap Game. The ongoing feud between the two resulted in diss tracks from both parties with insults about drug use, homosexuality, and past experiences from the show.[9]

2019–2020: Breakthrough and Queen of Da Souf

In January 2019, Latto released the song "B_ from da Souf". In May 2019, she was invited to perform at the Rolling Loud, an annual hip hop festival, located in Miami.[10] In June 2019, she released a second extended play, titled Big Latto, which was preceded by "Bitch from da Souf".[11] The single became a breakout hit, peaking at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States. The song later received a remix, featuring rappers Saweetie and Trina, which was later included on Mulatto's third EP, Hit the Latto, which was released on December 12.[12]

In March 2020, it was officially announced that Latto had signed with RCA Records.[13] On April 23, Latto released the promotional single, "No Hook". On May 21, she released the second promotional single, "He Say She Say". In July 2020, she recreated some of rapper Gucci Mane's album covers, starting with 2009's The State vs. Radric Davis, to which Gucci reacted positively. She then announced the release of her single "Muwop", featuring Gucci Mane, which was released on July 30.[14] The song samples Gucci's 2007's single, "Freaky Gurl". Latto made a cameo appearance in American rapper Cardi B's music video for her single "WAP", which was released on August 7, 2020.[15] On the same day, Latto was featured on NLE Choppa's single "Make Em Say", taken from his debut studio album, Top Shotta. On August 11, she was included in XXL's 2020 Freshman Class.[16][17] On August 12, she announced the release of her debut project through RCA, titled Queen of da Souf and it was released on August 21, 2020. The project was preceded by two singles, which were the remix to "B_ from da Souf" and "Muwop" featuring Gucci Mane; as well as the promotional singles "No Hook" and "He Say She Say". The album peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard 200.

On September 4, Latto was featured on the remix of the Chloe x Halle song "Do It", alongside Doja Cat and City Girls. Also on that day, Latto was featured on G-Eazy's single, "Down". Music videos for the third and fourth singles from Queen of da Souf, "On God" and "In n Out" featuring City Girls, were released in September and October 2020, respectively. On September 29, it was announced that she had been nominated for Best New Hip Hop Artist at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards, where she was a performer.[18][19] On December 11, Latto released the extended version of Queen of da Souf, which included five new songs and spawned the single "Sex Lies", featuring American rapper Lil Baby.[20]

2021–present: Name change, 777 and Sugar Honey Iced Tea

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Latto speaking at her album release, November 2021

In January 2021, it was announced that Latto would be changing her stage name from "Mulatto" after the controversy about the word being deemed colorist.[21] In February 2021, it was announced she would be MTV's Global Push Artist of the month.[22] In March 2021, she became the first female rapper from Atlanta to have a solo record be certified gold and platinum with "B_ from da Souf" (2019) and "Muwop" (2020).[23][24]

In May 2021, she confirmed in various interviews that she had officially settled on a new stage name after scrutiny for the racially charged nature of her name. On May 18, it was reported that on streaming platforms, Mulatto's name had been changed to simply Latto, a change first reflected on her guest appearance on Toosii's album Thank You for Believing, where she was credited as Latto. She released a new single titled "The Biggest" along with the announcement of her new name.[25] On September 24 of the same year, Latto released the lead single from her then-upcoming second studio album, "Big Energy".[26] The song became Latto's highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number three. American singer Mariah Carey appeared on the official remix, which was released in March 2022. A followup single, "Soufside", was released on November 5.[27]

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Latto during a radio interview with WHTA in January 2023

On March 9, 2022, Latto announced that the song "Wheelie" would be released on March 11, and confirmed it would feature fellow Atlanta rapper 21 Savage.[28] All three songs were included on Latto's second studio album, 777, which was released on March 25. On July 15, she released the song "P_".[29] She was featured on Chloe Bailey's single "For the Night".[30] In February 2023, Latto was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards.[31] She released the single "Lottery" on February 17.[32] In July, she appeared as a featured artist on South Korean singer Jungkook's debut solo single "Seven".[33] It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first song to reach the top spot of that chart.[34] She was included in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2024 music.[35] On Oct. 12, 2023, Latto released "Did Somebody Say HipOpera," a Rap opera collaboration with singer Christina Aguilera.[36]

In January 2024, Latto was featured on the remix version of Jennifer Lopez' song "Can't Get Enough", the first single out of Lopez' upcoming album This Is Me...Now. On February 5, 2024, Latto announced her single "Sunday Service" via social media. The cover artwork depicts a collage of prominent women rappers printed on a cyclorama back.[37] The eyes of Latto and all the featured rappers are concealed by a black box or horizontal black bar.[38]

Other ventures

In 2017, Latto opened her own store, Pittstop Clothing in Jonesboro south of Atlanta.[39]

Philanthropy

In 2021, Latto founded the Win Some Give Some Foundation to “empower at-risk young women by providing them resources and support to achieve a lifetime of success.”[40]

Personal life

In May 2019, Latto was arrested for theft when she was mistaken for another woman. She released a track, "Fuck Rice Street", attesting to her innocence and frustration toward the police.[41][42]

