Biography
Lil Nas X is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who rose to fame in early 2019 with his viral country rap hit, “Old Town Road”. His sharp social media skills helped him stand out in a crowded industry, propelling the song to massive success. Beyond being a hitmaker and a Twitter sensation, Lil Nas X has proven himself as a bold performer and a trendsetting style icon. In an era where conversations about identity and genre are constant, he embodies a more inclusive future, one where a young, queer Black artist can dominate popular culture by staying true to himself.
Historically, artists like Lil Nas X were outliers, but today, he represents the new norm. While some critics dismiss him as a fleeting sensation, his impact suggests otherwise. In the digital age, viral moments don’t just fade away, they create the biggest stars of the moment, and Lil Nas X is a testament to that shift.
Profile
- Name: Lil Nas X
- Birth name: Montero Lamar Hill
- Birthday: April 9, 1999
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
- Height: 187 cm
- Instagram: @lilnasx
- Twitter: @LilNasX
Career
Lil Nas X rose to fame through deep internet engagement in his teens, withdrawing from social activities to build an online presence. He first tried comedy videos on Facebook and Instagram before finding success on Twitter, where his posts went viral. During this time, he ran a Nicki Minaj fan account, @NasMaraj, which was later suspended. Initially denying involvement, he later admitted he was a fan but feared assumptions about his sexuality.
In 2018, he decided to focus on music, recording songs in his closet under the name Lil Nas X as a tribute to rapper Nas. He released his first mixtape, Nasarati, in July 2018, but it failed to gain widespread attention. However, later that year, he stumbled upon the beat that would become “Old Town Road.”
Released in December 2018, “Old Town Road” became a viral sensation, largely due to its popularity on TikTok. The song’s catchy lyrics and cowboy imagery resonated with audiences, particularly children. It debuted modestly on the Billboard charts but eventually climbed to number one. However, controversy arose when Billboard removed it from the Hot Country Songs chart, stating it lacked essential country elements. The move sparked debates on racial bias in the genre. In response, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus joined a remix, which further propelled the song’s success. By April 2019, “Old Town Road” had broken streaming records, and Lil Nas X signed with Columbia Records.
His debut EP, 7, released in June 2019, included hits like “Panini” and “Rodeo.” That same month, he publicly came out as gay, an important moment in the hip-hop and country music industries, both known for their lack of LGBTQ+ representation.
At the 62nd Grammy Awards in January 2020, Nas won for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video for “Old Town Road.”
In 2021, Lil Nas X released his debut album, Montero, featuring the hit single “Montero” (Call Me by Your Name). The song, along with its controversial music video depicting religious and queer imagery, sparked strong reactions but also solidified his place as a bold and unapologetic artist. Around this time, he collaborated with MSCHF on “Satan Shoes,” custom Nike Air Max 97s that contained a drop of human blood. Nike sued MSCHF, adding to the controversy. Despite the backlash, Montero was a commercial success, producing more hits like “Industry Baby” and “That’s What I Want.”
In 2022, he teased new music and collaborated with Riot Games for the League of Legends World Championship theme song, “Star Walkin’.” His tour, Long Live Montero, further cemented his global appeal. In 2023, a documentary about his career premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, briefly delayed due to a bomb threat.
In early 2024, he released new singles, “J Christ” and Where “Do We Go Now,” alongside the streaming release of his documentary. With each new project, Lil Nas X continues to push creative boundaries and challenge industry norms.
Personal Life
Early Life
Lil Nas X was named after the Mitsubishi Montero. His parents divorced when he was six, and he lived with his mother and grandmother in Atlanta’s Bankhead Courts housing project. At nine, he moved in with his father, a gospel singer, in Austell, Georgia. Although he was initially hesitant to leave Atlanta, he later acknowledged that the move helped him avoid negative influences.
During his teenage years, he spent a lot of time alone and turned to the internet, particularly meme culture. Around the age of 13, he became deeply involved in social media, which later played a key role in his rise to fame. At the same time, he struggled with accepting his sexuality. He initially prayed for it to be a phase but eventually came to terms with being gay at around 16 or 17.
In school, he played the trumpet and was talented enough to become first chair, but he quit because he feared it would make him seem uncool. He graduated from Lithia Springs High School in 2017 and briefly attended the University of West Georgia, majoring in computer science. However, he dropped out after a year to focus on music. During this period, he stayed with his sister and supported himself by working at Zaxby’s and the Six Flags Over Georgia theme park. In September 2019, after achieving fame, he returned to his high school for a surprise concert.
