LaTocha: Finding Her Voice Beyond Xscape — Faith, Self-Love & the Power of Reinvention
Updated: 14 minutes ago
Some voices make you stop what you’re doing. Others take you straight back to a time, a place, and a feeling you never forgot. LaTocha has one of those voices. From the church roots that nurtured her gift to the platinum-selling records that helped define ’90s R&B, her journey is one of extraordinary talent, sisterhood, faith, reinvention, and the courage to keep discovering who you are beyond the name the world knows.
Alongside her sister Tamika Scott, Kandi Burruss, and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, LaTocha helped form Xscape, the Atlanta quartet discovered by Jermaine Dupri and signed to So So Def Recordings. With three platinum-selling albums—Hummin’ Comin’ at ’Cha, Off the Hook, and Traces of My Lipstick—Xscape became a defining force in a golden era of R&B, delivering the harmonies, honesty, and unforgettable records that soundtracked a generation.
At the heart of that sound was LaTocha’s commanding soprano: powerful yet tender, expressive yet controlled. From “Who Can I Run To” and “The Arms of the One Who Loves You” to “My Little Secret,” her vocals helped establish Xscape’s unmistakable identity and cement the group’s place in R&B history.
But LaTocha’s story reaches beyond the hits. Gospel was part of her foundation long before fame, shaping the conviction and spiritual connection she brought to music. In 2023, she embraced those roots more fully with The Invitation: A Conversation with God, released through Motown Gospel—a meaningful chapter in her evolution as an artist and woman of faith.
Her journey has also played out on television through R&B Divas: Atlanta, Xscape: Still Kickin’ It, and SWV & XSCAPE: The Queens of R&B, offering glimpses into the relationships, reunions, and complicated realities behind a celebrated musical legacy. The public has seen the triumphs and tensions, including challenges in her relationship with her sister and publicly discussed changes in her marriage. Those experiences are part of her story, but they don't define the entirety of the woman or diminish her musical contributions.
Beyond the stage, LaTocha has explored entrepreneurship and wellness through LaTocha’s Planted Lifestyle, her vegan lifestyle work, and the Made Girl Foundation, which focuses on empowering women, girls, and underserved communities through mentorship, education, and health initiatives.
LaTocha’s legacy is already woven into the history of R&B. Her next chapter is about what she chooses to write for herself. From gospel beginnings to Xscape’s enduring catalog, from solo spiritual expression to business and wellness, she continues to explore the many dimensions of who she is.
Because the greatest artists aren't defined only by the records they leave behind. They're also defined by their willingness to grow, reclaim their story, and let the world hear something new.
LaTocha gave a generation songs to sing, harmonies to remember, and performances that helped make Xscape timeless. Now, her journey continues—rooted in the voice that started it all, strengthened by the experiences that shaped her, and guided by the faith and vision carrying her forward.
Before the world knew your voice, who was LaTocha? What parts of that young girl still show up in the woman you are today?
At my core, I’m still that girl who loves music, loves her family, and believes in God. Singing in church taught me that your voice could make somebody feel seen, give them hope, or help them through something. That connection still means everything to me. Today, people are getting to see more of my personality, too—my humor, my creativity, and how much I enjoy bringing people together. There’s a whole woman behind the voice, and I’m enjoying sharing more of her.
You’ve spoken about rediscovering your love for yourself. What has that process looked like, and what are you learning to appreciate about LaTocha?
For me, it starts with paying attention to myself again: what brings me joy, what drains me, and what I actually want. When you spend so much time showing up for other people, you can forget to ask yourself those questions. I’m learning to appreciate my heart, my resilience, and my willingness to keep creating. Loving myself also means giving myself grace. I don’t have to have everything figured out to recognize that I’m worthy of love and good things.
Made Girl is growing into an empire that includes music, media, food, wellness, and giving back. What does the name mean to you, and what connects everything you’re building?
