Lil Mama’s Back With a Vengeance, ‘Sausage’ Video Slammed Online
Rapper and former America’s Best Dance Crew judge Lil Mama is trending on Facebook and Twitter. Her video “Sausage” that premiered on World Star Hip Hop Thursday has its supporters but is mostly receiving criticism from naysayers accusing her of poorly executing styles inspired by Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, and Missy Elliott.
The song is a hodgepodge of 1990s hip-hop influences. Rapping over an old school beat, Lil Mama borrows lyrical styles from Raekwon, Method Man, and Elliott. When singing a clip of Blige’s “Seven Days,” she wears a head wrap, sunglasses, and black lipstick, recreating a scene from Blige’s “Not Gon Cry” music video. In another segment, she wears her hair in a wet set, short, blonde bob similar to Beyoncé’s hair in her “Drunk in Love” visual. Some also slam the chorus that uses sausage as a sexual metaphor and references safe sex for being too sophomoric.
While the song is among many 1990s tributes from artists, backlash towards Lil Mama is excessive. The choreography is better than most videos of late, and even includes a reggae breakdown. Plus, the throwback rap style is good, especially when she channels Elliott in the latter half of the song.
See some of the reaction below:
My summer jam , and me and @WilliamOkpo already bickering about what dances we gonna put in our routine: http://t.co/pP6BOgIR8S
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) May 29, 2015
If you don’t like the gift lil mama has given us, you probably read the internet too much
— Rembert Browne (@rembert) May 29, 2015
Lil Mama’s song isn’t even bad but people don’t like her so will find any excuse to shade her. Sadting.
— Apollonia (@Lianneyanny) May 29, 2015
lil mama tried it. she tried to transform into mary j blige in front of our very eyes she really tried it. pic.twitter.com/cGuqRrhgb7
— 奇抜な (@Adorespecialk) May 29, 2015
Lil Mama don’t need no hateration, holleration in this dancery. pic.twitter.com/5s90k9dnkI
— Muvah $teez (@StasMarley) May 29, 2015
Lil Mama was rapping like Nicki’s alter ego Roman as Foxy Brown as ODB as 90s Busta Rhymes
— SirRatchettness (@SirRatchettness) May 29, 2015
In 2009, Lil Mama also caught flack for crashing Jay Z and Alicia Key’s “Empire State of Mind” performance on the Video Music Awards.