Lil Nas X has talked about his career, being out in the industry and the reaction to his recent, Billboard-topping single, ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’ to Entertainment Weekly. The rapper is among four front cover stars for the magazine’s Pride issue.
The other three cover stars are SNL’s Bowen Yang, Pose actress MJ Rodriguez, and writer, producer and director Lena Waithe.
Lil Nas X, real name Montero Lamar Hill, 22, prompted a huge reaction with the release of the video for ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’, which found him sliding down a pole into the pit of hell and giving Satan a lap dance.
In the interview, he admits he was initially worried whether the video and lyrics might alienate some of his straight fans.
“At first I was really afraid of alienating any of my straight fans. But then it was kind of like, if they feel offended, they were never really here for me. They were here for whatever version of myself they made up in their head.”
Related: He did it: Lil Nas X takes “song about gay sex” to top of Billboard Hot 100
However, after the video racked up millions of views and the song topped the charts around the world, he knew he’d been right to be himself.
“Once you show the world more of yourself they can relate more.
“Looking back on history, the biggest icons, the biggest artists, are the ones who aren’t trying to always make everybody happy and who were doing themselves. I hope to do that at all times.”
He said he was touched and encouraged by his queer fans, particularly the ones who tell him that he inspired them to come out.
“I want to be a voice for those who pretend to be themselves, but aren’t quite there yet.”
He also said his dream collaboration would be with Drake: “He’s been able to transform himself over and over in his career, which is what I plan on doing in my own, plus he’s super fucking talented.”
Related: Lil Nas X headed to ‘SNL’…with a brand new track
Earlier this week it was revealed that Lil Nas X would be the musical guest on the final episode of this season’s Saturday Night Live on May 22. Besides performing ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’, he is expected to debut a new track.
The Pride issue of Entertainment Weekly is out May 14. You can check out a video below in which all four cover stars talk about the meaning of Pride month, their influences and people they’d love to work with.
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Donston
It did alienate some fans, especially ones with some degree of discomfort towards homo passions and male-male affections and some with a degree of covert homophobia, internalized homophobia and/or femme-phobia. But honestly, if the song and video weren’t so unabashedly “gay”, I don’t think either would have been very successful. Lil Nas X doesn’t have great degree of talent. So, I don’t think someone like him can be out and “gay” identifying and not be overt with the queerness. There was really no other place for him to take his career and image. But I suppose it does take some degree of bravery.
galileo
He has done very well for someone who “doesn’t have great degree of talent”, which is rather at odds with that comment. As it is, I find the phrasing you have used overall to be a little off.
Donston
For me, he’s not particularly solid when it comes to producing, singing, songwriting, dancing, rapping or performing. And I’ve yet to take a liking to any of his songs or find any of the them more than passable radio fodder. However, he is likable, non-messy and non-problematic. But he’s not a pushover, and he’s unabashedly himself. While there are popular acts with less talent. So, he’s easy to root for.
Catholicslutbox
Mainstream musicians rely more on catchy tunes than (actually) good songs and Marketing plays an even bigger role than that.
Most people don’t even listen to the lyrics and they don’t write them themselves either. Look at RuPauls autotune songs. Do you think people actually buy them because of what he… sings? raps? what?… about?
This dude basically “regrets” his “Artistic expression” because it’ll cost him $$$. especially with the black community. I’m not surprised he’s backtracking. I’m surprised the label let him release it.
Donston
Lil Nas X would probably have been here and gone in a year if he didn’t come out and become unabashedly “queer”. It was a risk and probably a difficult step on a personal level. And he’s already talked about how his label did not want him to be out. But more than likely without coming out and fully embracing a “gay” image he would have been a fad. Him fully embracing “queerness” probably lost him some fans but it also extended his career and kept him from just being the “Old Town Road” dude.
He has said multiple times that he doesn’t at all regret “coming out”. All he said here is that he was worried that the new single might be too “gay” to be a mainstream hit. That’s not the same thing as backtracking or wishing that he didn’t come out. Where are you even getting that from with his quotes? And in case you haven’t paid attention, the new “too gay” single went to number 1. And it being so unabashedly “gay” is partly why it made such a splash.
Pop music has always been about marketing and catchy toons. But a lot of it can still be quality or at least interesting and fun. There’s nothing wrong with pop music. I enjoy a lot of modern mainstream music. It’s just that LNX’s music hasn’t done much for me yet. I don’t resent his success and popularity though.
Kangol2
@Donston, thank you for your comments. @CatholicSlutBox completely misread the article in part to find a way to trash the “black community” (as if there’s just one), when the reality is, as you pointed out and as Billboard’s charts, Spotify, etc. all attest, the song went to No. 1, primarily because of Black fans and Lil Nas X’s broader audience. On top of this, he did not “backtrack” at all, but in fact went all the way, and continues to do so. Letting the world know you were worried at first but stuck with your guns is different from expressing regret. He’s done exactly the opposite. I do like his music, including a number of the other songs on the first album, like “Panini,” and clearly he is touching a chord for listeners. People don’t have to like or his music, but he clearly knows what he’s doing, and is succeeding at it.
Kangol2
I’m glad he stuck to his initial vision and didn’t water down and de-gay “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” to make it more palatable to straight audiences. The song has been a sensation and had such an impact that anti-gay creeps in Congress and in pulpits were denouncing him, only generating more interest. Talk about salesmanship!
He’s also following in a long tradition of LGBTQ musicians, some very successful, who have been pushed the boundaries and succeeded. Like Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter, Little Richard, Elton John, David Bowie, Boy George, K. D. Lang, Tracy Chapman, Me’Shell Ndege’Ocello, and many others, he has pushed the envelope, and the result has been success.
He’s smart, funny, brave, handsome, and more talented than he’s given credit for, and I hope he continues to innovate and break the mold, especially now when many people seem to want to revert to heteronorms and homonormativity too. Be yourself, keep making your music, Lil Nas X, and enjoy the ride!
nm4047
I don’t think it the song that’s alienating (not just) str8 ppl.
AxelDC
He thought fellating Satan might shock people. Hmmm..
Invader7
Forget about what heteros think !!! I could care less what anyone thinks..