"You see people really explaining all the different reasons they have to, honestly, fear someone like him."įor those who support Lil Nas X, Kornhaber explained, they point to DaBaby's comments as evidence that music like Industry Baby is sorely needed to increase representation and inclusion.īut others, including rappers Boosie and T.I., brought up Lil Nas X in their defence of DaBaby, arguing that if he's allowed to act in ways that provoke them, then rappers like DaBaby should be able to do the same. "In the last few weeks, you've seen all the different ways that someone like Nas is disruptive to a bunch of old ideas and assumptions and hierarchies," Kornhaber said. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/The Associated Press)
The 22-year-old has continually challenged what a hip-hop pop star looks like. Lil Nas X, centre, kisses a dancer at the conclusion of his performance at the BET Awards on June 27 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Performing openly and proudly gay music as a male pop star is a rarity in the industry, and Lil Nas X is leading it through a reckoning with open displays of queer sexuality, kicking up controversy not unlike what female pop stars - from Britney Spears to Nicki Minaj - have faced in the past for their videos.Īt the same time, some LGBT musicians argue that solely focusing on Lil Nas X as making hip hop more inclusive is both unfair to him and ignores the work that a litany of other queer artists have done in the genre for years - in the face of serious adversity.
Now Lil Nas X is grappling with even more challenging - and insidious - issues.
His early 2019 smash-hit Old Town Road broke down barriers on what constitutes country music, its intersection with rap, and what kind of voices are heard.Īnd as the song steadily rose up the Billboard country charts (before being disqualified for not fitting the genre), it prompted a re-evaluation of the industry. That's because the 22-year-old rapper's music perpetually challenges the genres it inhabits. And, he’ll be brave enough to take it on.Love him or hate him, the one thing you can't say about Lil Nas X - or his music - is that he's boring. īut knowing the internet, there will be more hate spewed at Lil Nas X. but i make my first song about a nigga and now it’s my entire artistry. It’s a million niggas in the industry that make nothing but songs about women and y’all don’t complain.
i’m acknowledging the fact that we aren’t usually as successful as our peers.
Y’all crack me up man,” Nas wrote before putting the moment to rest. But I make my first song about a n***a and now it’s my entire artistry. What’s not clicking starbucks spellman,” Lil Nas X clarified in response to a now-deleted tweet by user a million n***as in the industry that make nothing but songs about women and y’all don’t complain. I’m acknowledging the fact that we aren’t usually as successful as our peers. After seeing the conflict over his initial tweet, Lil Nas X wrote a follow-up tweet.