Back when listeners were traveling down the ‘Old Town Road,’ the reception to Lil Nas X’s cowboy era was mixed.

Lil Nas X attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City.

Photo: Cindy Ord/MG24 for The Met Museum/Vogue (Getty Images)

Lil Nas X Reflects on Paving the Way for Black Artists in Country Music

Though it has been a few years since Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” took the world by storm, the rapper remains grateful for his role in opening doors for other Black artists in country music, such as Beyoncé and country rapper Shaboozey, who is also featured on Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Hill, discussed the impact of his viral country-rap hit “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Reflecting on the song’s success and the backlash he faced, Nas X expressed mixed feelings about the current acceptance of Black artists in country music.

Breaking Barriers with “Old Town Road”

“Old Town Road” was a groundbreaking song that blended country and rap elements, but it wasn’t initially welcomed by the country music establishment. Despite being the fastest song in 2019 to reach Diamond status and selling over 10 million copies, “Old Town Road” was controversially removed from Billboard’s country charts.

A statement from Billboard at the time read:

“Upon further review, it was determined that ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X does not currently merit inclusion on Billboard’s country charts. When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition. While ‘Old Town Road’ incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version.”

Reflecting on the Journey

Lil Nas X acknowledged the challenges he faced and expressed happiness for artists like Beyoncé and Shaboozey who are now making waves in the genre. “I’m happy for them,” he said, adding, “I wish this would have happened for me. I wasn’t even able to experience this.”

His comments highlight a broader conversation about genre boundaries and inclusivity in music. “Today’s country music” seems like a loaded statement in hindsight now, especially as the genre has increasingly incorporated trap and rap influences, the very elements for which “Old Town Road” was criticized.

Addressing Misinterpretations

Despite any lingering frustrations, Lil Nas X remains supportive of his peers’ success. He clarified his stance in response to a Rolling Stone article that painted him as bitter:

“You don’t have to take me out of context and paint me as bitter, Rolling Stone. I said I’m proud and happy for them while I also wish I wasn’t removed from the chart… especially now that country has more trap/rap influences than ever.”

The Legacy of “Old Town Road”

Lil Nas X’s trailblazing hit not only changed his life but also paved the way for a more inclusive approach to country music. Beyoncé’s foray into the genre with Cowboy Carter and the success of artists like Shaboozey are testaments to the evolving landscape of country music.

As more Black artists continue to influence and redefine country music, the genre’s future looks more diverse and inclusive, a shift that owes much to the groundbreaking efforts of Lil Nas X. His journey, marked by both obstacles and triumphs, continues to inspire and challenge the music industry to broaden its horizons.