Shenseea Says ‘Lick’ Did What It Was Supposed To Do
Shortly after Shenseea teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion for the single Lick, all hell broke loose. This could have caused one to second guess whether it was a good idea to open that can of worms…but the ShenYeng Princess said it was the complete opposite for her!
Speaking with W Magazine, the 25-year-old Jamaican singer said she really did accomplish her mission of getting tongues to wag.
“People don’t understand that it’s doing exactly what I put it out to do: for you to talk, to stir up controversy,” Shenseea said, after writer Maxine Wally noted that the track is “regarded as pretty lewd.”
“I’ve been making sexual music from the very first song I put out. I am allowed to embrace my sexuality. I want to show my booty sometimes. I want to show the little top of the girls sometimes. It’s my body. Regardless of what you say about me, I already know who I am; I already know what I’m about. I’m an artist. I’m never going to stick to the same look for the rest of my life. I don’t want nobody forgetting me.”
Lick was released as a taste test ahead of her debut album Alpha in March. The song peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, while the music video has over 12 million views on YouTube. However, in addition to fans who were troubled about the daring track and video, Shenseea’s own counterparts in the Jamaican music fraternity had mouthfuls to say.
The Controversy
Dancehall artist Popcaan took satirical jabs at her for encouraging men to “bow” and even accused the Be Good singer’s co-manager, Romeich Major of doing a bit of tongue work himself.
That, however, did not compare to the ‘cass-cass’ instigated by former Queen Of Dancehall Lady Saw, turned Christian Minister Marion Hall, who accused Shenseea, Spice, Jada Kingdom and Ishawna of “being in a race to hell” because of the raw content in their music. Hall encouraged the women to repent and turn from their supposedly ‘worlian’ lifestyle, but her message only stirred the pot among these popular female Dancehall figures.
Spice, who now holds the title of Queen Of Dancehall took to IG Live to give Hall a tongue lashing. There were also injections from Macka Diamond, Tanya Stephens and Jada Kingdom amid the whole fiasco. Shenseea, on the other hand, declared that “she was not answering no artist.”
The Lawsuit
Of course, the cherry on top was the US$10 million lawsuit filed against the Run Run singer and her label Interscope Records. On March 4, New York-based producer Anastas ‘Pupa Nas-T’ Hackett filed the lawsuit, alleging that Shenseea and her co-defendants had made a request in September of 2021 to use elements from Denise Belfon’s song Work in Lick. According to Hackett, who produced and co-wrote Work with Harkness Taitt in 1999, Lick was released without his consent on January 21 of this year even though he denied the request for clearance due to “inadequate terms offered.”
When DancehallMag broke the news of the impending lawsuit, Shenseea’s management was clueless, while the singer later lashed out on Twitter after a follower noted the irony of the complaint, which had been filed two months after Caribbean fans were scolded and shamed for questioning whether Lick was properly cleared.
Except for a court summons issued to Shenseea and her co-defendants in late March, there has so far been nothing further to report on the matter.
Yeng Day
In the meantime, today (May 20, 2022) is being celebrated as Yeng Day—a day conceptualized by Shenseea to show appreciation to her fans who have supported her since her rise to fame over five years ago. To mark this year’s milestone, the Trending Gyal is covering tuition for select Jamaican tertiary students.
She made the announcement via Twitter this morning.
“If you attended college and had to stop because of financial difficulties. I’m sending you back to get that degree! For YengDay, i’m aiding two college drop outs in Jamaica 🇯🇲 you have to have proof!!!!! ❤️”
If you attended college and had to stop because of financial difficulties. I'm sending you back to get that degree! For YengDay, i'm aiding two college drop outs in Jamaica 🇯🇲 you have to have proof!!!!! ❤️
— Shenseea (@SHENYENG) May 20, 2022
She followed up her initial tweet by saying her act of kindness stems from a surplus of blessings she has received from God. “I asked God to bless me so I can help to bless others. Imma always do just that, as he continues to do so!” she wrote.
Shenseea had previously admitted that she had to stop going to community college because of financial constraints.