Instagram/@lilmama
Mister Mayo, the hip-hop artist, has dropped a new music video for his track ‘Opp Not Bro’, which features a stunning collaboration with Lil Mama. The holiday-themed video that was published just before Christmas has created quite a buzz on social media, with many praising the powerful contribution of Lil Mama. The whole situation surrounding the release is a Christmas wish as well as an assertive showcase from the drill music genre.
Advertisement
The video kicks off with Mister Mayo, a character that never changes, claiming that he is ‘on his bag’ and nothing less than success is expected of him. The song deals with themes of loyalty, knowing who your true friends are, and not being swayed by external pressure while still making progress. ‘I got to stick to the script,’ he spits, emphasizing his devotion to his craft and the exclusion of negative vibes. The production by Prodbyarek and the recording done at Alex In Space give a dirty, moody, and creepy feeling to the acting.
But it didn’t take long, for Lil Mama to overshadow most of the audience and she by this time had almost completely taken the spotlight. The way she delivered her part one could almost experience her self-assuredness and contempt simultaneously. And it was exactly at this moment that she had the audience in her grasp. Heaven knows she is not just a feature on the track, but she is indeed ‘the one’ during her segment which led to an avalanche of comments on her performance.
The positive nature of audience’s response was amazing with people talking on her performance. One user just said, ‘Nah MAMA WALKED ON THIS,’ which was echoed by another one saying, ‘Yeah, she got it,’ followed by fire emojis. The main focus of her criticism was authenticity and delivery, with one fan declaring she was ‘talking that shit,’ while another humorously altered her name and commented, ‘Lil Mama more like Big Mamaa,’ suggesting her impact was larger than life.
The holiday atmosphere and reactions did not, however, stop the post from conveying a very intimate message. An Instagram user calling himself Exotic Pop Mack penned a heartfelt and very emotional comment to Mister Mayo in which he expressed his gratitude for being so supported during his fight against cancer. ‘Since i was diagnosed with cancer my life has turned upside-down,’ he shared. ‘I’m gonna beat this cancer with all your support, prayers, and words of encouragement.’ This comment led to a change of mood and revealed a personal bond and community support that was much stronger than the warring and aggressive nature of the music. It brought to forefront the human stories of those.
On the other hand, there was not a single comment that was not complimentary. There was one sarcastic critical comment which was actually taking a jab at a past incident and calling the artist a ‘dork’ which was the only negative view among the supportive comments posted throughout the whole section.
Mister Mayo’s festive launch plan for ‘Opp Not Bro’ has definitely been a source of confirmation: it elevates his genre rank while at the same time stirring up excitement through the partnership with Lil Mama. The video is full of rapid cuts and gunshot lyrics; however, the conversations that came up got to the point of not just a fan base for a beat but more to the point of recognizing the next in line guest artist to take the crown of the event.
Advertisement
Surprisingly, it also became a channel for a message of overcoming hardships and gratitude. Thus while the release is about spreading Christmas good cheer on the surface, it is really about confirming one’s place and recognizing the real struggles in the community making this year’s final drop a rather complex one. The song is a reminder of diligence and tenacity not only in the production of the music itself but also in the broader context of life. The artist, Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland, has often spoken about personal challenges.