Album Review: Sugar Honey Iced Tea by Latto

Maintaining her status in the rap game is no easy feat, but Latto does so with ease, shrugging off competitors and naysayers alike. Her third full-length studio project is a declaration of bravado.

Courtesy of Streamcut/RCA Records.

Latto’s hunger for success has only grown, even after nearly a decade in the rap game. She has better positioned herself to achieve her goal of bringing authentic female Southern rap to the top of the charts on her own terms. Her crossover into the pop world, sparked by her second album 777, led to a No. 3 spot on the Hot 100 and a No. 1 spot on Pop Airplay for the lead single “Big Energy.” The remix, featuring Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled, bolstered the single’s success, which in turn led to two 2023 Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist and Best Melodic Rap Performance. Latto also joined forces with BTS’ Jungkook for his single “Seven,” which became the first Hot 100 chart-topper for both artists.

With her sights set on a Southern hip-hop classic, Latto has been building momentum. Sugar Honey Iced Tea, her third studio album, is a homage to Atlanta and follows two solid singles this year, “Sunday Service” and “Big Mama.” This album showcases Latto’s dedication to her craft, solidifying her position as one of rap’s leading ladies. She unveiled a trailer for the project, featuring fellow Atlanta rappers 2 Chainz and T.I., which offers a glimpse into Latto’s come-up story. Narrated by Big Rube, the minute-and-a-half clip chronicles her journey from local sensation to worldwide recognition.

Latto has doubled down on her southern hip-hop roots (as shown on the opener, “Georgia Peach,” “There She Go,” where she samples Mike Jones, and the 808-heavy “Blick Sum”), making records such as “Sunday Service” and “Put It On Da Floor,” which features a remix on the bonus cut with Cardi B, thus interpolating “I’m Da Man” by D4L. According to Latto, this track sparked a new energy and reignited her passion for Southern hip-hop. The energy-inspired Sugar Honey Iced Tea is an album that champions her ATL roots and, she hopes, delivers a Southern hip-hop classic. Let’s state the obvious: The talk of the town is “Big Mama,” a two-part brash and assertive display of self-confidence and sexual autonomy, underscored by her direct and unapologetic lyricism.

For instance, lines like “Love when he call me Big Mama, yeah, that get the coochie wet” and “Pretty boy can’t take me home, Latto want an Al Capone” highlight the unabashed embrace of her desires and her agency in choosing her partners. The song disrupts traditional gender roles often seen in hip-hop, with Latto celebrating her financial independence and assertiveness, as evident on the beat switch-up in lines such as “Bitch, I don’t play for the Nets, but I’m gon’ shoot shit up ‘bout Brooklyn.” Other enjoyable hitters, “Shrimp & Grits” with Young Nudy, to go along with “Brokey,” is a bravura display of self-assurance and independence, and “H&M,” aka “Hurt and Miserable,” succinctly foregrounds themes of self-confidence and dismissal of adversaries through a direct and unapologetic narrative style (“I’d come for me too if I was broke and ain’t have shit to lose”).

After that, the second half of the album falls into the mainstream, sing-songy trap that doesn’t hit on *almost* all levels. The cookie-cutter “Liquor” doesn’t bring it to the level of freakiness, while “Prized Possession” feels empty, with Teezo Touchdown sounding out of place with Latto as it was with Hunxho on “Copper Cove.” Megan Thee Stallion pops up on The Stereotypes-produced “Squeeze,” making it one of the better songs, even if it sounds like it would air on the Forever 21 commercial, Mariah the Scientist lends her vocals on “Look What You Did,” despite Latto’s unnecessary singing verses, but “Ear Candy” worked better when you have one of the soulful goddess Coco Jones delivering a great hook and Latto just straight-up spitting with rapid-fire flows.

Latto exhibits her growth as an artist across multiple dimensions. She glides over an eclectic musical backdrop, fusing elements of trap, classic Atlanta bass, soulful R&B, and mainstream hip-hop. The final track, “S/O to Me”, distills the album’s central motifs of self-empowerment and personal autonomy. Latto’s lyrical dexterity is on full display as she tells a narrative centered on her journey of personal and professional development. The song’s vivid imagery depicts her triumphing over obstacles and recognizing her inherent value, free from the need for external approval or support. Through this closing statement, Latto encapsulates the fierce independence and self-assurance that define her artistic identity on Sugar Honey Iced Tea.

Solid (★★★½☆)

Favorite Track(s): “Blick Sum,” “Shrimp & Grits” “S/O to Me”