In a candid new interview with Apple Music, Latto has opened up about the personal struggles that led to her recent, widely discussed announcement that she was retiring from the rap industry. Speaking with journalist Nedeska Alexis, the Atlanta-based artist shared that her decision was heavily influenced by the postpartum depression she experienced following the birth of her daughter.
The interview, which premiered on Apple Music’s YouTube channel on Friday (May 29), provides a raw look at the pressures of balancing a high-profile music career with the life-altering experience of motherhood. Latto acknowledged that the timing of her album release, combined with the emotional toll of her first few weeks as a mother, created a perfect storm of stress.
“I was overwhelmed. I’m experiencing motherhood for the first time. I’m dropping my album, my last album that I owe the label. So, it’s just like I was going through it that day,” she explained. “Today’s a good day. I wouldn’t say I’m retiring today. Talk to me next week and I might say, ‘Nah, that sh*t was for real.'”
Latto emphasized that her announcement was a reaction to a moment of crisis rather than a calculated career move. “I’m going through it. And hey, listen, I crashed. It is what it is,” she continued. “I’m not trying to be perfect anymore. I crashed. It is what it is.”
The rapper, who officially confirmed the birth of her daughter with 21 Savage on May 18, is currently celebrating the release of her new album, Big Mama. The project, which arrived on May 29, features a deeply personal track titled “Mama,” featuring Jelly Roll, where she pays tribute to her newborn.
