777
Studio album by
Latto
ReleasedMarch 25, 2022
Recorded2020–2022
Genre
Length32:54
Label
Producer
Latto chronology
Queen of da Souf
(2020)		 777
(2022)
Singles from 777
  1. "Big Energy"
    Released: September 24, 2021
  2. "Soufside"
    Released: November 5, 2021
  3. "Wheelie"
    Released: March 11, 2022
  4. "Sunshine"
    Released: April 26, 2022

777 is the second studio album by American rapper and singer 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 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 album, Queen of da Souf (2020).[1]

Background

In an interview with Complex, Latto said that she was experimenting with various sounds and genres on the album to showcase her versatility, including pop, R&B, trap, and rhythmic vibes.[2] She said that she had started working on it right after her previous album, Queen of da Souf (2020), and recorded the first song from the album in that year. She also explained why she chose the title of the album:

Seven is God's number, so it just started with that. From a younger age, seven has always been my favorite number. And then triple—it triumphs 666, or overcomes 666. It became a part of my brand when I changed my name to Latto in reference to the lottery and casino, hitting the jackpot is 777. But it already had a meaning to me. It just somehow aligned with my career.

About a week before the album was released, she sat down for an interview with The Breakfast Club, in which she claimed that a male artist who is featured on a song from the album tried to engage in sexual activity with her and make it hard for her to clear a sample on it. Fans assumed that it was Kodak Black, considering previous comments he had made related to the topic, but he later denied that it was him and Latto also denied that it was 21 Savage.[3]

Release and promotion

Latto announced the album and its release date alongside its cover art on March 14, 2022.[4] She revealed the tracklist one week later, on March 21, 2022.[5]

Singles

The lead single of the album, "Big Energy", was released on September 24, 2021.[6] The second single, "Soufside", was released on November 5, 2021.[7] The third single, "Wheelie", which features Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage, was released on March 11, 2022.[8] "Sunshine", which features Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino, impacted US rhythmic contemporary radio on April 26, 2022, as the album's fourth single.[9]

Music and lyrics

AllMusic wrote that Latto covers "the standard range of topics" such as "bedroom bragging" on "Wheelie" and "getting money and demolishing enemies" on "Trust No Bitch". It also noted that most of the songs are trap while Latto tries out different genres on some songs. "Sunshine" blends trap drums with gospel vocals. "Like a Thug" is R&B while "Real One" and "Big Energy" are pop.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Clash8/10[11]
NME[12]
Pitchfork6.5/10[13]

Writing for Clash, Ana Lamond felt that "the tracklist weaves through Big Latto, the signature hard-hitting persona, whilst turning to the more sensual, R&B production that lends itself to a vulnerability" and "there's a sense that the riser is leaning into an increasingly diverse approach, welcoming a pop-centric commercial appeal", adding that "777 is daring and ambitious, paving the way for Latto's fortunes as she embraces the spheres outside of Atlanta rap" and "at the end of the day, she's got it tatted on her wrist...".[11] Jordan Bassett of NME opined that "away from the Billboard-bothering singles, Alyssa Stephens [referring to Latto by her real name] dials down the braggadocio and dials up the introspection, though the overall mood is buoyant" and "it's a record that meets Stephens on the other side of criticism that has dogged her since she introduced her unintentionally offensive former moniker, Mulatto, as an eventual winner of reality show The Rap Game in 2016".[12]

Pitchfork music critic Tyra Nicole Triche stated that "777 proves that Latto is a formidable force, though there's still work to do to realize her full potential" and "if she hasn't quite nailed down a winning sound, she's willing to take some big gambles".[13] Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote that 777 is "a sharp and canny piece of pop-rap". He noted that the album is "total major-label product" with all of the tracks sounding like "potential singles" because Latto is trying to make hits. He concluded that it is "pretty entertaining, in its low-stakes, low-commitment kind of way".[14]

Mid-year lists

777 on mid-year lists
Publication List Rank Ref.
Rolling Stone Best Albums of 2022 So Far 30
Consequence The 12 Rap Albums of 2022 (So Far) 12

Year-end lists

Publication List Rank Ref.
HuffPost 12 Best Albums of 2022 — [17]
Rolling Stone 100 Best Albums of 2022 76 [18]
25 Best Hip-hop Albums of 2022 13 [19]

