Lil Nas X Doesn’t Want People to Look Up to Him
In just two short years, Lil Nas X has become one of music’s biggest new stars. The Grammy-winning rapper has kicked down doors in the industry and set an example for how to fully live in one’s truth. But by no means does he consider himself a role model.
Lil Nas X represented something different for hip-hop
Hip-hop has been notoriously homophobic since its inception over four decades ago. While LGBTQ+ rappers had been working for years, many of them never got the same amount of media attention as Lil Nas eventually did.
As a Gen Z rapper, Lil Nas grew up on the Internet. He famously ran a stan Twitter account and was an avid fan of Nicki Minaj. So when he burst onto the scene in 2019, he had an inside knowledge of how to use social media (and media in general) to write his own narrative.
Lil Nas came out in June 2019, while hit smash breakout single “Old Town Road” continued to dominate the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the time since then, Lil Nas has proudly embraced his sexuality in his music and his performances, angering many homophobes who would rather see him fail. By being so outwardly proud of himself in a music space that has not been welcoming to LGBTQ+ people, Lil Nas is at the forefront of a new generation of artists that are rewriting music history.
Lil Nas X admits he isn’t a perfect person
Though many people look up to him, Lil Nas has never been comfortable with being seen as a role model. He admitted in a 2021 interview with Apple Music that he’s human just like everyone else.
“I’m really going to need people to bear with me, because even a lot of things I say and feel now, I may not feel the same way in two years, you know?” he said honestly. “That’s another reason I want people to look at me more as someone who’s saying ‘Do what you want to do; be yourself, but try to respect other people.’ But don’t look at me as this perfect hero who’s not going to make mistakes and should be the voice for everybody or something.”
“No, you’re the voice for you,” he concluded.
Some rappers want to work with him
As a result of him being open and honest about his sexuality, Lil Nas hasn’t received many calls from other rappers in the industry to collaborate. The only other emcees on his debut album Montero are Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, and Jack Harlow.
He admitted that most of the other Black men in the industry don’t care to work with him. But rapper Kid Cudi spoke up.
“N—- I’ll work w u and frolic in rose gardens w u singin about my pain,” he told Lil Nas in a tweet.
Lil Nas was thrilled about the prospect, tweeting: “U heard it here first everybody, Kid Cudi x Lil Nas for Montero deluxe [version].”
