Latto didn't just get lucky. When Big Energy hit the airwaves in late 2021, it felt like a tactical nuke dropped right into the middle of the Billboard charts. It was everywhere. You couldn't walk into a CVS or scroll through TikTok without hearing those familiar, sparkly chords.
Wait. You've heard those chords before, right?
The song is built entirely on a sample of Tom Tom Club’s 1981 classic "Genius of Love." If you’re a bit older, or just a fan of 90s hip-hop, you probably recognize it as the same backbone for Mariah Carey’s "Fantasy." That’s a lot of pressure to put on a young artist from Atlanta who, at the time, was still shaking off her "Miss Mulatto" persona. But Latto leaned into it. She didn't try to out-sing Mariah or out-quirk the Tom Tom Club. She just brought this specific, unapologetic confidence that basically redefined what a "pop-rap" crossover looks like in the 2020s.
The gamble behind the Big Energy sound
Most people think "Big Energy" was an overnight success. It wasn't. It took months to climb. The track was produced by Dr. Luke and Vaughn Oliver, and honestly, the choice of the sample was a massive risk. Using "Genius of Love" is almost a cliché in music production because it’s so distinct. If you miss, you look like a karaoke act.
Latto had to navigate a very thin line. She needed to keep her "Clayton County" grit while making something that could play at a 10-year-old’s birthday party. The lyrics are actually pretty clever when you break them down. She flips the "Big Dick Energy" meme—which was popularized by internet discourse around Pete Davidson, of all people—and turns it into a feminine power anthem. It’s not about what someone else has; it’s about the aura she projects.
The song eventually peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. That’s huge for a solo female rapper without a massive feature on the original version. It stayed on the charts for an eternity. Why? Because it bridges the gap between Gen X nostalgia and Gen Z vibe-culture.
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That Mariah Carey Remix changed everything
If you were online in early 2022, you remember the stir. Latto teased a remix, and everyone assumed it would be another rapper. Maybe 21 Savage? Maybe Nicki? Instead, she got the elusive Mariah Carey herself.
Adding DJ Khaled to the mix was... well, it was very DJ Khaled. He mostly just shouted over the intro. But having Mariah re-sing parts of "Fantasy" over Latto’s verses was a literal passing of the torch. It gave Latto a level of "industry's seal of approval" that most of her peers are still chasing.
It’s worth noting that the remix helped the song gain even more longevity on radio. Urban stations played the original, while Top 40 stations lived for the Mariah version. It was a masterclass in market saturation.
What critics got wrong about the "Pop" pivot
A lot of "hip-hop purists" hated it. They called it "selling out." They said Latto was leaving her Southern rap roots behind to chase a white audience.
But look at the landscape.
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- Doja Cat was doing it.
- Nicki Minaj had been doing it for a decade.
- Coi Leray was moving in that direction.
Latto wasn't selling out; she was scaling up. If you listen to her earlier mixtapes, the technical skill is there. She can rap circles around most people. "Big Energy" was just the Trojan Horse that got her into the rooms where the big checks are signed. You can’t buy the kind of visibility that song provided. It’s the difference between being a "rapper" and being a "superstar."
The technical side of the hit
The song works because of its math. "Genius of Love" has a tempo of about 115 beats per minute. That’s the "sweet spot" for dancing. It’s not too fast like EDM, and it’s not a slow trap crawl. It’s a walking pace. It’s catchy because your brain is already wired to like that bassline.
Latto’s vocal delivery is also surprisingly laid back. She isn't screaming. She isn't doing the "aggressive rap" voice. She sounds like she’s talking to you from the back of a chauffeured car. That nonchalance is exactly what "Big Energy" is supposed to feel like. It’s the "I don’t have to try" vibe.
Why Big Energy still matters years later
We see hits come and go every week. Most TikTok songs die within three months. But "Big Energy" has become a staple. It’s a permanent fixture in "Girls' Night Out" playlists.
It also set the stage for her 2023 follow-up, "Put It On Da Floor." Without the massive pop success of her previous hit, she wouldn't have had the leverage to bring in Cardi B for the remix. Success breeds success. Latto used the "Big Energy" momentum to fund and fuel a more authentic return to her trap-leaning sound, proving she wasn't just a one-hit-wonder pop star.
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There’s also the legal side. Sampling a song as big as "Genius of Love" is expensive. You have to give up a massive chunk of your publishing. Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz (the writers of the original) are likely making more off Latto’s version than she is in terms of royalties. This is the "hidden cost" of being a superstar that most fans never think about. You trade your ownership for the fame.
How to apply the "Big Energy" mindset to your own brand
You don't have to be a rapper to use the logic Latto used to blow up. It’s basically a blueprint for modern marketing.
- Audit your "Sample": Latto used a familiar foundation (the sample) to introduce something new (her personality). If you’re starting a business or a project, don't reinvent the wheel. Use a format people already love and put your specific "stank" on it.
- The Power of the Pivot: Don't be afraid to change your name or your "vibe" if the old one is holding you back. Latto dropped the "Miss" and the controversial history of her old name to clear a path for mainstream success.
- Acknowledge your inspirations: By getting Mariah Carey on the remix, Latto didn't just copy her; she invited her to the party. In any field, credit your mentors. It turns potential rivals into allies.
- Focus on the "Energy," not just the "Product": The song isn't actually about anything specific. It’s about a feeling. Most people don't buy what you do; they buy how you make them feel.
Latto's trajectory since then has been a wild ride of Grammy nominations and Coachella stages. She proved that you can play the pop game without losing your identity, as long as you have the "Big Energy" to back it up.
Check out the official music video again, but this time, watch the choreography. It’s purposely simple. It’s designed for you to mimic it in your kitchen. That’s not an accident. That’s a strategy.
Keep an eye on her upcoming credits. She’s increasingly moving into executive roles, proving that the song wasn't just a peak—it was a foundation.