Timed to the Thursday night release of his latest single “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X has shared a touching letter he wrote to his younger self, reassuring “20 year old Montero” that everything is going to be OK.
Now only 22, the letter shows just how far the performer has come in such a short amount of time. Two years ago, Nas X was on a rocket ride going from unknown Soundcloud musician to worldwide phenomenon as “Old Town Road” topped the charts and refused to budge for 17 months.
During that time, he was closeted and worrying that his career would only ever be defined by “Old Town Road.”
Related: Lil Nas X just perfectly trolled straight people…again
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“I wrote a song for us. I know sometimes you feel like it’s all downhill from here,” he begins his letter. “I know your sexuality has made you feel like an outcast amongst your peers. I know going from having the biggest song in the world to being trapped in your apartment is weighing heavy on you. And I know if you hear the phrase ‘one hit wonder’ one more time you might combust.”
He continued:
“But I need you to keep going. I need you to realize that you have the opportunity to be the person that you needed growing up. I need you to stop feeling sorry for yourself. And I need you to remember that the only person who has to believe in YOU is YOU.”
“INDUSTRY BABY” ?
TOMORROW NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/WhGh3Sk72C— nope ?? (@LilNasX) July 22, 2021
Related: PHOTOS: Up close with Yai Ariza, dancer who kissed Lil Nas X on stage
Back in March when he released “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”, Nas X wrote another letter, this time to his 14-year-old self:
“Dear 14-year-old Montero, I wrote a song with our name in it. It’s about a guy I met last summer. I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised to never be ‘that’ type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist.”
He continued:
“You see this is very scary for me, people will be angry, they will say I’m pushing an agenda. But the truth is, I am. The agenda to make people stay the fuck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be. Sending you love from the future.”
Mister P
I am happy for him and his success!!
Kangol2
Lil Nas X has come a long way, and these letters, like the songs, are so important in helping younger (and probably some older) LGBTQ people, especially kids of color, understand that it’s OK to be themselves, even if there are some high hurdles along the way. Wishing him much more success!
Jack
Lil’ Nas X is a strong, confident, incredibly talented man. The black community has a long way to go in accepting their queer black children instead of shunning or being ashamed of them. Go Montero. I’m glad you kept going.
LumpyPillows
Lil’ Nas on one end of the spectrum, 50 Cent on the other. Biggest contrast in talent, intelligence and style I ever saw.
azjeff17
He made it to us just at the right time!
Man About Town
In addition to having extraordinary musical versatility, he’s amazingly photogenic.
Reminds me of what my dad used to say about Tom Jones: “A double treat: he’s not only a great singer, but you get a free dance lesson out of it!”
jcool
impressively mature for 22.
Sqwoah
what kind of narcisist attention whore writes a letter to his younger self and then posts it on social media? Maybe he wasn’t driven by narcissism – maybe he was just trying to be emotionally manipulative – after all, Queerty published an article about it and a half dozen commenters have lapped it all up – hook, line and sinker.
Terrycloth
He is a one hit wonder. .milking it for all it’s worth. I didn’t like old town road. Its boring ..his follow up record didn’t spark much interest either..good for him though found a way to be famous , get rich ..laughing all the way to the bank