Lil Nas X, Country Music's Unlikely Son, Sparks Conversation On Genre And Race
5 years, 9 months ago

Lil Nas X, Country Music's Unlikely Son, Sparks Conversation On Genre And Race

NPR  

Lil Nas X, Country Music's Unlikely Son, Sparks Conversation On Genre And Race Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Lagg/Courtesy of the artist Eric Lagg/Courtesy of the artist When an artist finds their song climbing up the Billboard charts for the first time, it's usually a cause for celebration. But in the case of 19-year-old rapper Lil Nas X and his viral hit, "Old Town Road," it's also been a cause of controversy. "Old Town Road" blends genres of country and trap and in March, the song charted on Billboard's Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts simultaneously. With songs like "Old Town Road" changing the playing field, Sanders says it's country's job to adapt.

Music Country Music Artists Songs Road Old Town Billboard Nas Lil Old Town Road Lil Nas X Country Song  race  country  song  unlikely  nas  road  songs  x  musics  artists  lil  town  old  son  genre  sparks  music

History of this topic

Beyonce just dropped the most exciting country album of the year. What a pity Nashville didn’t want it
9 months, 1 week ago

Beyonce just dropped the most exciting country album of the year. What a pity Nashville didn’t want it

The Independent  

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But just 10 days before Cowboy Carter’s release, Beyoncé …

Lil Nas X review, Montero: Bursting with technicolour heart
3 years, 3 months ago

Lil Nas X review, Montero: Bursting with technicolour heart

The Independent  

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy “You’s a meme, you’s a …

Fans hail Lil Nas X’s ‘unapologetically Black and unapologetically queer’ debut album
3 years, 3 months ago

Fans hail Lil Nas X’s ‘unapologetically Black and unapologetically queer’ debut album

LA Times  

Tell ‘em that the wait is over: Lil Nas X’s highly anticipated debut album is finally here. The future is bright.” “i love that Lil Nas X is unapologetically Black and unapologetically queer,” echoed Rewire News Group’s Imani Gandy. In keeping with his promotional fake-pregnancy stunt leading up to the arrival of “Montero,” Lil Nas X has also included a …

The wait is nearly over: Lil Nas X tells fans his debut album is finally coming out
3 years, 6 months ago

The wait is nearly over: Lil Nas X tells fans his debut album is finally coming out

LA Times  

Teasing his debut album, Lil Nas X has released a Marvel-inspired trailer to tide over fans hungry for new music. While the album’s release date is still unknown, fans can stream Lil Nas X’s EP, “7,” and his latest single, “Sun Goes Down,” until then. The trailer comes just days after the “Old Town Road” hitmaker’s 2021 BET Awards performance …

Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero’ and the delight of yet another satanic panic
3 years, 9 months ago

Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero’ and the delight of yet another satanic panic

LA Times  

Let’s give Lil Nas X credit for the ample ground he breaks in the splashy music video for his new song “Montero.” Released Friday, when it began its instant ascent toward the top of YouTube’s Trending chart, the clip by the singer, rapper and meme lord is the first I can recall seeing in which a long-haired gentleman slides down …

Lil Nas X 'wiped his schedule' to perform at Melbourne bushfire relief concert
4 years, 10 months ago

Lil Nas X 'wiped his schedule' to perform at Melbourne bushfire relief concert

Daily Mail  

Miley Cyrus and Lil Nas X are set to perform at a bushfire relief concert in Melbourne later this month. The pair are close friends, and Lil Nas X even collaborated with Miley's father, Billy Ray Cyrus, on a remix of his hit single Old Town Road. Giving back: Miley Cyrus and Lil Nas X will perform at a bushfire …

The Grammys may be our last time to see Lil Nas X in full cowboy gear: His stylist clues us in
4 years, 11 months ago

The Grammys may be our last time to see Lil Nas X in full cowboy gear: His stylist clues us in

LA Times  

Rapper, singer and songwriter Lil Nas X, right, and stylist Hodo Musa, pose for a portrait at Cactus Cube Studio in December 2019. Musa describes Lil Nas X’s style as “fun, adventurous, colorful.” It’s also a boon that her collaborator “really loves to go into character,” she says. The video for “Old Town Road” had just premiered and Lil Nas …

Will Grammy voters take the ‘Old Town Road’ on Sunday?
4 years, 11 months ago

Will Grammy voters take the ‘Old Town Road’ on Sunday?

