"Big Energy" | ||||
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Single by Latto | ||||
from the album 777 | ||||
Released | September 24, 2021 | |||
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Length | 2:54 | |||
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"Big Energy" on YouTube |
"Big Energy" is a song by American rapper Latto. It was released through Streamcut and RCA Records on September 24, 2021, as the lead single from Latto's second studio album, 777 (2022). It was written by Latto, A1 LaFlare, Jaucquez Lowe, Randall Hammers, Theron Thomas, Dr. Luke, and Vaughn Oliver, with the latter two handling the production. Adrian Belew, Chris Frantz, Steven Stanley, and Tina Weymouth received songwriting credits since the song samples Tom Tom Club's 1981 song "Genius of Love". "Big Energy" has been described as pop and funk-rap.
A remix with American singer Mariah Carey featuring DJ Khaled was released on March 28, 2022, with an interpolation of Carey's song "Fantasy", which also heavily samples "Genius of Love". Following the release of the remix, "Big Energy" earned Latto her first top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three in April 2022. It also hit number one on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart for 2 weeks. Consequently, it became the highest-charting solo song by a female rapper since March 2021. The song also reached the top 10 in Australia and Canada, and top 20 in New Zealand. "Big Energy" became Latto's breakthrough on mainstream radio, and she performed the song live on several television appearances. The live version received a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.
In May 2021, Latto released the song "The Biggest" following the announcement of her stage name changing from Mulatto to Latto. [1] Released in September, "Big Energy" was first premiered at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, where Latto performed three songs in short segments throughout the show. [2] Latto also promoted the song with performances at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards [3] and on Late Night with Seth Meyers . [4] In April 2022, she performed a medley of "Big Energy" and "Sunshine" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . [5]
Theron Thomas originally wrote "Big Energy" for Cardi B but gave it to Latto instead. [6]
Latto told Billboard that in the lyrics she took the "masculine, trendy 'big dick energy' quote" from social media and made it a concept that all genders can have and take it deeper than just a sexual aspect." Latto added, "I wanted it to be empowering. It's an aura that you carry and a confidence. It's just an overall vibe and when you walk in the room, you have 'big energy' and no one can tell you otherwise". [7] Her A&R representatives first played her the beat during a studio session in Los Angeles, which she felt keen on but perceived it as musically different and "out of [her] comfort zone". Latto described the writing process as a dynamic collaborative effort, collecting different opinions with "people in the room [to] bounce ideas off of each other... talking out loud, playing the beat out loud. It wasn't a sit-down-and-write type of thing... and I was asking the girls in the room, 'What does big energy mean to you?' [8]
The song was produced by Dr. Luke and Vaughn Oliver. The funk-infused [9] [10] pop [11] and pop-rap song [12] heavily samples the 1981 single, "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club, one of the most sampled rhythm tracks of the 1980s, particularly within the hip hop and R&B genre. [13] Notable sample uses of that single include Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde's "Genius Rap" in 1981, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "It's Nasty" in 1982, Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" in 1995, and The X-Ecutioners' "Genius of Love 2002" in 2002. [14] Latto stated that the sample was a new sound for her that "might cause controversy", but felt confident that its catchiness would bring a new audience and wider fanbase to her career. [8] In another interview, however, Latto declared that she wants to avoid the mainstream public thinking that her music catalogue sounds similar to the pop-leaning "Big Energy", saying that she prioritizes rap music with different composition and that "that's not where [her] heart is". [15]
Melinda Fakuade of Rolling Stone wrote about Latto experimenting with the pop sound, saying it is "a conscious attempt of a creative risk", and perceiving "Big Energy" as "hyper-curated for the TikTok generation". [16] In Clash , Ana Lamond said that the "playful" single channels "colourful nostalgia with a lush, groovy finish," that welcomes a "pop-centric commercial appeal" on the album. [17] Billboard's Rania Aniftos wrote that Latto put a "feminine, empowering spin" on the social media phrase for the "energetic" track. [18] Jordan Bassett from NME wrote that the song is "a dumb, fun summer anthem wrapped up in a squelchy sample" that is "the feel-good highpoint" of the album. [19] Aaron Williams of Uproxx said that the "spunky" track represents a departure from her previously established sound to a "lighthearted" song. [20] In a mixed review, Tom Breihan in Stereogum opined the single "hypercharged" the strategy of using nostalgic beats, and called it a "cynical and obvious hit-chasing attempt", further adding from its "glitzy video" to its "gleaming hooks" is "pure product". [12] Pitchfork 's Tyra Triche thought the song sounds "almost like a jingle", and felt unconvinced by the lyrics and the "bit dated" meme it references. [21] Quincy of Ratings Game Music rated the song 3 out of 5 stars and wrote that it was "too cheesy" for him. [22]
