Back Outside

Who Is Anycia? Get To Know The Atlanta Rapper

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On Friday, “Big Energy” hitmaker Latto teamed up with a relatively unknown fellow ATLien, Anycia, to release “Back Outside,” a song that already had plenty of buzz even before its official release. Part of that was due to Latto’s general popularity, but the rest could be attributed to some of the context. In addition to a preview of Latto’s verse containing a potential shot at Nicki Minaj, Latto herself fielded (and dismissed) fans’ concerns about collaborating with a newer artist many had never heard of.

“Shawty from the south side & she hard af,” she explained. “I was an ‘unknown artist’ before and mfs acted too big for me. Stream when we drop.” They certainly have been, driving views on the video since then to over 281K on YouTube — a pretty solid debut for an “unknown” artist like Anycia. So, just who is this Atlanta artist who was able to secure a coveted cosign from one of rap’s reigning it-girls?

Last June, local arts pub VoyageATL interviewed Anycia, who said she’d only started taking music seriously as a career the previous summer. Although she didn’t offer much insight into her origins or inspirations, it’s clear that she leans more on the trap side than glam-rap peers and predecessors like City Girls, Latto, or Megan Thee Stallion. Her breakout single, “So What,” released in October, earned her first slate of major press, and she recently joined Detroit standout Veeze on his Ganger tour.

Her flow is reminiscent of her tourmate’s, with a conversational nonchalance bordering on laconic. She’s been described as having the “down-to-earth, rough-around-the-edges appeal of Sexyy Red,” and in the same interview, she notes that she grew up with and around other buzzy Atlanta artists like Playboi Carti, Key!, and Unotheactivist. She’s already begun to receive love from the likes of NBA stars like Kevin Durant, J. Cole, and of course, the always tapped-in Drake.

In December, she cited Latto and Cardi B as the two artists she most wanted to collaborate with; she’s already manifested a Latto feature (as well as an unreleased one with JID), so don’t be surprised if she’s hanging out with Cardi in a music video soon, too. Check out some of her videos below.

Anycia And Latto Are ‘Back Outside’ To Show Off Atlanta’s Southside With A Gritty New Collaboration

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If there’s one thing Latto is going to do, it’s to pay homage to Atlanta. Throughout her music, the Clayco native never misses a chance to big up the city that made her a household name. Latto’s latest guest appearance on Anycia’s new song “Back Outside” is just the latest of many dirty South collaborations to come.

The record, co-produced by JetsonMade, brings rap fans into the gritty sound of the city’s south end. “I’m a southside b*tch to the grave / I’m a real ass b*tch to the tomb / Million dollar convos on Zoom, get wet I don’t gotta use lube / You a friendly-ass b*tch, I’m rude / Popped out with a brand-new dude / Popped out with a brand-new team / Walked in, smell good, I’m tea,” raps Anycia.

Latto echos that same matter-of-fact energy across her verse, rapping, “I’m a Southside b*tch to the grave / I’m a Southside b*tch to the hearse / Hop out the G-Wag, hop out the vert / M’s off brand deals, M’s off merch / Got a b*tch driveway looking like Hertz.”

When the musical link-up was teased in 2023, users online pushed back against it, demanding Latto work with “more established artists.” But she quickly shut that down, pouring love into Anycia, who has been building up a solid discography for herself.

Anycia took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank Latto for being so supportive.

Listen to Anycia’s new single “Back Outside” featuring Latto above.

Did Latto Diss Nicki Minaj On Her New Song?

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Just when you thought Latto had settled her beef with Nicki Minaj, it looks like she’s starting the new year with a renewed fire for roasting her nemesis.

Sharing a behind-the-scenes clip from a recent video shoot for “Back Outside,” the upcoming single from fellow Atlanta rapper Anycia, Latto has once again sparked speculation that she’s got words for her primary antagonist. In the clip, Latto and Anycia sit on the porch of a house rapping their verses while surrounded by supporters. Latto’s verse has perked up fans’ ears as she opens with a declaration that “I’m turnt / Got auntie mad, she burnt.”

Naturally, plenty of fans have jumped to the conclusion that “auntie” refers to Nicki Minaj, with whom Latto had a rather loud spat in 2022. The “Put It On Da Floor” rapper snapped on her onetime hero after Nicki complained about being placed in a “pop” category for the next year’s Grammy Awards. When Nicki said Latto’s hit “Big Energy” belonged in the pop category too, Latto accused the elder rapper of being a “bully,” pointing out that not only is Nicki the same age as Latto’s mom, but she also spent a year shading the younger rapper.

Nicki clapped back, calling Latto a “Karen” — which, are we sure she knows what that’s supposed to mean? — and earning some “this you?”-style tweets from observers in the process. Things appeared to have cooled off until Coachella, when Latto debuted “Put It On Da Floor,” on which she raps, “She thought I would kiss her ass, she must ain’t took her meds.”

All of this is to say that, yes, Latto very probably is referring to Nicki with her “Back Outside” verse, as she doesn’t seem to be finished dragging the queen for trying to downplay her success.