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The 2020 Grammy Awards are shaping up to be the night of the new kids, with Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X leading in nominations. _____ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: “I,I,” Bon Iver; “Norman Rockwell!,” Lana Del Rey; “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” Billie Eilish; “Thank U, Next,” Ariana Grande; “I Used …

盘点：2019年最热门的12首流行歌曲
5 years ago

盘点：2019年最热门的12首流行歌曲

China Daily  

Every song that hit No. Ariana Grande/YouTube "Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande 《谢谢你，下一个》，爱莉安娜·格兰德 Ariana Grande's 2018 single "Thank U, Next" continued its Billboard Hot 100 reign into the first week of 2019. 《傻瓜》发行首周就登顶公告牌百强单曲榜，并占据榜首长达一周。 >>点击这里试听 "Old Town Road" was released on December 3, 2018. Lil Nas X/YouTube "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X 《老镇路》，利尔·纳斯·X After spending just five weeks …

Best albums and songs of 2019: Solange, Lana Del Rey and the miracle that is ‘Old Town Road’
5 years ago

Best albums and songs of 2019: Solange, Lana Del Rey and the miracle that is ‘Old Town Road’

LA Times  

For an almost-five-month stretch this year, no musician over the age of 22 could lay claim to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 — one reason it’s easy to view pop right now as a young person’s game. Lana Del Rey, “Norman F— Rockwell!” Speaking of places: A style-obsessed singer long haunted by California’s myths finally digs beneath the …

Lil Nas X on coming out: ‘I wanted to be someone that people are proud of’
5 years, 1 month ago

Lil Nas X on coming out: ‘I wanted to be someone that people are proud of’

LA Times  

The morning before Thanksgiving, Lil Nas X was driving around Atlanta recounting the whirlwind year in which he broke longstanding Billboard chart records, became the biggest gay pop star in the world and scored six Grammy nominations, including best new artist, record and album of the year. He has been going nonstop since his country-rap confection “Old Town Road” teleported …

How Billie Eilish, Lizzo and Lil Nas X rewrote the rules for stardom and took over the Grammys
5 years, 1 month ago

How Billie Eilish, Lizzo and Lil Nas X rewrote the rules for stardom and took over the Grammys

LA Times  

As recently as 18 months ago, much of the world had never heard of Billie Eilish, Lizzo or Lil Nas X. In a first in Recording Academy history, two artists — Eilish, the teenage goth-pop phenom who grew up home-schooled in Highland Park, and Lizzo, the body-positive R&B belter whose breakout tune proudly announces she’s “100% that bitch” — both …

How Jon Pardi updates big-hat country for the ‘Old Town Road’ generation
5 years, 3 months ago

How Jon Pardi updates big-hat country for the ‘Old Town Road’ generation

LA Times  

Jon Pardi this month in California. Pardi’s third major-label release since he moved to Nashville from Dixon over a decade ago, “Heartache Medication” arrives amid a widespread resurgence of affection for country from the 1990s, when the genre was ruled by showy but tradition-minded stars such as Garth Brooks, who headlined Stagecoach last year, and Alan Jackson, whose “Chattahoochee” has …

Lil Nas X Reacts To Scoring A CMA Award Nom After Country Chart Controversy
5 years, 4 months ago

Lil Nas X Reacts To Scoring A CMA Award Nom After Country Chart Controversy

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Lil Nas X has earned a nomination for the Country Music Association’s upcoming 53rd annual CMA Awards for his record-breaking song “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. https://t.co/YFMudfHWQI — nope August 28, 2019 The original version of “Old Town Road,” which was released in December, spurred wide conversation about discrimination in the country music industry when …