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref(s) |
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2022 | American Music Awards | Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Song | Nominated | [23] |
2022 | BET Hip Hop Awards | Song of the Year | Won | [24] |
2023 | Grammy Awards | Best Melodic Rap Performance | Nominated | [25] |
2023 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | [26] |
TikTok Bop of the Year | Nominated | |||
Favorite Use of a Sample | Nominated | |||
2023 | iHeartRadio Titanium Award | 1 Billion Total Audience Spins on iHeartRadio Stations | Won | [27] |
"Big Energy" debuted at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100, for the week dated November 6, 2021, becoming Latto's highest-charting song on the chart since "Bitch from da Souf", which peaked at number 95 in 2020. [28] Supported by the release of the remix, the song reached number three in its 23rd week on the chart, becoming Latto's first top 10 entry. It became the highest-charting solo song by a female rapper since Cardi B's "Up" in March 2021. [29] [30] "Big Energy" spent four weeks in the top five. The song also reached number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs, a first for Latto in both of them. [31] [30] It topped each for two weeks.
Latto became the first female rapper since Lizzo (2019) to reach number one on the Radio Songs chart. [32] Latto also became the first female rapper to reach number one on the Mainstream Top 40, Urban, and Rhythmic radio formats with the same song. It marked the sixth song by a female artist to accomplish this, following Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" (2005), Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You" (2005), Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" (2006), Alicia Keys' "No One" (2007), and Rihanna's "Rude Boy" (2010). [33] Among component charts, the song became Latto's first top 10 on the US Streaming Songs chart. The track placed at No. 7 on the Billboard year-end chart for 2022.
The song's video was directed by Arrad. It was released alongside the song. According to Complex , the video "capitalizes on the theme of chance", as the clip's leading man gives it a try at the lottery, while Latto is dancing and singing against a "casino backdrop", and the man gets struck "by what seems to be Cupid's arrow". [34] The concept stems from the Latto/lotto wordplay. [35] The video features a scene of Latto wearing a costume in the colors of a lady beetle, represented in the cover art for the single. [36]
Latto first performed "Big Energy" in September 2021, prior to the song's release, at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, where she also performed "Bitch from da Souf" and "Muwop". [37] [38] In October 2021, she performed the song at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards. [39] In November 2021, Latto made her late-night debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers, performing "Big Energy". [40] In April 2022, Latto performed the aforementioned song and "Sunshine" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . [41] A month later, Latto performed "Big Energy" at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. [42]
Credits adapted from Tidal. [43]
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [80] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [81] | 3× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [82] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [83] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [84] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | September 24, 2021 |
|
| [36] |
United States | October 12, 2021 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | [85] | |
Urban contemporary radio | [86] |
"Big Energy" (remix) | ||||
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Single by Latto and Mariah Carey featuring DJ Khaled | ||||
from the album 777 | ||||
Released | March 28, 2022 | |||
Recorded |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 3:01 | |||
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Latto singles chronology | ||||
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Mariah Carey singles chronology | ||||
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DJ Khaled singles chronology | ||||
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Lyric video | ||||
"Big Energy" (remix) on YouTube |
A remix of "Big Energy" with American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey featuring DJ Khaled was released on March 28,2022,and was included on Latto's second studio album, 777 (2022). The remix features an interpolation and samples of Carey's song "Fantasy",which also heavily samples "Genius of Love".
The remix peaked at number six in Australia,where it became Latto's first top-ten hit,Carey's 18th,and Khaled's fifth;it was subsequently certified 3×platinum in the country. It also reached the top 25 in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The remix received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for the Song of the Summer Award at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.
