“It’s giving bad b*tch,” Latto spits while side-sitting atop a greige cylinder slab in her newest visual. The earworm phrase is the lyrical cynosure in “It’s Givin,” a standout track from her 777 album which has relished in a zenith of influence on TikTok since its spring release. In the anthem’s accompanying video, the declaration thematically echoes in every scene.
The Chandler Lass-directed production features both Latto gyrating in gothy, risqué iterations of traditional office wear (think high-leg blazer bodysuits, shoulder pads, leather skirts, and derrière cutouts) and snapshots of a dynamic mosaic of womanhood. To top it all off with the perfect cherry, there are cameos galore of female bosses in their respective arenas.
The star is strutting through cubicles with Halle Bailey; hosting office meetings with Angie Martinez, Angela Simmons, Slick Woods, Skai Jackson; and posing cross-legged aside “Boo’d Up” phenom Ella Mai. Compilations of Chlöe, Tabitha Brown, Flo Milli, Tiffany “New York” Pollard, and more lip-syncing to the song conclude the video.
“Thank you soooo sooo much to all the women who showed up and showed out for me.Forever grateful for your time & helping my vision come to life,” the 23-year-old penned in her Instagram post. “Also thank you to everyone who wanted to but couldn’t make it with such short notice! It’s giving BOSS BTCHES.”
It beckons an era where cameos are tantamount to industry co-signers. Amidst the vaunted year the 2022 BET Best New Artist awardee has had, these cameos are indicative of her elevation. Commencing late September, Latto will be the hotly-anticipated opener for Lizzo’s Special Tour.
Most recently, in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s fall, the Atlanta native announced that she partnered with Planned Parenthood to address the disproportionate effects of barriers to reproductive rights. In a statement to Paper, she said, “We already know who’s going to be hurt the most by these ridiculous abortion bans: Black women, Brown women, the LGBTQ+ community, and communities with low incomes.”
About Mia: Mia Uzzell is a culture documentarian covering Black womanhood with bylines in Glamour, Teen Vogue, Grazia USA, and more. You can keep up with her discourse surrounding the intersection of race and gender on Instagram @originalmiadiamond