Latto is part of the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture lineup. Don’t miss out—tickets here: Get Tickets
Latto’s ascent is the result of staying consistent in an industry that is ever-changing. Many people were first introduced to the Georgia rapper on Lifetime’s The Rap Game, where she earned the top spot during the show’s inaugural season. Since then, each step in her career has built on the last, keeping her name in the conversation as her audience continues to expand.
Her breakout moment arrived with “B**** from Da Souf,” a record that helped position her for a wider stage. From there, she released “Big Energy” pushing her into the mainstream and earning strong chart success. It also garnered award wins and collaborations that extended her reach even further, including a No. 1 record that connected her with a global audience.
Outside of the music, Latto has continued to grow as a performer, delivering sets that reflect her increasing confidence on stage. Those moments have helped reinforce her presence, not just as a recording artist, but as an artist. Now, with a new album on the way and a major personal milestone ahead, she is entering another phase of her career.
Scroll down to take a look at Latto’s biggest moments in the spotlight.
A decade ago, Latto burst onto the scene in the competition reality show The Rap Game, which was created and hosted by Jermaine Dupri and produced alongside Hip-Hop icon Queen Latifah.
Produced by Bankroll Got It, the song is considered Latto’s breakout hit; its success led to her signing to RCA Records. Later that year, a remix of the song was released, featuring Saweetie and Trina, and served as the lead single from Latto’s debut studio album Queen of Da Souf.
Sampled from Tom Tom Club’s 1981 hit “Genius of Love,” “Big Energy” broke Latto into the mainstream. Following the release of the remix (which featured Mariah Carey), “Big Energy” earned Latto her first top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, and at the time, it became the highest-charting solo song by a female rapper since March 2021.
Latto won the Best New Artist award at the 2022 BET Awards on June 26, 2022, in Los Angeles, capping a breakout year fueled by her hit song “Big Energy.” This cemented her place in the music industry, and increased her visibility.
The Atlanta rapper reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with her feature on Jung Kook’s “Seven,” expanding her influence globally.
During her high-energy set, Latto delivered a career-defining performance in Philadelphia. There, Latto’s dancers launched cheetah-print underwear into the crowd using T-shirt cannons, while cheetah-print beach balls bounced above the audience. It served as a testament to Latto’s growth as a live performer.
2026 is primed to be Latto’s best year yet. She’s already released “Business & Personal” (Intro), the first single from her upcoming album Big Mama, and she recently announced that she would be a mother.