Latto stated that she first conceived the idea of having American singer Mariah Carey on the remix back in November 2021. Although she was her first option,Latto "did not think [she] could get her realistically". [87]
On March 25,2022,Latto revealed that Mariah Carey and record producer DJ Khaled would be featured on her "Big Energy" remix,set to be released March 28,2022. This announcement came days after speculation on who was to be featured on the song's remix grew as Latto released her album's tracklist,blurring the featured artist's name. A few days later,on March 25,Latto ultimately revealed through the single cover art that the blurred artist would be Mariah Carey,after a Twitter exchange between the two artists,which further increased speculation. [88] [7]
In the remix,Mariah Carey supplies her signature whistle notes to the intro of the song,while Latto raps the first verse. Carey follows with an interpolation of the opening verse of her song "Fantasy",and then sings the post-chorus that merges both songs. [89] [90] Musically,the remix has been described as a blend of pop and R&B. [91]
In Variety ,Ellise Shafer called the Mariah Carey remix a "crossover of epic proportions",as both Latto's "Big Energy" and Carey's "Fantasy" sample the same track. [89] Glenn Rowley of Billboard called it a "sparkling collab". [90] Uproxx's Caitlin White considered it a "bonafide R&B/pop hit". [91] Quincy of Ratings Game Music rated the remix 2 out of 5 stars and wrote that Carey "tastefully upstaged" Latto's raps. [92]
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref(s) |
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2023 | BET Awards | Best Collaboration | Nominated | [93] |
2022 | MTV Video Music Awards | Song of Summer | Nominated | [94] |
The remix of "Big Energy" with Mariah Carey featuring DJ Khaled reached number one on the US Digital Song Sales chart with 12,600 downloads sold,becoming Latto's first chart-topper,Carey's fourth,and Khaled's third. Supported by the release of the remix,the song reached number three on the overall Billboard Hot 100,becoming Latto's first top 10 entry. However,Carey and DJ Khaled were not listed on "Big Energy" on the Hot 100,as the remix did not account for the majority of the song’s overall consumption during the tracking week. [95]
In Australia,the remix peaked at number six,becoming Latto's first top-ten hit there,as well as Khaled's fifth and Carey's 18th. For Carey,it became her first song to hit the top-ten in nine years since "#Beautiful" in 2013,and her highest-charting single since the aforementioned song. [96] In the United Kingdom,the remix peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles chart,becoming Latto's first top-40 hit there,as well as Khaled's eighth and Carey's 40th. It also marked Carey's first song since "#Beautiful" to hit the top-40 in the country,and her highest-charting song there since "I Want to Know What Love Is" in 2009. [97] In Ireland,the remix peaked at number 20,becoming Latto's first top-20 hit,Khaled's sixth,and Carey's 22nd. The song marked Carey's first song in 14 years to hit the top-20 in the country and her highest-charting song since "Touch My Body" in 2008.
Latto performed the remix of "Big Energy" for the first time at the 2022 BET Awards,with a surprise appearance by Mariah Carey. [98] [99]
Credits adapted from Tidal. [100]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [110] | 3×Platinum | 210,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [111] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | March 28,2022 |
| Remix |
| [7] |
March 31,2022 | Explicit remix | [112] | |||
Italy | April 15,2022 | Radio airplay | Remix | Sony | [113] |
"We Belong Together" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her tenth studio album,The Emancipation of Mimi (2005). The song was released on March 15,2005,through Island Records,as the second single from the album. "We Belong Together" was written by Carey,Jermaine Dupri,Manuel Seal,and JohntáAustin and produced by the former three. Since the song interpolates lyrics from Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" (1981) and the Deele's "Two Occasions" (1987),the songwriters of those respective songs are credited. "We Belong Together" is built on a simple piano arrangement with an understated backbeat. The lyrics chronicle a woman's desperation for her former lover to return.
"Heartbreaker" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey featuring American rapper Jay-Z for her seventh studio album Rainbow (1999). It was released on August 23,1999,by Columbia Records as the lead single from Rainbow. The song was written by the artists and produced by Carey and DJ Clue,with additional writers being credited for the hook being built around a sample from "Attack of the Name Game" by Stacy Lattisaw. "Heartbreaker" pushed Carey even further into the R&B and hip hop market,becoming her second commercial single to feature a rapper. Lyrically,the song describes lovesickness towards an unfaithful partner.
