Lil Nas X

Who Is Lil Nas X?

Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill in 1999, has rapidly emerged as a defining figure in contemporary music and culture. His stage name combines “Lil,” a common prefix in hip-hop, “Nas,” inspired by a Twitter account he created as a devoted fan of Nicki Minaj, and “X,” representing the Roman numeral for ten, symbolizing the decade he believed it would take to achieve fame. Leveraging his keen social media acumen, he gained prominence with his breakout single “Old Town Road.” Following this success, he released his debut album, Montero (2021), which features notable tracks such as “Industry Baby” and “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).” The personal ballad “Sun Goes Down” candidly addresses his struggles with identity and the societal acceptance of LGBTQ+ relationships, challenging the stigmas he faced growing up.

Early Life

Lil Nas X was born on April 9, 1999, in Lithia Springs, Georgia. His mother named him Montero in honor of the Mitsubishi Montero, a vehicle she admired. Following his parents’ separation when he was six, he and his siblings lived with their mother and great-grandmother in a public housing project in Atlanta, a setting characterized by significant challenges. Four years later, a custody battle resulted in him and his older brother moving to the suburbs to live with their father and stepmother.

Aware of his sexual orientation since age five, Nas faced the harsh realities of bullying and homophobia, which led him to conceal his identity for many years. Raised in a religious environment with a father who was a gospel singer, he often felt torn between his identity and his upbringing, even convincing himself that his feelings might merely be a temporary test from God.

In high school, Nas remained focused on his online persona, actively engaging with fellow Nicki Minaj fans on Twitter under the handle @nasmaraj. This involvement allowed him to cultivate a deep understanding of social media dynamics.

After enrolling at the University of West Georgia to pursue a degree in computer science, he found himself disillusioned with academia. Instead, he dedicated himself to music, ultimately deciding to drop out of college despite his father’s disapproval.

‘Old Town Road’

Post-college, Nas resided with his sister while sharing his music online. Inspired by the emerging genre of country-trap—a fusion of country music and Southern hip-hop—he purchased a beat for $30 and crafted his first authentic song, “Old Town Road.” He described this process to Rolling Stone, noting, “I was like, ‘I gotta make it short, I gotta make it catchy.'”

Nas released “Old Town Road” on SoundCloud in December 2018, and his adept use of social media propelled the track to viral status, particularly on TikTok. By March 2019, the song had charted on three Billboard charts: the Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and Hot Country Songs. However, it was controversially removed from the country chart. Billboard cited a lack of “elements of today’s country music” as the reason, leading many to speculate whether race played a role in the decision (Billboard has stated that race was not a factor).

Amidst this controversy, “Old Town Road” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. On April 5, 2019, he released a remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, a prominent figure in the country genre, which further propelled the song’s popularity. This collaboration helped “Old Town Road” achieve a historic 19-week reign at the top of the Hot 100 chart, setting a new record.

Coming Out

As his fame ascended, Lil Nas X made the courageous decision to embrace his sexuality publicly. He initially confided in his sister and brother before revealing his truth to his father. Initially, his father expressed concern, questioning whether Nas was being “tempted by the devil.” However, he ultimately came to accept and support his son wholeheartedly.

On June 30, 2019, marking the end of Pride Month, Nas made his public declaration during a Pride concert at the Glastonbury Festival. He urged fans to “listen closely” to his song “C7osure (You Like)” as a means of revealing that he is gay.

Understanding the potential backlash, Nas recognized that this revelation might alienate some within the country and hip-hop communities. Some fellow artists had previously made homophobic remarks, including criticisms of his red carpet fashion choices. Nevertheless, he stands firmly by his decision. In a 2021 interview, he expressed, “I honestly felt like it was kind of my duty. Especially if I wanted to move forward.”

Follow-Up Songs and First Album

Following the unprecedented success of “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X signed with Columbia Records in March 2019. While his subsequent singles, “Panini” and “Rodeo,” garnered attention, they did not achieve the same monumental success as his breakout hit. Additionally, his 2019 EP, 7, fell short of commercial expectations, a sentiment he later echoed, stating he felt he had played it safe with that project.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Nas experienced significant personal growth while working on his debut album, Montero. The lead single, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” was released in March 2021, accompanied by a heartfelt message to his younger self. He remarked, “I know we promised to never come out publicly… but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist.”

The music video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” incorporated imagery related to Christian faith and the perception that being gay equates to being denied salvation. Although the video and the accompanying “Satan Shoes” sparked controversy, Nas noted, “The love outweighs the hate by like a hundred.” His adeptness with social media allowed him to effectively respond to critics while promoting his work. The single debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ahead of his album’s release in September 2021, Nas shared images of himself with a pronounced pregnancy bump, describing the album’s launch as akin to a mother sending her child into the world. The album featured collaborations with prominent artists, including Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, and Doja Cat.

Accomplishments and Goals

At the 62nd Grammy Awards in January 2020, Lil Nas X won two awards: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video for “Old Town Road.” His children’s book, C Is for Country, featuring Lil Nas X and Panini the Pony, became a bestseller in 2021.

In May 2021, he performed “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and “Sun Goes Down” on Saturday Night Live, where a wardrobe malfunction occurred as his pants split during the performance. He humorously tweeted afterward that the incident was unplanned.

In September 2021, Nas was honored with the Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year Award from The Trevor Project. He stated, “If using my voice and expressing myself in my music can help even one kid out there who feels alone, then it was all worth it.”

At the 2021 Met Gala, he showcased three striking outfits, further establishing his reputation as a fashion icon. Nas has expressed interest in pursuing acting when he feels the time is right.

Relationships

In 2021, Lil Nas X was briefly involved with dancer Yai Ariza, who appeared in his music video for “That’s What I Want.” However, following the relationship, he reflected, “I’m at this point in my life where I finally realized that I don’t want to fall in love. I’m so focused on my music career, and love takes a lot of time. It’s a lot of responsibility, and I don’t think I’m ready to have that extra responsibility on my shoulders right now. When it happens, it’s going to happen.”