“I’ve been preparing for this moment since I was 8 years old,” says the <br />Atlanta rapper.<br /><br />“Big Energy” was the appropriate song release for Latto this year because <br />the Atlanta rapper has been surrounded by nothing less since dropping her <br />album 777 in March. <br />“People f-ck with my passion, I think,” Latto told ESSENCE on the <br />American Music Awards (AMAs) black carpet. “I’m really happy to be here.”<br />Latto was up for three awards at the 50th annual AMAs, held at the <br />Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles November 20. Being nominated for Best <br />New Artist, Best Rap/Hip-Hop Female Artist, and Best Song Rap/Hip-Hop was <br />something the entertainer was still processing as she did interviews before <br />the show.<br />“If you would’ve told 8-year-old me that all this would be happening – I <br />was just telling my momma that – I wouldn’t believe it,” she said. “I’m just <br />trying to calm down and live in the moment.”<br />While Latto didn’t take home any AMAs last night, she is still very <br />much in the running for a Grammy Award next year. Last week, it was <br />announced that she received two nominations for Best New Artist and Best <br />Melodic Rap Performance.<br />“This year, I’m so blessed,” she said of the news. “I feel like I prepared <br />for this moment but when it came it’s like, I’m still not prepared. I’ve been <br />preparing for this moment since I was 8 years old.”<br />Although Latto is working on being present and enjoying every step of <br />success along the way, she also has her eyes set on her 2023 goals, which <br />include more music and maybe even a movie role.<br />“I want to drop more music. I see myself on the big screen, so <br />hopefully that’s coming. But I’m really just living in the moment and praying <br />and manifesting.”<br />Check out our interview in the video above.