In July 2024, footage of an officer confronting Latto for running a red light was uploading onto YouTube via bodycam, which was originally captured on September 28, 2023. The rapper underwent a breathalyzer test as a result and explained that she committed the crime due to concerns about being chased by her fans.[43]

Filmography

More information Year, Title ...
Television series
YearTitleRoleNotes
2016The Rap GameHerselfWinner; credited as "Miss Mulatto"
2019Love & Hip Hop: MiamiEpisode: "Take It to the House"; credited as "Miss Mulatto"
2020Queen of StylezEpisode: "Can Tokyo Save The Day With This Look?"
2021Wild 'n OutSeason 16, Episode 2
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Discography

Awards and nominations

More information Award, Year ...
Award Year Nominee Category Result Ref.
American Music Awards 2022 Herself New Artist of the Year Nominated [44]
Favorite Female Hip Hop Artist Nominated
"Big Energy" Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Song Nominated
Asian Pop Music Awards 2023 "Seven" (with Jungkook) Top 20 Songs of the Year (Overseas) Won [45]
Best Collaboration (Overseas) Nominated [46]
Best Music Video (Overseas) Nominated
BET Awards 2022 Herself Best Female Hip Hop Artist Nominated [47]
Best New Artist Won
2023 "Big Energy (Remix)" (with Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled) Best Collaboration Nominated [48]
Herself Best Female Hip Hop Artist Won
BET Hip Hop Awards 2020 Best New Hip Hop Artist Nominated [49]
2022 "Big Energy" Song of the Year Won [50]
777 Album of the Year Nominated
"Pussy" Impact Track Nominated
2023 "Put It on da Floor Again" (featuring Cardi B) Song of the Year Nominated [51]
Best Collaboration Nominated
Billboard Music Awards 2022 Herself Top Rap Female Artist Nominated [52]
2023 "Seven" (with Jungkook) Top Global K-pop Song Won [53]
Billboard Women in Music 2023 Herself Powerhouse Award Won [54]
BMI Pop Awards 2023 "Big Energy" Award-Winning Songs Won [55]
2024 "Seven" Won [56]
BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards 2023 "Big Energy" Won [57]
The Fact Music Awards 2023 "Seven" (with Jungkook) Best Music (Fall) Nominated [58]
Give Her Flowhers Awards 2022 Herself Big Femme Energy Award Won [59]
Golden Disc Awards 2024 "Seven" (with Jungkook) Best Digital Song Won [60]
Song of the Year Nominated
Grammy Awards 2023 Herself Best New Artist Nominated [31]
"Big Energy (Live)" Best Melodic Rap Performance Nominated
2025 "Big Mama" Nominated
iHeartRadio Music Awards 2023 Herself Best New Hip Hop Artist Won [61]
"Big Energy" Song of the Year Nominated
TikTok Bop of the Year Nominated
Favorite Use of a Sample Nominated
2024 "Seven" (with Jungkook) Best Music Video Won [62]
K-pop Song of the Year Nominated
iHeartRadio Titanium Award 2023 "Big Energy" 1 Billion Total Audience Spins on iHeartRadio Stations Won [63]
Korean Music Awards 2024 "Seven" (with Jungkook) Best K-Pop Song Nominated [64]
Song of the Year Nominated [65]
MAMA Awards 2023 Best Collaboration Won [66]
Best Dance Performance Male Solo Won
Best Music Video Nominated [67]
Song of the Year Nominated
Melon Music Awards 2023 Millions Top 10 Won [68]
MTV Europe Music Awards 2021 Herself Best Push Act Nominated [69]
2022 "Pussy" Video for Good Nominated [70]
2023 "Seven" (with Jungkook) Best Song Won [71]
MTV Video Music Awards 2021 "Sex Lies" Push Performance of the Year Nominated [72]
2022 Herself Best New Artist Nominated [73]
"Big Energy" Best Hip Hop Nominated
"Pussy" Video for Good Nominated
"Big Energy (Remix)" (with Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled) Song of Summer Nominated
2023 "Seven" (with Jungkook) Won [74]
2024 Best Collaboration Nominated [75]
Best K-Pop Nominated
People's Choice Awards 2022 Herself New Artist of 2022 Won [76]
2024 Hip Hop Artist of the Year Nominated [77]
"Seven" (with Jungkook) Collaboration Song of the Year Nominated
Soul Train Music Awards 2021 "Go Crazy (Remix)" (with Chris Brown, Young Thug, Future, and Lil Durk) Best Collaboration Nominated [78]
Best Video of the Year Nominated
TikTok Awards Thailand 2023 "Seven" (with Jungkook) International Song of the Year Won [79]
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Listicles

More information Publisher, Year ...
Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Ref.
MTV 2021 Global Push Artist of the Month (February) [22]
Variety 2022 Breakthrough Artist [80]
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World records

More information Publication, Year ...
Name of publication, year the record was awarded, name of the record, and the name of the record holder
Publication Year World record Record holder Ref.
Guinness World Records 2023 Most streamed track on Spotify in one week (male) "Seven" (with Jungkook) [81]
Fastest time for a music track to reach 100 million streams on Spotify (male)
Fastest time for a music track to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify (male) [82]
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Tours

Headlining

Supporting

References

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