Blake Shelton denies new single insults Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’
5 years, 4 months ago

Blake Shelton denies new single insults Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’

The Independent  

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Blake Shelton has denied that …

Lil Nas X says the 'universe' pushed him to come out after Old Town Road's success
5 years, 4 months ago

Lil Nas X says the 'universe' pushed him to come out after Old Town Road's success

Daily Mail  

He's become an LGBTQ icon since coming out as gay after the runaway success of his hit Old Town Road. It's a sign: Lil Nas X said that he was pushed by the universe to come out as gay earlier this year as he sat down with Time Magazine for their latest cover story Lil Nas X - given name …

Lil Nas X’s viral song sets more records on Billboard charts
5 years, 4 months ago

Lil Nas X’s viral song sets more records on Billboard charts

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Lil Nas X is galloping his way to two new records on the Billboard charts thanks to the massive success of “Old Town Road.” The song that beat out Mariah Carey and “Despacito” to become the longest-running No. 1 hit in the history of the Hot 100 chart has now set records on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs …

As Lil Nas X's Old Town Road becomes all-time longest-running Billboard No 1, a look at how it got there
5 years, 5 months ago

As Lil Nas X's Old Town Road becomes all-time longest-running Billboard No 1, a look at how it got there

Firstpost  

In a way, it’s fitting that Lil Nas X has rewritten the pages of history in Billboard, the American industry bible that deemed “Old Town Road” ineligible for its country music chart because “it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music”, a decision that drew allegations of racism File it under things you never imagined would happen. In …

Lil Nas X makes history as ‘Old Town Road’ breaks Billboard Hot 100 record
5 years, 5 months ago

Lil Nas X makes history as ‘Old Town Road’ breaks Billboard Hot 100 record

The Independent  

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Lil Nas X’s song “Old …

Mariah Carey congratulates Lil Nas X for his smash hit Old Town Road
5 years, 5 months ago

Mariah Carey congratulates Lil Nas X for his smash hit Old Town Road

Daily Mail  

After holding the Billboard record for 24 years, pop diva Mariah Carey congratulated Lil Nas X for breaking her record with his crossover hit Old Town Road. Congrats: After holding the Billboard record for 24 years, pop diva Mariah Carey congratulated Lil Nas X for breaking her record with his crossover hit Old Town Road Carey took to to Twitter …

Lil Nas X came out, but has hip-hop? A macho culture faces a crossroads
5 years, 5 months ago

Lil Nas X came out, but has hip-hop? A macho culture faces a crossroads

LA Times  

Lil Nas X, at JMBLYA at Fair Park in Dallas in May, came out as gay June 30. “But I look back at this moment, I’ll see that I’m fine.” Overnight, the 20-year-old Atlanta native — born Montero Lamar Hill — became the biggest gay pop star in the world. “Lil Nas X re-imagined an image of the Wrangler-wearing, horseback-riding …

Lil Nas X sets new Billboard record for most weeks at No.1
5 years, 5 months ago

Lil Nas X sets new Billboard record for most weeks at No.1

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — It’s one sweet day for Lil Nas X: The breakthrough rapper’s viral “Old Town Road” has broken the Billboard record set by Mariah Carey’s “One Sweet Day” for most weeks at No. 1 song of all-time,” said Lil Nas X, sporting a cowboy hat as he played “Old Town Road” in the background. “Let’s go!” “Old Town …

Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ dethrones ‘Despacito’ with new chart record
5 years, 5 months ago

Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ dethrones ‘Despacito’ with new chart record

LA Times  

Move over, Mariah and Daddy Yankee — there’s a new cowboy in town. Billboard announced Monday that “Old Town Road” — the left-field country-trap smash by 20-year-old Lil Nas X — has held on to its spot atop the Hot 100 for a record 17th week. A slow-rolling tune about horses set to a banjo lick sampled from an obscure …

Lil Nas X ties Billboard record set by Mariah, ‘Despacito’
5 years, 5 months ago

Lil Nas X ties Billboard record set by Mariah, ‘Despacito’

