Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ performance of “Empire State of Mind” at the 2024 Tony Awards had fans wondering if Lil Mama was gonna show up and crash the stage like she infamously did at the 2009 VMAs.
Lil Mama was trending on Sunday (June 16) after Keys teased an upcoming Jay-Z collab. “1 Billion streams Thank you! We love you. What’s next,” Keys wrote alongside a video teaser.
However, social media users flooded the replies with Lil Mama memes. “A Lil Mama Collab???” one person wrote alongside an edit of the video featuring Lil Mama alongside Jay—Z and Alicia Keys.
A Lil Mama Collab??? 🗽 https://t.co/x0Qaqjy6KI pic.twitter.com/eeb6XyeiIL
— Mela Yela (@_melayela_) June 16, 2024
Nonetheless, the trolling continued after the announcement that the duo would perform the hit at the 2024 Tony Awards.
“Lil mama has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever,” joked an X (Twitter) user.
Lil mama has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever https://t.co/mik6mpwiAv
— Ichigo Niggasake (@SomaKazima) June 16, 2024
“Empire State of Mind” is featured in Keys’ musical Hell’s Kitchen, which was up for multiple Tony awards at the 2024 ceremony. Jay-Z joined the Keys and the cast to perform the hit, although he delivered his verse via a pre-recorded segment.
Alicia Keys and Jay-Z performing with the ‘HELL’S KITCHEN’ cast at the 2024 Tony Awards.
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) June 17, 2024
pic.twitter.com/PubBoqOd2o
Lil Mama Responds
While Lil Mama did not repeat the stage invasion, she responded to the trolling. The Harlem native insisted she’s “part of the reason” for the song’s success and some agree with her.
The fact that I got Lil Mama & Swizz Beatz commenting about this clip 🤭🤣😭 https://t.co/C7HWChet8F pic.twitter.com/FRR8s2FTeU
— Mela Yela (@_melayela_) June 16, 2024
“This is Lil Mama’s song,” a fan wrote. “And she aint got a bar on it. Whenever I hear this I dont think about anything except for that Lil Mama moment. For the whole duration of the song.”
You can tell Alicia & Jay really want Empire State of Mind to be a timeless NYC anthem but I'm sorry man this is Lil Mama's song. And she aint got a bar on it. Whenever I hear this I dont think about anything except for that Lil Mama moment. For the whole duration of the song 😭 https://t.co/eTF4qb2evI
— 🐿️✨America Is Musty✨🐿️ (@DragonflyJonez) June 17, 2024
Lil Mama has spoken about the iconic television moment over the years, most recently in March this year. “I was hurt, I was depressed,” she shared. “I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ You got everybody telling you you’re doing bad. People pointing at you like, ‘What did you do?’”
Meanwhile, in 2021, Jay-Z said “That’s our sister. Man, we love her. I wouldn’t recommend people just jumping on other artists’stage, but we don’t wish her no harm.”