‘Old Town Road’ rapper Lil Nas X comes out in series of tweets
Artist said he thought it was 'obvious' that he was part of the LGBTQ community
Lil Nas X, the 20-year-old rapper known for the world-conquering hip-hop smash “Old Town Road,” has come out as LGBTQ in a series of tweets.
Posted on June 30, the last day of Pride Month, Lil Nas X initially directed fans to his song “c7osure” on new E.P. 7.
“Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more,” he tweeted, “but before this month ends i want y’all to listen closely to c7osure.”
The rapper ended the tweet with the rainbow emoji.
some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more. but before this month ends i want y’all to listen closely to c7osure. 🌈🤩✨ pic.twitter.com/O9krBLllqQ
— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) June 30, 2019
In the song, Lil Nas X sings: “Ain’t no more actin’, man that forecast say I should just let me grow/No more red light for me, baby, only green, I gotta go/Pack my past up in the back, oh, let my future take a hold/This is what I gotta do, can’t be regrettin’ when I’m old.”
He later adds: “I know, I know, I know it don’t feel like it’s time/But I look back at this moment, I’ll see that I’m fine/I know, I know, I know it don’t feel like it’s time/I set boundaries for myself, it’s time to cross the line.”
But apparently directing his fans to the lyrics didn’t quite send the message he’d hoped for.
In a follow up, Lil Nas X tweeted out the cover art for 7, cropping in to show one of the skyscrapers in the background lit up in the colors of the LGBTQ Pride flag.
“Deadass thought I made it obvious,” he tweeted.
deadass thought i made it obvious pic.twitter.com/HFCbVqBkLM
— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) June 30, 2019
While Lil Nas X, real name Montero Lamar Hill, refrained from clarifying where he falls on the LGBTQ spectrum, his coming out is nonetheless notable in a music industry that still lacks out LGBTQ artists.
And while there has been some backlash from a few rotten eggs on social media, Lil Nas X’s Twitter account has also been flooded with supportive messages.
the L in LGBTQ is for Lil Nas X
— ✨ (@kaneshaveli) June 30, 2019
WE GOT YOU BOO! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/y5kRKk7KOc
— Kalen Allen (@TheKalenAllen) June 30, 2019
Out of the closet, on top of the charts, rich, and famous. WHO ELSE IS DOING IT?!?!
— Xander 🔥 (@XanderAscends) June 30, 2019
— eggdog 🏳️🌈🎃 (@silverseagoat) June 30, 2019
Proud of you! Sorry you had to deal with the people trying to force you to say it before you were ready, but I’m so glad you were still able to do it on your own terms! 🌈🌈🌈
— ostrich 🌈 (@iknowplacesmp6) June 30, 2019
In addition to the outpouring of support, Lil Nas X has even more reason to celebrate: “Old Town Road” has now been certified 3x Platinum, and has spent thirteen weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 — the longest continuous run in the #1 spot of any hip-hop track ever.
The song, in both its original format and a remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, has topped the charts in countries around the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Germany.
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