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Lil Nas X has taken his horse to the old town road and ridden it to the top of the Billboard charts for 16 weeks, tying a record set by Mariah Carey and Luis Fonsi. The country-rap “Old Town Road” was originally a solo song, but 20-year-old Lil Nas X added Billy Ray Cyrus to the track …

Young Thug says Lil Nas X shouldn't have come out as gay: 'These days it's all judgement'
5 years, 5 months ago

Young Thug says Lil Nas X shouldn't have come out as gay: 'These days it's all judgement'

Daily Mail  

Lil Nas X has received a flood of support as well as hateful comments on social media since he came out in a tweet at the end of Pride Week late last month. Worried about backlash: Young Thug says Lil Nas X should have kept his sexual orientation private because 'these days it's all about judgement' in a new interview …

The infinite remix potential of "Old Town Road"
5 years, 5 months ago

The infinite remix potential of "Old Town Road"

Salon  

The year is 2029; “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X has topped the charts consecutively for a decade. Twitter users began predicting similar futures after a weekend heavy on talks of potential remixes of “Old Town Road,” the viral, genre-blurring country-trap song initially released in December 2018. Last Friday, Lil Nas X released a highly-anticipated remix of the song …

Lil Nas X: 'I’m Already Getting' Backlash For Coming Out As Gay
5 years, 6 months ago

Lil Nas X: 'I’m Already Getting' Backlash For Coming Out As Gay

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Lil Nas X surprised fans last weekend when he opened up about his sexuality for the first time publicly in a series of tweets. The “Old Town Road” star last Sunday urged his Twitter followers to “listen closely” to his song “C7osure” before the end of LGBTQ Pride Month. deadass thought i made it obvious pic.twitter.com/HFCbVqBkLM — …

Miley Cyrus, Dwayne Wade and more show support for Lil Nas X after receiving homophobic comments
5 years, 6 months ago

Miley Cyrus, Dwayne Wade and more show support for Lil Nas X after receiving homophobic comments

Daily Mail  

Lil Nas X may be out and proud but he's not immune to homophobia. Home of phobic: The artist, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, took to Instagram Tuesday with the meme of the sad cowboy emoji pointing a gun: 'say one more home of phobic thing to me' Supportive friends: Famous friends like Dwayne Wade quickly rallied around …

Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" star power and country's queer visibility
5 years, 6 months ago

Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" star power and country's queer visibility

Salon  

On Sunday, rapper Lil Nas X of viral, genre-blurring country-trap “Old Town Road” fame came out as gay. As Salon’s Rachel Leah wrote in April, the viral success of Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" sparked dialogue in the country music community about genre, race and the exclusion of black artists after Billboard pulled his single from the Hot Country …

Country rapper Lil Nas X comes out as gay in Pride tweets
5 years, 6 months ago

Country rapper Lil Nas X comes out as gay in Pride tweets

LA Times  

“Old Town Road” phenom Lil Nas X made some major allusions on Sunday, leading many to believe that he came out as gay. The country-music rapper closed out Pride Month all but saying so in a series of rainbow-hued tweets pointing fans to his song “C7osure ” and acknowledging that it might make them lose interest in him. “C7losure,” from …

Correction: US-Music-Lil Nas X story
5 years, 6 months ago

Correction: US-Music-Lil Nas X story

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a story June 10 about Lil Nas X, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Broken Bow Records had “just signed” Blanco Brown and misspelled the title of his song as “The Get Up.” Brown was signed in 2018 and the name of his song is “The Git Up.” A corrected version of the story is below: …

Lil Nas X is a meme star, sure, but his debut EP reveals a star, period
5 years, 6 months ago

Lil Nas X is a meme star, sure, but his debut EP reveals a star, period

LA Times  

Pop Music Critic Six months after he posted the song on the internet, three months after Billboard said it wasn’t a country song and two months after it went to No. 1 on the Hot 100 — where it’s stayed put ever since, fending off would-be chart-toppers from superstars like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran — Lil Nas X’s “Old …

