When Old Town Road took off in 2019, the world knew Lil Nas X was different. Further confirmation came in the form of diamond certification, a follow up that reached #5 on the Hot 100, a questionable feature from the great Nas himself, a disclosure of his sexual identity, a CMA award, the list goes on…
The discussion of the emergence of a full-fledged “gay rapper” had all but been abandoned in the wake of rumors and speculation of numerous rappers. The new world we live in coupled with the nature of Nas X’s music rendered the mid 2019 gay announcement all but immediately ignorable. Almost two years later, it seems that we were not talking about him enough anymore.
Enter the 2021 release of his new single Montero (Call Me By Your Name). A deceptively complex production that is not outside the wheelhouse we have come to expect from the leader of the new school. A poppy, somewhat reggaeton inspired record featuring X embracing his sexuality with wordplay that sounds poignantly directed.
But Nas X’s sexual identity and preference is not the focus here. The visual for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) depicts the artist in his own eden before ascending to heaven only to be turned away and twirling a stripper pole all the way to hell where he proceeds to do his best impression of Infernus form GTA 5 with the devil incarnate, going on to take the crown of Satan for his own.
Hours later, the Georgia artist would announce the upcoming release of his “Satan Shoes”, an unsanctioned collaboration with clothing brand MSCHF on then iconic Nike Air Max ’97, an all black silhouette with a pentagram lace-tag and real human blood swooshing around in the air bag.
The shoes, dope or nope, as well as the record, hip hop or not, are a reflection of what is now allowed in our culture. In the morning of NFT’s, they both can be looked at as a legitimate work of art, as can the previously released MSCHF x INRI “Jesus Shoes”. One of both at the same time is definitely a fit. Add in the music video, co-directed by Nas X, currently being compared to Kanye West’s long-form visual and it’s clear, this guy’s talent is undeniable.
Just for giggles and shits, what if, in the video, he was giving Hitler a lap dance? What if he was shown grinding on God? Would we keep the same energy? What if Gospel Rap took the forefront to the rap scene after this video and shoe drop? What if we didn’t give a fuck and stopped paying attention to it? To it all.
Lil’ Nas X and the machine behind him are doing this for a reason and it’s not because they know it won’t fail. Hate it or love it, Montero (Call Me By Your Name) is a hit and Lil Nas X is not going to stop pushing his audience to it’s limit of acceptance.
Check the controversy below here.