"Loverboy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on June 19,2001,by Virgin Records America as the lead single from her eighth studio album Glitter,the soundtrack to the 2001 film of the same name. Written and produced by Carey,Larry Blackmon,Thomas Jenkins and Clark Kent,"Loverboy" is built around a sample from "Candy" by the funk band Cameo,who are also featured on the track. Lyrically,the song finds Carey fantasizing about her loverboy,a man that will fulfill her physical and sexual desires. The recording was accompanied by an official remix,titled "Loverboy Remix",featuring guest artists Ludacris,Da Brat,Shawnna and Twenty II.
American singer Mariah Carey has released 88 official singles,22 promotional singles,and has made 30 guest appearances. Her self-titled debut album in 1990 yielded four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100,the first being "Vision of Love",a song credited with revolutionizing the usage of distinguished vocal stylings,predominantly the practice of melisma,and effectively influencing virtually every female R&B performer since the 1990s. Subsequent singles "Emotions" (1991) and Carey's cover of the Jackson 5 track "I'll Be There" (1992) continued the singer's streak of US number-one singles,with the latter becoming her fourth chart-topper in Canada and first in the Netherlands. With the release of Carey's third studio album,Music Box (1993),the singer's international popularity surged upon release of "Hero" and the album's third single,her cover of Harry Nilsson's "Without You",which became the singer's first number-one single in several countries across Europe.
"My All" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album,Butterfly (1997). It was released as the album's fifth single overall and second commercial single on April 21,1998,by Columbia Records. The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. "My All" is built around Latin guitar chord melodies,and makes subtle use of Latin percussion throughout the first chorus,before taking on a more conventional R&B-style beat. Carey was inspired to write the song and use Latin inspired melodies after a trip to Puerto Rico,where she was influenced by the culture. The song's lyrics tell of a lonely woman declaring she would give "her all" to have just one more night with her estranged lover. It is the first song Carey wrote for the Butterfly album.
"Fantasy" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on August 23,1995,by Columbia Records as the lead single from her fifth album,Daydream (1995). The track was written and produced by Carey and Dave Hall. It samples Tom Tom Club's 1981 song "Genius of Love". The lyrics describe a woman who is in love with a man,and how every time she sees him she starts fantasizing about an impossible relationship with him. The remix for the song features rap verses from Ol' Dirty Bastard,something Carey arranged to assist in her crossover into the hip-hop market and credited for introducing R&B and hip hop collaboration into mainstream pop culture,and for popularizing rap as a featuring act.
"Honey" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album,Butterfly (1997). It was released as the lead single from Butterfly on July 29,1997,by Columbia Records. The song was written and produced by Carey,Sean Combs,Kamaal "Q-Tip" Fareed and Steven "Stevie J" Jordan. The song samples "Hey DJ" by World-Famous Supreme Team and "The Body Rock" by the Treacherous Three. "Honey" was a redefining song in Carey's career,pushing her further into the hip hop scene.
"Shake It Off" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey for her tenth studio album,The Emancipation of Mimi (2005). It was written and produced by Carey along with Jermaine Dupri,Bryan-Michael Cox,and JohntáAustin. The song was serviced to radio on July 11,2005,by Island and Mercury Records as the album's third single in the United States,while "Get Your Number" served as the album's third single elsewhere. Described by Dupri as "ghetto," the track is a R&B song that makes use of pop and hip hop influences and a simple,sparse production. Lyrically,the song follows Carey as she moves on from her relationship with an unfaithful lover,packing her things and breaking up with him over an answering machine.
"I Still Believe" is a song written and composed by Antonina Armato and Giuseppe Cantarelli,and originally recorded by pop singer Brenda K. Starr for her eponymous second studio album,Brenda K. Starr (1987). It is a ballad in which the singer is confident she and her former boyfriend will be together again one day. It is Starr's biggest hit in the United States,reaching the top-twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 and being considered her signature song. "I Still Believe" was covered by American singer Mariah Carey,a former backup singer for Starr before she achieved success,for her #1's album in 1998 and released as a single in 1999. It was also recorded by Cantopop singer Sandy Lam in 1989.
"Genius of Love" is a 1981 hit song by American new wave band Tom Tom Club from their 1981 eponymous debut studio album. The song reached number one on the Billboard Disco Top 80 chart,and was performed by Talking Heads in the 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense.
