Alyssa Michelle Stephens, widely recognized as Latto or Big Latto (formerly known as Mulatto), has made a significant impact in the American rap scene. Her journey began in 2016 when she participated in Jermaine Dupri’s reality TV series, “The Rap Game,” under the moniker Miss Mulatto.
Impressively, she emerged as the winner of the show’s inaugural season, but she made the unconventional decision to decline the record deal offered to her as the prize.
Latto’s breakthrough moment arrived in 2019 with her hit single, “Bitch from da Souf,” which marked her debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This track paved the way for her first studio album, “Queen of da Souf,” released in 2020, which peaked at the forty-fourth position on the Billboard 200. Notably, this album included the platinum-certified song “Muwop,” featuring Gucci Mane. Her achievements in the music industry were further highlighted when MTV honored her as the “Global Push Artist of the Month” in 2021.
Under her new stage name, Latto, she achieved mainstream success with her 2021 single “Big Energy,” reaching an impressive third place on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a triple platinum certification. In 2022, she dropped her second album, “777,” which reached number 15 on the Billboard 200. Her outstanding progress in the industry led Variety to name her the “Breakthrough Artist” of 2022. In 2023, she reached the pinnacle of her career, securing her first number-one hit on the Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200 with her collaboration on BTS member Jungkook’s single, “Seven.”
Her talent and contributions have not gone unnoticed in the music industry. She received nominations for “Best New Hip Hop Artist” at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards and “Top Rap Female Artist” at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. Additionally, she was featured in the XXL Freshman Class of 2020 and claimed the BET Award for “Best New Artist” in 2022. Her remarkable work was recognized at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, where she received nominations for “Best New Artist,” “Video For Good,” and “Best Hip Hop.” Her song “Big Energy” was honored as “Song of the Year,” and her album “777” was nominated for “Hip Hop Album of the Year” at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards. Latto’s journey in the music industry reached another milestone with her nomination for “Best New Artist” at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
