Big Energy

In May 2021, Latto released the song "The Biggest" following the announcement of her stage name changing from Mulatto to Latto.[2] 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.[3] Latto also promoted the song with performances at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards[4] and on Late Night with Seth Meyers.[5] In April 2022, she performed a medley of "Big Energy" and "Sunshine" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[6]

Latto has 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".[7]

On March 25, 2022, Latto revealed that Mariah Carey and record producer DJ Khaled will 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.[8][9]

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".[9] 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?'[10]

The song was produced by Dr. Luke and Vaughn Oliver. The funk-infused[11][12] pop[13] and pop-rap song[14] 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.[15] 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.[16] 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.[10] 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".[17]

In the Mariah Carey remix, 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.[18][19] Musically, the remix has been described as a blend of pop and R&B.[20]

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".[21] 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.[22] Billboard's Rania Aniftos wrote that Latto put a "femenine, empowering spin" on the social media phrase for the "energetic" track.[23] 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.[24] Aaron Williams of Uproxx said that the "spunky" track represents a departure from her previously established sound to a "lighthearted" song.[25] 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".[14] Pitchfork's Tyra Trichefelt thought the song sounds "almost like a jingle", and felt unconvinced by the lyrics and the "bit dated" meme it references.[26]

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.[18] Glenn Rowley of Billboard called it a "sparkling collab".[19] Uproxx's Caitlin White considered it a "bonafide R&B/pop hit".[20]

"Big Energy" debuted at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100, for the week dated November 24, 2021, becoming Latto's highest-charting song on the chart since "Bitch from da Souf", which peaked at number 95 in 2020. 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.[28][29] "Big Energy" has spent four weeks in the top five so far. 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.[30][29] It has topped each for two weeks so far.

Latto became the first female rapper since Lizzo (2019) to reach number one on the Radio Songs chart.[31] 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).[32] Among component charts, the song became Latto's first top 10 on the US Streaming Songs chart.

The remix with Mariah Carey featuring DJ Khaled reached number one on the US Digital Song Sales chart, becoming Latto's first chart-topper, Carey's fourth, and Khaled's third.[33] In Australia, so far, it peaked at number ten, becoming Latto's first top-ten hit there, Khaled's fifth, and Carey's 18th (being also her first song to hit the top-ten in nine years since "#Beautiful" in 2013).[34]

In the United Kingdom, the remix, so far, peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles chart, becoming Latto's first top-40 hit there, Khaled's eighth, and Carey's 40th (being also her first song since "#Beautiful" to hit the top-40 in the country).[35]