Random House was eager to join in the venture. “I hope this makes learning the ABCs a lot more fun for them.” And beyond mastering the alphabet, Nas said that he would like to see young readers “take away a genuine confidence that they can do whatever they want to do and be whoever they want to be.” “With all the major success of ‘Old Town Road’ and the fact that kids were a big part of that, the opportunity to create a fun and educational book for them just made so much sense,” he told PW. Tapping into his massive young fan base for another creative outlet was a natural segue for Nas. It’s been streamed 2.9 billion times in the U.S. On January 9, “Old Town Road (Remix)” was recognized as the highest certified song ever by the Recording Industry Association of America, reaching 14-times platinum. “Old Town Road (Remix)” went on to hold the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record-breaking 19 consecutive weeks and win two Grammys. Amid this flush of success Nas came out as gay. That success led to a contract with Columbia Records.Ī remix of the song featuring vocals by country artist Billy Ray Cyrus was released in April 2019 and it soared to new heights, including awards recognition and the amassing of more than 12.5 million followers for Nas across online apps. It became a viral sensation thanks to the memes he made to promote the song, and the #Yeehaw Challenge on TikTok, where millions of users-including lots of kids-dressed in their best cowboy/girl gear and used the song for their soundtrack. By 2018 he had begun to focus more on music and in December of that year he released “Old Town Road,” a blending of trap (a Southern-flavored subgenre of hip-hop) and country. He first made his name as an internet personality, creating popular memes and comedy videos on various social media platforms in the mid-2010s. Individuality certainly fueled Lil Nas X (born Montero Lamar Hill)’s rise to fame. The work stars a young Black cowboy and his trusty pony Panini on an adventure-filled ride through an alphabet that showcases wide-open spaces and fun on the farm, a loving family, and a spirit of individuality. If he continues encouraging his fans to be proud and embrace who they are, Lil Nas X should be able to make a significant difference in the future.Grammy-winning, boldly stylish music artist Lil Nas X, creator of the smash hit country-rap song “Old Town Road,” has made his children’s publishing debut with the alphabet picture book C Is for Country, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III (Random House). Time Magazine included Nas in their list “The 25 Most Influential People on the Internet” and it’s clear that he wants to use that influence to spread positivity and acceptance. He downplayed the attack in his Twitter response, joking “damn i look good in that pic”, a sign that he won’t let intolerance alter how he presents himself. Nas received homophobic criticism for some of his style choices, such as from Georgia rapper Pastor Troy. It hurts him to know that young people might be bullied for listening to his music. He hopes that he can be a positive gay role model and he might set an example for others to come out. Lil Nas X struggled through the turmoil and inner conflict of accepting his homosexuality as a teenager but has since become a proud member of his community. He quickly made clear that this was not actually the case and he is still a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.Ī post shared by Lil Nas X on at 5:43pm PDT Supporting LGBTQ+
LIL NAS X GAY PICTURES SERIES
He later poked fun at his coming out in a series of April Fools’ Day tweets, where he jokingly revealed that he was taking “ a stand to lead the other straight people. It was during a performance alongside Miley Cyrus as the Glastonbury festival that he decided to publicly reveal his sexuality, feeling empowered by his rapidly growing fanbase. He has stated that he likely would have died with his secret intact, if not for the confidence and platform provided by his rap success. Nas believes it was easier for him to come out due to his financial independence and that people who rely on others often feel the need to be more cautious in revealing their sexuality. It’s a decision that they must make for themselves and not one to be pressured into, even by those who are accepting of their sexuality. He hopes others will feel comfortable coming out as gay or bisexual but also warns people to not take that step unless they feel ready or properly supported.