We’re pleased to welcome transatlantic No 1 artist Lil Nas X to the MN2S roster.
Viral phenomenon Lil Nas X is the genius behind “Old Town Road”, the smash hit single which, in the words of WIRED Magazine, “encapsulates more of pop culture in 2019 than anything else released this year.” The song, which has risen to No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart simultaneously while holding the top spot on Apple Music’s national charts in 23 countries, has racked up over 200 million streams since going viral on the next-gen social media platform TikTok.
After being featured in Pitchfork, NPR and NYT while inspiring a cavalcade of memes, videos and fervent uproar across the internet, it’s safe to say that “Old Town Road” has defined 2019 while remaining somewhat indefinable. Its undeniably catchy combination of trap, pop, hip-hop and country can’t be easily described (though Lil Nas X has tried, dubbing it “country trap”) and has led critics to declare the track a shining example of the unprecedented fluidity of genre in the contemporary musical landscape, a disruptive anomaly proving that in 2019, artists can define themselves however they please, without the support of music executives or record labels.
Old Town Road has opened several doors for me and it feels like a weight lifted off of my shoulders. It’s like I got this now, and there’s nothing that’s gonna stop what’s about to happen.
Lil Nas X, speaking to NPR
Before enjoying the astronomical rise that followed the release of “Old Town Road”, Lil Nas X was a social media savant with a sizeable Twitter following. In recording his viral debut, he repurposed his evident gift for creating viral moments and eccentric sounds that capture the zeitgeist by writing one of the year’s most innovative and popular songs. It’s not clear what the future holds for this 19-year-old artist – but there’s little doubt that whatever his next move may be, it’s going to be a bold one.