Track listing

777
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."777 Pt. 1"
1:20
2."777 Pt. 2"
  • Stephens
  • Jaucquez Lowe
  • Diego Avendano
  • Joel Banks
  • Taylor Banks
2:03
3."Wheelie" (featuring 21 Savage)
2:50
4."Big Energy"
2:53
5."Sunshine" (featuring Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino)
3:26
6."Like a Thug" (featuring Lil Durk)
2:52
7."It's Givin"
2:33
8."Stepper" (featuring Nardo Wick)
  • Stephens
  • Donald
  • D. Clemons
  • Horace Walls III
  • Ernest Adams
  • Abdallah Ahmad
  • Jeffrey Shannon
2:28
9."Trust No Bitch"
2:34
10."Bussdown" (featuring Kodak Black)
2:46
11."Soufside"
1:51
12."Sleep Sleep"
2:51
13."Real One"
2:27
Total length:32:54

Notes

Personnel

  • Sonny Digital – production (1)
  • Diego Ave – production (2)
  • Bankroll Got It – production (2)
  • Sage Skolfield – production (3, 11)
  • Sean Solymar – production (3, 11)
  • Hollywood Cole – production (3)
  • Dr. Luke – production (4)
  • Vaughn Oliver – production (4)
  • BongoByTheWay – production (5)
  • Luke Crowder – production (5)
  • Dis – production (6)
  • Beat Butcha – production (6)
  • Coop the Truth – production (6)
  • Pooh Beatz – production (7, 8)
  • FnZ – production (7)
  • JetsonMade – production (7)
  • D.A. Got That Dope – production (9)
  • OG Parker – production (10)
  • Romano – production (10)
  • TenRoc – production (10)
  • June James – production (11)
  • BoogzDaBeast – production (12)
  • Pharrell Williams – production (13)

Charts

References

  1. ↑ Blanchet, Brenton (March 25, 2022). "Stream Latto's New Album '777' f/ Childish Gambino, Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, and More". Complex. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  2. ↑ McKinney, Jessica (March 24, 2022). "Please Allow Latto to Reintroduce Herself". Complex. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  3. ↑ Cowen, Trace William (March 23, 2022). "Latto Talks Decision to Speak Out Over Male Artists' Behavior, Says She Kind of Wishes She Didn't Say It". Complex. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  4. ↑ Zidel, Alex (March 15, 2022). "Latto Announces "777" Album Release Date & Cover Art". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ Marie, Erika (March 21, 2022). "Latto Drops "777" Tracklist & Fans Think Kodak Black Wouldn't Clear Feature". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  6. ↑ Grant, Shawn (September 24, 2021). "Latto Delivers Winning Numbers in New "Big Energy" Video". The Source. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Cho, Regina (November 5, 2021). "Latto pays homage to her roots in new "Soufside" single". Revolt. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  8. ↑ Marie, Erika (March 11, 2022). "Latto Taps 21 Savage For Hyped "Wheelie" Single". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases | R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates".
  10. 1 2 "777 Review by TiVo Staff". allmusic.com. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  11. 1 2 Lamond, Ana (March 25, 2022). "Latto - 777". Clash. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Bassett, Jordan (March 25, 2022). "Latto – '777' review: 'Queen of da Souf' digs deeper with soul-searching second album". NME. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Triche, Tyra Nicole (April 6, 2022). "Latto: 777 Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  14. ↑ Breihan, Tom (March 30, 2022). "Latto's Weaponized Pop-Rap". Stereogum.
  15. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2022 So Far". Rolling Stone. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  16. ↑ "Top 12 Rap Albums of 2022 (So Far)". Consequence. 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  17. ↑ Samuel, Ruth; Evans, Erin; Capewell, Jillian; Finley, Taryn; Niforos, Alexandra (December 7, 2022). "The 12 Best Albums In 2022". HuffPost.
  18. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of 2022". Rolling Stone. December 1, 2022.
  19. ↑ Ihaza, Jeff; Conteh, Mankaprr; Gee, Andre; Gage, Dewayne; Jordan, Meagan; Reeves, Mosi; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Dukes, Will (December 15, 2022). "The 25 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2022". Rolling Stone.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of April 16, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ "The Billboard 200: Week of April 9, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of April 9, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
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