Lil Nas X releases Old Town Road music video with Billy Ray Cyrus
5 years, 7 months ago

Lil Nas X releases Old Town Road music video with Billy Ray Cyrus

Daily Mail  

Lil Nas X brought the wild, wild west to the 21st century in his new music video for hit song Old Town Road which was released on Friday. Work of art: Lil Nas X, 20, brought the wild, wild west to the 21st century in his new music video for hit song Old Town Road with Billy Ray Cyrus, 57, …

Return of the cowboy: How musicians in 2019 are rewriting an American icon
5 years, 7 months ago

Return of the cowboy: How musicians in 2019 are rewriting an American icon

The Independent  

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ladbroke Grove rapper AJ Tracey released the song “Country …

Kids' Remix Of 'Old Town Road' Gets Lil Nas X And Billy Ray Cyrus' Seal Of Approval
5 years, 8 months ago

Kids' Remix Of 'Old Town Road' Gets Lil Nas X And Billy Ray Cyrus' Seal Of Approval

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING It’s as inspirational as it is adorable. An educator in Birmingham, Alabama, has shared footage online of her third-grade students performing their own take on Lil Nas X’s remixed version of “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. pic.twitter.com/GwhbN57I5I — Billy Ray Cyrus May 4, 2019 Merlette told HuffPost that the worldwide response to the video, which …

Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ sounds like country’s future. So why has Nashville snubbed it?
5 years, 8 months ago

Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ sounds like country’s future. So why has Nashville snubbed it?

LA Times  

The spirit of Johnny Cash — and of country music itself — is as thick as the pollen at the Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, Tenn. Born from something called the “Yee Haw Challenge” on the video-sharing app TikTok, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” has gone from viral meme to No. “It’s not surprising that ‘Old Town Road’ is where …

“Old Town Road”: Billboard’s removal of Lil Nas X from the country charts reveals problems beyond race.
5 years, 8 months ago

“Old Town Road”: Billboard’s removal of Lil Nas X from the country charts reveals problems beyond race.

Slate  

Before I talk about the new No. Because Lil Nas X had tagged the song on digital services as country, “Old Town Road” was allowed onto Hot Country Songs for a single week—it made a notably high debut at No. Billboard’s official statement, repeated across the media, was that the song “incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery does not …

Lil Nas X and "Old Town Road" expose the myth of Nashville's country-purity standards
5 years, 9 months ago

Lil Nas X and "Old Town Road" expose the myth of Nashville's country-purity standards

Salon  

In Atlanta last weekend the sun beat down; the hot, Southern air hung thick and moist already, not even halfway into April. "While 'Old Town Road' incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version," Billboard told Rolling Stone in a statement. The move followed this …

Who is Lil Nas X? US rapper collaborates with Billy Ray Cyrus on ‘Old Town Road’ remix
5 years, 9 months ago

Who is Lil Nas X? US rapper collaborates with Billy Ray Cyrus on ‘Old Town Road’ remix

The Independent  

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Lil Nas X’s track “Old Town Road” was released …

Billy Ray Cyrus on Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ is the pop opportunist we’ve always known
5 years, 9 months ago

Billy Ray Cyrus on Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ is the pop opportunist we’ve always known

LA Times  

Pop Music Critic Only a rube would look at this new remix of “Old Town Road” — in which Billy Ray Cyrus jumps on the controversial country-trap hit by Lil Nas X — as an act of pure altruism. “Old Town Road,” with its sampled banjo lick and Lil Nas X’s rhymes about horses and boots, is no less a …

Billboard removes rapper Lil Nas X from country chart
5 years, 9 months ago

Billboard removes rapper Lil Nas X from country chart

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Billboard told rapper Lil Nas X to take his horse and giddy up when they decided to remove his viral hit “Old Town Road” from their country charts because they determined it wasn’t country enough. In a story first reported by Rolling Stone, Billboard removed the song from the country chart, although it remains on rap/hip hop …

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