Lil Nas X Opens Up About Criticism And Being Confident
22-year-old rapper Lil Nas X recently discussed the criticism he faces in his music career, the homophobia he experienced, and his newfound confidence that helped him through the pandemic.
Lil Nas X stunned on the cover of the Power of Young Hollywood issue of Variety, rocking a reflective silver blazer and scale print metallic pants. The singer-songwriter also wore dramatic white liner above his eyes and elegant silver jewelry, complete with white painted nails.
In his interview, Nas reflected on the success of his 2019 hit “Old Town Road,” which led him to take a break as he felt overwhelmed from becoming a superstar so quickly. Then the COVID-19 pandemic came and he “spent all of the pandemic making music and crying — no in-betweens.” The star explained that he didn’t leave his house for the first month of quarantine, and became very critical of himself once he did. He let the criticism and hate comments online get to him, and felt like a failure. However, after a few months, Nas transformed into a confident gay man who channeled his sexuality and struggles into his music.
Nas came out as gay in June of that year, as “Old Town Road” was on its nineteenth week of being No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, his songs, music videos, and social media posts have been more honest and reflective of his sexuality. For example, the video for his newest hit “Industry Baby” features him in prison with nude male dancers in the shower. And his tweets show him embracing being gay.
some of y’all not even mad that i’m gay, some of y’all mad that i’m gay and still succeeding.
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) July 28, 2021
Unlike other rap artists who simply announced or hinted that they are gay or bisexual, Nas has unapologetically and veraciously owned his sexuality. Nas reflected on making it easier for artists to come out and for audiences to acknowledge it. The pandemic made him realize he doesn’t need to please anybody or try to be a “cool” and “acceptable” gay person. “I used to see things like that as a compliment, but it’s not. It just means you’re a people pleaser, and they never become legends. I wanted to be even more authentic in my music and let people into my life. I’m much more confident now — in my music, myself, my sexuality, the things that I believe that I stand for.”
Instead of ignoring criticism and haters, Nas uses the strength he acquired from lockdown, gets in their face, and shuts them down.
y’all love saying i’m being gay for success but can’t name 5 successful gay male artists in the last 10 years to save your life
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) April 20, 2021
day 7 of the industry baby video and now lil nas x is *spins wheel* the symbol of white supremacy https://t.co/DixAUHXVEp
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) July 30, 2021
Jack Harlow, who is featured in the song and video for “Industry Baby,” said of Nas, “I think he’s giving a voice to a lot of people and kids who could use one. I think the community he represents could use someone who’s succeeding on a mainstream level — where it can feel like, ‘Yo, you can be No. 1. You can be the greatest.’ I really recognize what he’s doing and I admire him. I admired him long before we met.”
Longtime rockstar and composer Elton John told Variety that Lil Nas is inspiring and pushes the boundaries of music by embracing his sexuality. John reflected on rapper Dababy’s recent homophobic comments about HIV and AIDS, which “clearly demonstrate that there is still so much education and work to be done.”
Nas says he doesn’t directly address homophobic comments made by other rappers because “It’s more for my own safety rather than anything else.” He explains that he has felt unsafe, especially a few days after the release of his hit “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” when someone chased his car and swore at him. Because of this, Nas started getting security.
In regards to his strategy and narrative, the star is “always trying to give people a show, you know? While also pointing out the flaws in society. I have a goal in my head for where I want to be, but my entire life and career has been just going in and winging it.” When he kissed one of his male dancers on the lips at this year’s BET Awards, he had only planned that moment a few days before the show.
Nas’ music video for his new mellow hit “Sun Goes Down” features him as a teenager at his senior prom. He feels ignored by others and cries alone in the bathroom until he is comforted by his future self and led back to the dance floor. He explained that the video “was a little peek into my experience in high school, feeling like an outsider and like I didn’t really fit in with any cliques, or trying to fit into the wrong ones to feel accepted: the tough guys, the clowns — although I definitely was a class clown myself — the popular people who had the nicer shoes and whatnot … and of course straight men.” He added that the reaction to his song and video was positive and many fans were encouraged to stay alive.
He also revealed that the homophobia he faced made him hate himself at first. However, “it also made me stronger. Once I was 17 or 18, I finally accepted it — like, for sure accepted it, slowly, more and more — and now I’ve grown into a person that is 100% open with it.”
for pride month if you have friends who are part of the lgbtq+ community let them know that they are loved. give them all of your money.
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) June 1, 2021
Nas said that coming out helped him creatively because “I probably wouldn’t even be here right now, talking about the things I’m talking about and being that voice for so many people. It’s so much more of a journey when there’s more to it than just making catchy songs, you know?” In the future, Nas wants to keep being a self-made legend and icon.
Fans poured out support for the star on Twitter.
Me 🤝 watching Industry Baby every few days because Lil Nas X look so fine
— Kennedy Reid 🦋 (@yeaitsken_ken) August 12, 2021
brb crying at this interview with Lil Nas X !!!! https://t.co/fSuECNKSXa pic.twitter.com/76OqRVsSZ4
— sondra (@cuhsawnderuh) August 11, 2021
Lil Nas X Variety interview is upsetting. He should not feel this way within his own culture as a Black American creative. abolish homophobia and abolish all anti-LGBT bigotry from our Black communities. NOW. #hiphop #rap ENOUGH! The weakest links stay being violent neanderthals pic.twitter.com/HfS9sTLcmz
— Jason (Moderna Gay. One Piece stan) (@EscaflowneClown) August 11, 2021
Be sure to support Lil Nas X on Instagram and Twitter. Visit his website to stream his music.
