Lil Nas X has been riding a wave of success and controversy since releasing his hit Old Town Road. First he initially received discriminatory backlash from country music industry execs and country music fans. Then racist whites began to boycott Wrangler Jeans when the company decided to partner with Lil Nas X. Since releasing his remix with country superstar Billy Ray Cyrus, Old Town Road has become the catchy stand out song of the year. The track has been the No. 1 song in the U.S. since April, breaking streaming records previously set by Drake and holding back Taylor Swift’s new singles. Recently his EP 7 debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Closing out Pride Month, Lil Nas X decided to reveal (confirm) his sexuality to the world via Twitter.
I will always be happy when Black men live their best lives. My concern comes from when the reality of the anti-gayness that exists in our society kicks in. LGBT peoples, allies and supporters were over the rainbow for football player Michael Sam when he came out. He briefly played in the NFL but was cut over other players who had weaker stats. No doubt the NFL (owners, players, coaches) were not ready for an openly gay player. Sam’s promising career in football is over and since Sam has stated he regrets coming out before the draft.
Granted the music industry is different and the industry elites are quick to show support like they did for Frank Ocean but what about the consumers? As a consumer of media (social media, music, film, television, Black talk radio, etc.) I see and hear on a daily basis the disdain our society currently has towards non-heterosexuals. Of course publicly we’ve made strides as a society but privately (and publicly)…folk still hate gays.
I will continue to root for Lil Nas X. I feel he represents what many Black non-heterosexual men face, discrimination from racist whites and discrimination from within their own communities. We’ll see in the next couple of months the impact of his coming out decision.
He is a young man of 20 years. He has the fearlessness that youth sometimes gives. I admire him for living his truth, but like the writer says, there is a lot hate in the world for gays in general and for some specifically. I wish him the best. Perhaps he will rise to the great heights of a Elton John, or a Adam Lambert, Billy Ocean kind of retreated into a form of invisibility, (though we know he is out there somewhere). We will see. I’m pulling for this talented and bold guy,.
I don't think he did. This guy is of a completely different generational mindset. I think this is only going to help his career not that the White Elite Gatekeepers will boost him. As far as the people who listen to his music…thjey are pre-Teens and Young adults. They won't give a shit about it. He is likely to remain at the top of the Billboard charts.
He represents the generation that comes out in nonchalant ways, almost the afterthought. Kids today are wise and really know who they are in ways us in the Millennial and GenX generation find a bit confusing and perplexing. Some of the kids I mentor in Middle School tell me they are cool with their pansexual classmates. Things are different times are different.
Also, its been really interesting seeing Lil X clap back on the haters with humor…and MEMEs and shade (in the popular vernacular usage).
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BlackguyExecutive said:
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Couldn't agree with you more. The younger generation for the most part dont give a fuck about gay people like the backward ass, ignorant generations before them.
I think this will probably make him even more popular with the time we're living in now. He'll be looked at as brave and even more likable specifically to the people that matter the most in entertainment & media. Those being people in powerful positions in charge of sponsoring commercials, booking events, television shows, endorsements, etc. Gayness has become too powerful to be ignored and definitely too powerful to be publicly shamed or bashed. If you hold those opinions today and your trying to make in anywhere in entertainment, you will be quickly put in order by powerful gays and their powerful allies. Which is why you see rappers and comedians taking an about face to anything they have said in the past and being careful with anything they say today.
The only ones that will have negative things to say are ignorant ass (predominantly black or ethic) people with only enough power to ask you do you want to supersize your meal, is dropping off your package from his fed-ex truck, or picking up your trash on trash day. And more than likely they weren't checking for his music anyway.
This dude will probably get even more opportunities from a host of entertainment elites because today, being gay is big business. If a company isn't not too keen on it, you want to at least look like an ally. He'll be just fine.
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Omega Level said:
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Are you job shaming?
:picard:
Pretty Much…..:kermit:
Edit: Ocky shady af for using that borderline-soft ass picture lmao
I loved this analysis
I used the first pic I found.
Am I missing something? I read it back several times.
Did he "actually come out"?
IF he came out, this only heightened him on social media, not his career. I keep telling people to take the Prince approach, regardless of your career. "Let the talent and music speak, so people won't have to worry about what you do in your bedroom". It is not necessary to publically announce that you are non straight professionally, especially on social media, unless it comes out organically.
As for his career, who knows. But unless he can give us more "Old Town Roads", this "coming out" will be archived.
And so it begins…
I actually like his other music I've heard so far. Not feeling the videos but I do feel he is carving out a niche for himself.
There's UPS drivers making goooooood money. All they have to do is drive around in a truck they don't even have to pay for (with no ac but still), scan barcodes and pick up and put down boxes, all the while thirst trapping just because they are in a uniform. And get a raise every 6 months. With 'fits and a retirement plan.
Y'all better grab you a brown bleeding worker bee.
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ControlledXaos said:
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:salute::babylawd:
I see one thing – black people, some, are ignorant. Trolling this young man and making stupid jokes. It’s sickening.
I NEED all you SGL men out there who support these Homophobic rappers, rappers who stay silent and shy away from gays, rappers who literally boast online that they will kill any gay dude that comes around them with that gay shit, rappers who at any point used gay as a derogatory word towards their rivals etc to FINALLY take your money and support Lil Nas X. Its time SGL black men put their resources behind someone that reflects them, esp those of you who Masculine plays a huge part in your support.
Also can black gay men PLEASE STOP FUCKING lusting after these GHETTO NIGGA rappers!?!
From Waka Flocka to 50 cent and all those in between, leave these men alone. They hate you and what you stand for, continue to make mockery of you and in plain sight threaten to kill you yet you still boost them up, calling them Trade. smh. I however think some of the gays deserve such people, just as homophobic black folks and black folks deserve that Cancer called The Black Church.
Dude is really chill and just down to earth. I want him to succeed more than all these ghetto, homophobic rappers. He got all the coins I spend on rap music from now on.