Latto, born Alyssa Michelle Stephens, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. She won Best New Artist at the BET Awards 2022. However, the artist was previously nominated in the same category in 2020. She also earned a Top Rap Female Artist nomination at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.

Born on December 22, 1998, in Columbus, Ohio, Latto eventually moved to Atlanta. Her father’s African-American, and her mother’s white, which is why she was often made fun of, due to her lighter skin tone. This inspired the musician to take the stage name Miss Mulatto, based on the racial classification ‘mulatto’.

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She started off in ‘The Rap Game’ a boot camp-style competition that pitches contestants against each other. Latto won but turned down an offer to sign with So So Def Records, to remain an independent artist. 

Her first single ‘No More Talking’ came out in February 2016 and her first mixtape ‘Miss Mulatto’ was out in October that year. While the rapper was operating under the name Miss Mulatto thus far, in 2018, she changed it to just Mulatto. 

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‘Bitch from da Souf’ arrived in 2019, and Latto was catapulted to fame since the track featured at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also officially signed with RCA Records in March 2020. 

Then, in January 2021, she changed her name from Mulatto, since there were controversies about the term being too colourist. She also enjoys the distinction of being the first female rapper from Atlanta to have a solo record that’s certified gold and platinum. Latto’s 2019 track ‘Bitch from da Souf’ and 2020 song, featuring Gucci Mane, ‘Muwop’ helped her get there. 

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In 2020, Latto was named to the “XXL” Freshman Class and in 2021, she was  MTV Global’s Push Artist of the Month in February. Latto’s latest album ‘777’ came out on March 25. 

The rapper, who was arrested in 2019 mistakenly, harbours anger toward the police, as evidenced in ‘F**k Rice Street’, a track that also attested to her innocence.