2024 has been an embarrassing year for rap fans. Small group projects like Doechii’s Alligator bites never healsolid career developments like that of Megan Thee Stallion Meganeand assertive statements of conflict like that of Kendrick Lamar GNX have had seismic effects on the hip-hop landscape this year, upending a decade of status quo and upending rap’s prospects for the future.

Amidst all of this, however, it feels like some things have gotten lost in the shuffle; namely, Atlanta superstar Latto, whose third studio album Iced tea with sugar and honey was not only his best, but did what each of the aforementioned releases did – all in a solid collection of 17 versatile tracks. Luckily, Latto’s tour for the project reminded her of everything she’s capable of and how big of an impact she’s been making as of late.

Firstly, it’s impossible to start anywhere other than the importance of Latto for girls. Women in rap have often expressed feeling like outsiders to the genre, calling it a “male-dominated” culture in which women are not only a minority, but are boxed into only one or two archetypes. Newer rappers like Cardi B, Cat DojaAnd Megan you stud I’ve done all the work to make room for women in rap, but in the last eight years of attending their shows, I’ve never felt more outnumbered by women than I have at YouTube Theater Sunday night (December 1), apparently they’re all decked out in Latto iconic leopard print.

Without exaggeration, the ratio must have been 20 women to one guy. They even requisitioned the men’s toilets; I’ve seen this happen before, but never to the point where there is a limit for both. Sure, female rappers have created female-friendly spaces on their tours, but Latto’s audience has taken that even higher than any of her peers — which makes sense, because deep down, she’s a girl, sharing her platform with the Karrahbooo openers. and Mariah The Scientist who have been unfairly perceived in relation to their relationships with men. Flo Milli also appeared for a surprise performance of her hit “Never Lose Me” during Latto’s only wardrobe change (from the aforementioned animal print to the baggy pants and cropped Crenshaw sweater. Long live Nipsey Hussle).

And while his main conflict with another woman born from a complaint regarding her gender classificationTHE setlist for the Iced tea with sugar and honey Tour leaves out Latto’s biggest pop hit, “Big Energy.” Instead, Georgia Peach focused intently on his latest album and the more hardcore hits of his previous projects, emphasizing his rap credentials. This turned out to be a wise decision, as some of the biggest pops in the audience came out for trap anthems like the break of “Big Mama”, “B*tch From The Souf”, “Chicken Grease”, “Muwop” and 2024 singles “Put It On Da Floor,” “Sunday Service,” and “Brokey.”

As much noise as rap fans have made over Doechii’s raps on songs like “Boom Bap” and “Nissan Altima,” Latto’s latest proved she can be just as introspective on “Georgia Peach,” which opened the show, and “S/O To Me,” to which fans may have attributed some Drake influence, but that’s all the story and Latto’s pen. Speaking of Drake, his verses were taken from almost every song he appeared on – even during the warm-up DJ set – but hey, back when Latto was prepping for the tour, including him was a good idea. business decision. It wasn’t until local hero Kendrick Lamar lyrically dismantled him and brought out his inner Karen that former collaborators began to turn on him.

But for all the attention given to the “Not Like Us” phenomenon, in a just world, Latto would have received just as much for “Put It On Da Floor” and “Sunday Service,” which, if you will. remember, actually sparked much of 2024’s combative energy alongside Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hiss.” Latto may not have hit her rival as directly, but the fact that her bellicose invitations to enter the arena both reached the Hot 100 (the latter at No. 100, while the former peaked at No. #13) shows that she has just as much talent for making the battle rap club friendly as a Compton native.

If Iced tea with sugar and honey is a reminder to the world that Latto should not be neglected, so the tour is a welcome reminder of the reminder. Latto spent years proving his rap cred, then spent much of the last year proving his pop potential. But while many of her predecessors and peers might have been happy to grab the bag and roll, Latto returned to the lab to redouble her efforts to demonstrate her rap roots – and refining your stage showwhich has improved considerably since I last saw her live at the Novo while working on our cover story about her. She has her place in the conversation about today’s best rappers and she makes sure you never forget her.