Latto solidified her status as a top-tier female rapper in 2024, wowing fans with her album Sugar Honey Iced Tea and her collaboration with Drake on “Housekeeping Knows.” While she has been relatively quiet on the music front in early 2025, it looks like she’s ready to make a comeback.
On March 11, Latto took to Instagram to showcase some of her signature twerking while teasing a brand-new single. The song features a catchy instrumental and, most notably, an interpolation of a classic Aaliyah track.
In the teaser, Latto is seen serving herself a plate of food as a pitched-up vocal kicks in, setting the tone for a head-bobbing, sample-driven melody. She starts off singing, but as the pre-chorus arrives, the unmistakable interpolation of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody?” takes over. “I really need somebody,” she sings, echoing the iconic lyrics. “Tell me are you that somebody?” Latto goes beyond just referencing the R&B classic—she builds the song’s core around it. “I don’t care about your bodies,” she continues. “Love the way you touch my body.”
Hardcore Latto fans might not be surprised by her song choice. Back in July 2024, she posted a video on Instagram Stories of herself singing along to Aaliyah in the car—specifically, the same track she now samples. Some have drawn comparisons between Latto and Drake, with many considering her a female counterpart to the 6 God. One of Drake’s defining musical traits is his deep admiration for Aaliyah, expressed through samples and even tattoos. Latto seems to be following a similar path with this latest track.
Latto isn’t the only female rapper to pay homage to Aaliyah in recent years. In 2023, GloRilla cited the late R&B star as the inspiration behind her collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger. “I’m a big Aaliyah fan, and I love what she did with them,” Glo told Power 105.1. “I’m part of keeping a legacy going. I feel highly favored, because it could have been anyone else but me. I gotta make sure I keep it going.”
With artists like Latto and GloRilla continuing to reference her influence, Aaliyah’s impact on music remains as strong as ever. Fans now eagerly await Latto’s full single release, anticipating yet another hit from the rising rap star.