Made Girl speaks to knowing that you were created with purpose. Every part of the brand comes from something I care about. Music is how I express myself. Food is one of the ways I show love. Wellness is about how we care for ourselves, and the foundation is about extending that care to others. The connection is helping people feel encouraged and capable. I want someone to encounter something we’ve created and leave feeling a little more confident about what’s possible in their own life.
With Made Girl Media’s new partnership with BuzzFeed and Tasty, you’re expanding your role as a creator and businesswoman. Why was this an important next step for you?
It gives me the opportunity to bring more of my ideas to life and take an active role in how those stories are told. I’ve spent years in front of a microphone and a camera, and I have a vision for what I want to create beyond music. Working with BuzzFeed and Tasty brings that vision to a wider audience. Through Made Girl Media, I’m also thinking about the future—building a body of work and creating opportunities that can continue to grow.
Your show, Is It Vegan?, brings together food, conversation, and your personality. What do you hope viewers discover about you when they watch?
I hope they see how much fun I have! I love to laugh, make people comfortable, and surprise them with something good to eat. Food creates a natural opening for conversation, so you get to see those little moments that happen when people relax. I also want plant-based food to feel approachable. You can be curious, taste something new, and enjoy yourself without feeling like you have to know everything about it before you sit down.
You’re preparing the second volume of your cookbook, LaTocha’s Planet Kitchen. How has your relationship with food evolved, and what do you want readers to experience through this new book?
I’ve become more adventurous and more confident about bringing familiar flavors into plant-based cooking. Food carries so many memories, and I want to honor that feeling—the comfort, the seasoning, the excitement of gathering around a meal. With this second volume, I want readers to feel comfortable trying the recipes and making them part of their own lives. Whether you eat plant-based every day or you’re exploring a few meals, there’s a place for you at my table.
Between the cookbook, the show, and the wider Made Girl brand, you’re sharing a fuller picture of your creativity. How do you decide which opportunities feel true to who you are?
I ask myself whether it’s something I believe in and whether I can show up for it wholeheartedly. Cooking was part of my life before it became part of my business. The same is true of music and encouraging people. Those things come naturally to me. As the opportunities grow, I want to keep that personal connection. I want to be proud of what carries my name and know that I’ve given people something thoughtful.
As you return to R&B, what are you excited to express through your music at this stage of your life?
I’m excited to sing from the woman I am today. There’s love, vulnerability, confidence, and a deeper understanding of myself that I can bring into the music. I love records that make you feel something—the kind you play again because a lyric sounds like your own life. That’s the connection I want to keep making. And I’m excited to have fun with it, too. There’s a lot of life and feeling in me that I want people to hear.
Faith has always been part of your foundation. How does it guide you as you explore R&B, grow your businesses, and make room for your own happiness?
Faith helps me stay grounded when I can’t see how everything is going to work out. It reminds me to pray, prepare, and keep moving. That foundation travels with me into every room, whether I’m recording music, filming, or making a business decision. I’m also learning to make room for joy along the way. I can work toward something meaningful and still enjoy the life I’m living while I build it.
As more of your life and work become public, how are you learning to protect your peace and stay connected to yourself?
I’m learning to be more intentional about what I give my energy to and what I choose to share. Some things need time and privacy, and I’m comfortable honoring that. Staying connected to myself means making space to pray, rest, create, and be around people who know my heart. I want to make decisions from a clear place. That helps me show up with more love for myself and more care for the work.
When people look at everything you’re creating now—the music, Made Girl, the media partnership, and LaTocha’s Planet Kitchen—what do you hope they understand about what makes LaTocha, LaTocha?
I hope they see my heart in all of it. I’m a woman who loves deeply, believes in her gifts, and still has dreams she wants to bring to life. Singing, cooking, creating, and giving back are all ways I connect with people. This chapter is about trusting myself enough to let those parts of me grow. I’m grateful for everything that brought me here, and I’m excited to keep discovering what I’m capable of.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5bnzL3Qq3p3zK5k5nzKYVx?si=xbdTRhRxR2CjPKdKeRnSSQ&utm_source=copy-link
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