Musical Talent Runs in the Family
Lil Nas X’s musical abilities are deeply rooted in his family. His father, R.L. Stafford, is a gospel singer and even contributed to the choir in Dead Right Now, a track from Montero. His brother, an up-and-coming music producer known as CloudJay, also played a key role in his early career. CloudJay later joined the military, but his early support helped shape Lil Nas X’s journey as an artist.
Cultural Impact
Lil Nas X’s breakthrough came with Old Town Road, a song that blended country and hip-hop. The track became a viral sensation, breaking records and sparking debates about genre classification in the music industry. His success led him to become the first person of color and the first openly gay performer to appear on Forbes’ Highest-Paid Country Acts List.
As his career evolved, he continued to challenge norms, particularly in LGBTQ+ representation. The music video for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) made waves for its unapologetically queer themes, including bold imagery of Lil Nas X pole-dancing into hell. Many praised him for breaking barriers, while others criticized the video, accusing it of promoting “Satanic” imagery. Some outlets compared the backlash to past controversies in music history, such as Madonna’s Like a Prayer, Lady Gaga’s Judas, and the conservative outrage against jazz music in the early 20th century.
Coming Out & Public Reception
As his fame grew, Lil Nas X decided to embrace his true identity. He first came out to his sister and brother, followed by his father, who initially struggled to understand but later became fully supportive. On June 30, 2019, the final day of Pride Month, he publicly came out by encouraging fans to listen closely to his song C7osure, which subtly referenced his sexuality.
He understood that this revelation could alienate parts of his fanbase, particularly in the hip-hop and country music scenes, where homophobia remains prevalent. Some rappers made homophobic remarks about him, particularly criticizing his bold fashion choices on the red carpet. However, he stood by his decision, later explaining, “I honestly felt like it was kind of my duty, especially if I wanted to move forward.”
Since coming out, he has embraced his identity more openly, incorporating queer themes into his music. His 2021 song Montero (Call Me By Your Name) was inspired by a romantic experience and was meant to help normalize LGBTQ+ representation in the music industry. He has expressed hope that his visibility will open doors for other queer artists.
The “Satan Shoes” Incident
In 2021, Lil Nas X sparked legal controversy when he collaborated with art collective MSCHF to release a limited-edition sneaker line dubbed the “Satan Shoes.” The 666 pairs of customized Nike Air Max 97s featured satanic imagery, including an inverted cross and a drop of human blood in the soles. Nike quickly distanced itself from the project and sued MSCHF, successfully halting sales. While the controversy stirred outrage, it also fueled conversations about artistic freedom and religious symbolism in pop culture.
Fashion & Style Evolution
Beyond music, Lil Nas X has gained recognition for his bold and innovative fashion choices. His stylist, Hodo Musa, who relocated from Oslo to work with him full-time, has praised his willingness to push boundaries.
In September 2021, he made his highly anticipated Met Gala debut, wearing a custom-designed gold ensemble by Donatella Versace. True to his dramatic style, he presented three distinct outfits throughout the night, making a strong impression on the fashion world.
Relationships
In 2021, Lil Nas X was romantically linked to dancer Yai Ariza, who appeared in his That’s What I Want music video. Their relationship was brief, and after their breakup, he reflected on his approach to love, stating, “I’m at a point where I finally realized that I don’t want to fall in love right now. I’m so focused on my music career, and love takes a lot of time and responsibility.”
Although he is currently prioritizing his career, he remains open to love when the time is right.
Fun Facts
- His stage name was inspired by a “stan” account he once ran on Twitter.
- He loves a good self-help book.
- The cover of his debut album has a layered origin story (The vivid artwork for Montero was inspired by artist John Stephens’s computer-generated Genesis II, a picture that Lil Nas X first encountered in this guy who he was dating’s dorm room.)
- He cites a certain, ahem, trip as a formative creative experience.
- In May 2021, Nas performed “Montero” (Call Me by Your Name) and “Sun Goes Down” on SNL, where his pants split mid-performance, a mishap he later confirmed was unplanned.
- Nas combined catchy music with digital savvy, making over 100 videos to turn Old Town Road into a viral movement.
