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The former chart-topper took a lengthy hiatus from rap to focus on her other passion: dancing. She devoted herself to being a judge for seven seasons on the reality competition series America’s Best Dance Crew. Now she finds herself once again trying to get back to the music and what brought her to the limelight in the first place: her knack for delivering catchy rhymes. With the release of her safe-sex ode “Sausage,” her first attention-grabbing single in about five years, she’s matured and giving millennials some sage advice.

“Sausage” picks up were “Lip Gloss” left off as far as simplicity goes and lyrics that you can’t get out of your head, all over a solid boom bap rhythm. However, the focus is less on looks this time. Lil Mama is promoting a more mature message of safe sex. “Eggs, bacon grits (sausage) / You better use a condom if you taking that (sausage),” she rhymes on the hook.

It becomes clear through the positive message on “Sausage” that the “VYP” has been resurrected. Lil Mama does a noteworthy job of bridging the old school with the new. The rapper uses more than a dozen sonic references of hip-hop hits old and new. The infusion of throwbacks like Slick Rick’s “Mona Lisa,” Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.” and Kelis’ “Milkshake,” with contemporary tracks like Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen” and Cheddar Da Connect’s “Flicka da Wrist” showcases her creativity. Mama is in touch with what’s hot right now while simultaneously being respectful of the forefathers of hip-hop who paved the way.