As he becomes bolder in his lyrics and creative vision, Lil Nas X begins to transcend confines of "The Gay Rapper" stereotype, carving out space for himself as an unapologetic messiah for today's young, queer generation. However, when considering Lil Nas X's career path, Montero State Prison is a setting that mirrors reality as he is repeatedly criticized by evangelical Christians and Twitter trolls alike for elevating gay representation - particularly for the prison's namesake, his last single " MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" - it's understandable Lil Nas X would consider homophobia a prison, claustrophobic and imposing, especially in the music industry. Lil Nas X came out as gay while Old Town Road was atop the Hot 100, becoming the only artist to do so while having a number-one record. Because of structural violence inherent in this country's carceral system, positioning the institution as a gay utopia is a risky choice. The performer who shot to stardom with the country-rap hit 'Old Town Road,' which has held the No. The song is one of his best, but its real power comes from the accompanying, highly-stylized video wherein Lil Nas X breaks out of a prison populated with Black gay men (and, for an unspecified reason, Jack Harlow in an unseemly role as the Straight White Savior who delivers a verse that is mid at best and inappropriate at worst). On the last day of Pride Month, rapper Lil Nas X seemingly came out as gay.
![lil nas x gay story lil nas x gay story](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/400xn/p07g3nkx.jpg)
His latest single, "INDUSTRY BABY," is an exercise in braggadocio a triumphant, horn-driven beat from Kanye West and Take A Daytrip backs up bars like "Couple Grammys on him, couple plaques," altogether crowning the "Old Town Road'' hitmaker king of the rap-pop crossover throne. Lil Nas X has already logged record consumption numbers for his debut single Old Town Road (14-times platinum in the. And it, like, doesn’t really matter.Lil Nas X is unprecedented: he emerged from the depths of stan Twitter to take over the pop charts, all the while growing as an unabashedly gay rapper. Lil Nas X Honored as Pride Icon With Three-Story-High Philadelphia Mural. “If you’re doing this while you’re at the top, you know it’s, like, for real.
![lil nas x gay story lil nas x gay story](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/07/02/arts/01lilnasx-item-BET/merlin_156935085_d2b588c2-26f8-4802-ad61-09167ddab7aa-superJumbo.jpg)
![lil nas x gay story lil nas x gay story](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2021-08/5/14/enhanced/98603ea44d5e/original-12025-1628172608-8.jpg)
Nevertheless, Lil Nas X went on to further detail his decision to come out, explaining that he wanted it to feel real.
#LIL NAS X GAY STORY SERIES#
He reportedly even decided not to host the 2019 Oscars rather than apologize for a series of homophobic tweets (though he did eventually). Lil Nas X appears to have teased the possibility of being bisexual - or even toying with the idea he isnt really gay at all. As the world’s highest-earning comedian who grew up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hart has faced backlash over many anti-gay remarks. It seems likely that the comedian would know. “If you’re really from the hood, you know,” he added. He isn’t the first Black queer artist to tread the shaky waters of the music industry, but Lil Nas X is the first making Billboard. By simply being a Black gay rapper, Nas challenges the. The “F9mily” rapper seemed stunned, responding, “Come on now.” Lil Nas X Has Forever Changed Hip-Hop as an Out Queer Artist. It goes without saying that Lil Nas X has broken several molds in the music industry since his breakout single Old Town Road in 2019. Lil Nas X went on to explain how his adolescent years motivated him to make his announcement, saying, “I’m growing up to hate. The music industry often expects queer artists to refrain from referencing their sexuality too explicitly in their work, rapper Lil Nas X said in an interview with CBS Sunday. The 'Industry Baby' singer recently chatted with Out magazine and recalled the self-hatred he internalized when growing up in the South. “With all that early success, you felt it was important to make an announcement recently?” Rivera asked.īut before Lil Nas X could answer for himself, Hart blurted out, “He said he was gay! So what?” Lil Nas X said he was terrified when he publicly came out in 2019 because of his upbringing and the homophobia he said he saw in the music industry. Kevin Hart | Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images Lil Nas X’s interview on The Shop was intenseĪt one point in the conversation, marketing executive Paul Rivera asked Lil Nas X about his decision to come out amid the success of his viral hit, “Old Town Road,” which spent a record 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.