Missy Elliot praises woman's 'Work It' karaoke performance

Credit: Bennett Raglin

Credit: Bennett Raglin

One woman’s karaoke version of a Missy Elliot song was so good that Missy herself gave it a stamp of approval.

WPRI reported that Mary Halsey was performing the rapper and music producer's 2002 song "Work It" at a local park in late June and posted video of her rendition on Facebook.

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"I thought I'd get a few hits, so I wrote, 'Please share. I want to go viral,' and it took off from there," Halsey, who has made the song her go-to for karaoke for 15 years, told WPRI.

Halsey, a self-proclaimed “funky white sister” of Missy, perfectly sang the backward portion of the chorus of the song.

The video, which has more than 7 million views, got the attention of Missy Elliot, who tweeted a clip of the performance with the caption, "I just found out I have a FUNKY WHITE SISTER. forreal doe & she brought her home girl with her from da hood that keep tip toeing in the background with a plate of food yo I'm done! but she straight killed 'Work It' sound effect & all I love it."

Missy later noticed that the woman appeared to be eating ramen noodles, which added to her amusement.

"Wait her friend has a cup of oodles & noodles tipping in the back I think!" she tweeted. "Lord! Go awwwwf."

The Associated Press reported that Halsey works as a recreation assistant at a nursing and rehabilitation facility.

"I knew it would be big but I had no idea it would be this big," Halsey told WPRI, adding that she would like to meet Missy Elliot one day.

The explicit performance of the song can be seen on on Halsey's Facebook page.

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