Latto is opening up about motherhood, postpartum life, and why she has chosen to keep certain parts of her personal life private.
The rapper recently sat down with Essence to discuss life after welcoming her first child, a daughter she shares with 21 Savage. While Latto has occasionally spoken about motherhood, she has not publicly revealed her daughter’s name, a decision that appears to be intentional.
For Latto, protecting her daughter from public scrutiny is tied to lessons she has learned throughout her own career. Since rising to fame, the Atlanta rapper has often found herself at the center of conversations about her relationships, rumored feuds, and online speculation, sometimes overshadowing the music that made her a star.
Looking back, Latto says there is one thing she would change about her journey.
“I would probably be even less vocal about my whole situation in general,” she told the publication. “I probably would have just shut up a little more. That’s the only thing I would have changed.”
These days, much of her focus is on motherhood, a role she says has transformed her outlook and given her a renewed sense of purpose.
Asked whether becoming a mom changed her motivation, Latto revealed that she had actually been searching for a new source of inspiration before becoming pregnant.
“For sure, 100 percent,” she said. “It’s crazy because I was actually praying for a new motivation in life before I got pregnant. So 100 percent it motivated and inspired me in a whole different way. It unlocks a different version of yourself almost immediately. It’s kind of crazy.”
As she prepared for motherhood, Latto said fellow rapper Sexyy Red offered some of the most meaningful advice.
“She was saying my life is about to change in the best way possible,” Latto recalled. “‘It’s scary — the change is so big that it is scary — but you got this.’ She said keep your head up through postpartum because it wasn’t easy for her and she hoped it would be better for me.”
Now experiencing postpartum herself, Latto says she has learned there is no way to fully prepare for the experience.
“Every day is different,” she explained. “You see people tell their stories but you don’t really know what to expect for real. I’m just taking it day by day. Some days are better than others, but overall I’m doing well.”
The rapper credited her strong support system, including her daughter’s father and both grandmothers, for helping her navigate this new chapter.
“She gave me more drive if anything,” Latto said of her daughter. “And I have so much help — her dad, her grandmas, we have a whole village.”
Motherhood has also inspired Latto to expand her philanthropic efforts. After becoming a mom, she launched her first annual Big Mama’s Day event, and she says postpartum awareness could become a focus of future initiatives.
For now, Latto is balancing motherhood with preparations for her return to performing. She told Essence that she’s focusing on healthy eating, exercise, self-care, and mental wellness as she gets ready to step back on stage.
“Trying to eat healthy, preparing my body inside and out,” she said. “I’ve got to prepare my mind too — a lot of self-care, massages, chiropractor appointments, all the things inside and out so my mind and body can be ready to hit that stage.”