"Oh Boy" is a 2002 Grammy-nominated hip hop single by Cam'ron from his album Come Home with Me,and features Juelz Santana. The single was released through Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records,Cam'ron's Diplomat Records and Def Jam Recordings.
"Every Time I Close My Eyes" is a song written,produced and performed by American musician Babyface. It was released as the second single from his fourth album,The Day (1996). Mariah Carey performs the backing vocals,after Babyface did the same for her on "Melt Away",a track written by both,included on her 1995 album Daydream. It also has a participation by Kenny G playing saxophone. An alternate version without Carey's vocals and additional sax elements is included on Kenny G's The Moment (1996).
"#Beautiful" is a song recorded by American singers Mariah Carey and Miguel. It was released as the lead single from Carey's fourteenth studio album,Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse (2014). "#Beautiful" was written by Carey,Miguel,Nathan Perez,Brooke Davis,Mac Robinson,and Brian Keith Warfield,with Carey,Miguel and Perez producing the song. Released on May 6,2013,Carey and Miguel did not reveal that they had collaborated on the song,until April 25,2013,when Carey revealed the title in a 25-second teaser video during season twelve of American Idol. It was also on Idol,on May 9,that Carey premiered the official music video for "#Beautiful",before uploading an alternative edit to her VEVO account,that is set to the explicit version of the song.
"You're Mine (Eternal)" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey included on her fourteenth studio album,Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse (2014). It premiered on February 12,2014,as the third single from the album. It was written and produced by Carey with Rodney Jerkins. An R&B song,the lyrics revolve around the singer reminiscing about a past lover. Critical response to the song was positive:Carey's breathy vocal style and use of the whistle register at the climax earned praise from critics. It also drew several comparisons to one of Carey's previous singles,"We Belong Together" (2005).
"Infinity" is a song by American singer-songwriter and record producer Mariah Carey from her sixth compilation album,#1 to Infinity (2015). It was released by Epic Records on April 27,2015,as the only single from the album. Carey wrote the song in collaboration with Eric Hudson,Priscilla Renea,Taylor Parks and Ilsey Juber. Carey and Hudson also produced the track. It is an R&B song;the lyrics are about Carey putting herself first and emancipation. However,many critics likened the content to the singer's separation from her then-husband,entertainer Nick Cannon.
"A No No" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her fifteenth studio album,Caution (2018). The song was written by Carey,Robert "Shea" Taylor,Priscilla Hamilton,Mason Betha and Camron Giles. Since the track samples Lil' Kim's "Crush on You" (1997),songwriting credits were added for a total of nine. Digitally released as a promotional single in November 2018,Epic Records serviced it to rhythmic contemporary and urban contemporary radio as the second single from the album on March 4,2019.
Alyssa Michelle Stephens,known professionally as Latto,is an American rapper and singer from Atlanta,Georgia. She first appeared on Jermaine Dupri's reality television series The Rap Game in 2016,where she was known as Miss Mulatto and won the show's first season,but rejected the award of a recording contract with Dupri's So So Def Recordings.
"Go Crazy" is a song by American singer Chris Brown and American rapper Young Thug,from their collaborative mixtape Slime &B,released on May 5,2020. After it became the only charting song from the mixtape,it was officially released as a single on May 19,2020. The song is a trap-infused R&B record,with production that samples the Showboys's 1986 single "Drag Rap",for which the Showboys are credited as writers. The official remix of the song was released on February 19,2021,and features fellow American rappers Future,Lil Durk,and Latto.
Horace Bernard Walls III,known professionally as Nardo Wick,is an American rapper. He signed with RCA Records in 2021 and gained mainstream recognition following the commercial release of his single "Who Want Smoke?" in January of that year. The song spawned a remix featuring rappers G Herbo,Lil Durk,and 21 Savage,which peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His debut studio album,Who Is Nardo Wick? (2021) was released in December of that same year and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200.
777 is the second studio album by American rapper Latto. It was released through RCA Records and Streamcut on March 25,2022. The album features guest appearances from 21 Savage,Lil Wayne,Childish Gambino,Lil Durk,Nardo Wick,and Kodak Black. Production on the album was handled by Sonny Digital,Dr. Luke,FnZ,JetsonMade,D.A. Got That Dope,and Pharrell Williams,among others. It serves as the follow-up to her debut studio album,Queen of da Souf (2020).
The Pop sound
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