Latto Defends Sexually Explicit Lyrics in Female Rap. But Should She Have To?

Rip her out the plastic, rapper Latto is acting brand new—and keeping it real when it comes to the sexually explicit nature of lyrics from today’s women rappers.

Speaking in a new cover interview for XXL, the “Put in On Da Floor” artist defended the choice explaining that she feels like that along with “risqué clothes” and suggestive dance moves and poses are all a part of the female rap persona and just business at the end of the day. Specifically referencing the challenges she’s faced as a woman in rap and a past scenario where she struggled to get a verse cleared for one her songs in the years past, Latto explained:

“I think being like, the female rapper entertainer might consist of sexual lyrics, risqué clothes and whatever. But that, to me, is like the entertainment of female rap. And I think sometimes people—my peers, our peers in the industry, our male peers—take that as an invitation. Like, “Oh, yeah, she like that. I’m open to talking to you outside of music or like, whatever.” I think they don’t really know how to keep it business, so that’s how we’ll explain that situation.”

When it comes to the choices she makes on how to present herself and her artistry out into the world, which often involves the aforementioned clothing and dance moves, Latto said it isn’t intentional with regard to trying to grab listeners attention but moreso an expression of how she feels about her body and her beauty in the moment.

“I think it’s just I’m young, and I’m fine. I know I’m not gonna be able to do this once I have my five kids and I’m a married woman. It’s just me embracing my youth and my sexy body at this age. I’m just living in the moment right now,” she explained.

And while her choices may not too intentional, what does seem deliberate are the consistent line of questioning towards women rappers when it comes to their sexual lyrics. Why are they constantly being quizzed, judged, and criticized for rapping about sex and/or related things when their male counterparts regularly get away with talking about that and more (e.g. drugs, murder, rape, etc.) yet no one bats an eye?

People love to talk about how the sexually liberated lyrics from women rappers are the “downfall of society” and the Black community yet that same energy isn’t kept when male rappers constantly talk about things that are actually detrimental. I’m glad Latto and other rappers like her are comfortable with themselves and their body to rap about what they want, but I hope this is the last time they have to defend their choices.