Lil Nas X is back and seemingly more powerful, talented, and handsome than ever. The rapper recently underwent a period of self-reflection after revealing that he used to feel embarrassed to post videos and release music because it wasn’t making the same numbers as it used to. But in the past few weeks, he’s audaciously rejoined social media with a bang, crafting inspiring, funny, and innovative videos while showcasing his newer, bolder take on rap music.
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The award-winning rapper initially rose to fame with his breakout hit, Old Town Road, which broke records and brought him home two Grammys. At the time, Nas wasn’t as out about his sexuality. His EP was highly praised for interweaving country with hip-hop elements, which naturally spawned bigots, but it wasn’t enough to stop him.
Around the time of his big break, Lil Nas X came out as gay on the last day of Pride Month in 2019, and so did his old Nicki Minaj stan account, Nasmaraj. The account was immediately recognized by long-time Twitter users and the bad, ugly, and worst quickly came out, leading him to apologize to Nicki Minaj for denying being a Barb. The exchange felt unbalanced and unwarranted since he’d only denied being one to protect his privacy and because he was scared of being outed.
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The public scrutiny didn’t stop there as Nas proceeded to drop controversial music videos like Call Me By Your Name, Industry Baby, and J Christ over the next couple of years. J Christ is when the public seemed to grow weary of the antics. We watched as his music transitioned from “safe” hits to mature soul-searching bops as Nas explored a more vulnerable side of himself.
Despite the rough optics on Nas in recent years, we’re happy to see him in better spirits and creating authentic music that speaks to who he’s becoming. His new music is crucial, especially as the tides shift around queerness. Nas is a dark-skinned gay man, and he’s revolutionizing the rap game by not playing it safe or allowing homophobia to intimidate him. We don’t have many mainstream queer dark-skinned artists representing what it means to be a star, as we’re currently seeing the well-deserved hype with Doechii on the rise.
Lil Nas X’s latest act comes just in time. The new music showcases his deep hunger and seems to promise a new era for his music, activism, and creative power.
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