Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X is an American rapper, singer and songwriter who achieved global success with his breakout single "Old Town Road." Known for blending genres and for his savvy use of social media, he became one of the defining new pop figures of the late 2010s and 2020s, and a prominent openly gay artist in hip-hop.

Early life

Montero Lamar Hill was born on April 9, 1999, in Lithia Springs, Georgia, near Atlanta, and spent part of his childhood in Atlanta itself. As a teenager he became active online, building a following through internet humor and social media before turning to music. He briefly attended the University of West Georgia before leaving to focus on his career.

Career

In late 2018 Hill released "Old Town Road," a country-rap song that gained traction through the TikTok platform. After a remix featuring country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and held the position for a record 19 weeks, the longest run at the top in the chart's history at that time. The single won two Grammy Awards and made him an international sensation. A discussion over the song's removal from a country chart also sparked wider debate about genre and race in music.

His debut EP, 7, followed in 2019 and included the rock-tinged single "Panini." Around the time of his breakthrough, he publicly came out as gay, becoming one of the few openly gay artists at the top of the hip-hop world. In 2021 he released "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," accompanied by a provocative video that drew significant public attention and debate, and "Industry Baby" with Jack Harlow, both of which topped the charts. His debut studio album, Montero, was released in 2021 to strong reviews and commercial success, praised for its honesty and pop-rap craftsmanship.

Recent work

Lil Nas X has continued to release singles and to court attention through bold visual presentation, elaborate music videos and active online engagement, often using humor and provocation to drive conversation around his releases. He has been recognized for his openness about his sexuality and its impact on representation in popular music, becoming a notable figure in discussions of LGBTQ visibility in mainstream entertainment. He has won multiple Grammy, MTV Video Music and BET awards, and has expanded into endorsements, fashion collaborations and other ventures. Into the mid-2020s he has continued working on new music and further projects, remaining one of the most visible and discussed artists of his generation.