Is Lil Nas X Cancelled?

3.29.21

Lil Nas X x MSCHF Air Max 97

Lil Nas X has had quite the controversial weekend. While he has been one to be funny and troll on the Internet, even in ways that may make some uncomfortable, he has went a bit too far for some with his recent antics. A new music video for his song MONTERO, Call Me By Your Name began people’s concerns with the artists. The second, an apparent Nike collaboration. But is it even real, is the real question?

First, let’s start off with this new music video. I have never heard this song before. Lil Nas X is not one that I would typically listen to and review on For The SoUle, but I do follow him on social media to see what crazy antics he is up to from time to time. Of course I heard people were upset, so I had to run to figure out what had happened.

The video starts off like a Dr. Seuss film. The location seems to be an overview of an animated town with mainly pink and purple hues. Lil Nas X narrates about hiding certain things about yourself that the world would judge you for. However, in Montero, you can be exactly who you want to be. Montero is the name of a town in Bolivia, but it is also the birth name given to Lil Nas X. This may later allude to the idea that, in Hell, you can be whoever you want to be.

With the success of Old Town Road and all of it’s remixes, Lil Nas X has became the type of musician with enough stardom where it is mandatory to go above in beyond in the music videos produced for his hit singles. This song is a bit different than Old Town Road, and is visually pictured throughout the video. Lil Nas X seems to have a relationship with an alien, dresses like a woman, is shackled in the middle of an arena with thousands of people watching him suffer, but what people are most angry about, is his run in with the devil.

Towards the end of the middle of the track, Lil Nas X is seen pole dancing down an extremely large poll, ultimately landing him in the fiery pits of Hell. There, waiting for him, is the Devil himself. Lil Nas X gives an epic lap dance to the devil, and ultimately kills him, and takes his horns, placing them on his own head.

Many are now calling Lil Nas X a Satan worshiper, and threatening to put an end to listening to his music ever again. In my opinion, Lil Nas X is simply saying that he has come to full terms with his sexuality, and he is happy with where he is currently at. Since many people take that as a sin, he is saying that he will happily take on the roll as a sinner, or the devil, because he is happy with who he is. I do not think it is necessarily worshiping the devil or Satan, rather, playing the roll as the bad guy because he is finally at peace with himself. Lil Nas X shares a Tweet that essentially justifies that notion, as well.

I truly believe that Lil Nas X meant exactly what he describes in both these Tweets. It is hard for anyone to understand who is not going through this, but things continue to go left after pointing out what Satan is wearing on his feet in the music video.

Did you peep that when you watched the video the first time? No? Go back and see. Satan is wearing the Lil Nas X x Nike Air Max 97, which is the second reason why people are in an uproar calling Lil Nas X a Satan worshiper.

I thought the placement was quite clever, but let’s breakdown the scandal. Lil Nas X shared a Tweet about these new sneakers that they were releasing, which were customs designed by New York based art collective, MSCHF. They featured an all black Air Max 97, a pentagram pendant on the lacing system, and red details. On the heel tab, one side includes MSCHF and the other Lil Nas X. On the outer midsole, the back side includes “XX/666” to indicate your pair. Yes, there are allegedly 666 pairs of the sneaker being sold. Then, on the front side near the toe box, reads 10:18, a reference to a Bible passage from Luke 10:18 which states, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." The shoes are allegedly dropping today at a dollar price point of $1,018, in reference to the Bible verse. The craziest part? Well, in the air bubble, they use red liquid ink, but according to MSCHF, each pair also includes one drop of human blood.

Personally, I think the human blood part is just a gimmick to align with the story. I do not believe for a minute that their team all pinched themselves to bleed for 666 pairs of sneakers. Call me naive, but when you are dealing with an Internet Troll Sensation, and a group of crazy artists, they’d do anything. To many people’s hate toward the shoes, Lil Nas X has been laughing it off the whole time, so he clearly is not too concerned with the backlash received thus far. A prank on the way? We shall see.

Many were quite unhappy with hearing about this Nike release, and hav called out both Lil Nas X, and the leading sportswear brand, themselves. Nike did leave a statement suggesting that these were simply customs, and that they had absolutely no part in the making of these sneakers, and do not endorse them by any means.

"We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF," Nike said in a statement. "Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them."

After noticing how pressed people truly were over the music video and the sneakers, Lil Nas X decided to share a white colorway that he would drop to even the records. This was a white Air Max 97, with red details, labeling the sneaker as a Chick Fil A design. There is a bit of sarcasm and ironic traits to this statement, since Chick Lil A is infamous for being a completely Christian ran business, whom would seemingly be horrible by the music video footwear release.

If I am being honest, the human in me was quite worried that Lil Nas X may fall into a whole after being dismissed by so many because of the statements that he has made this weekend. I mean, sure, there was some trolling involved that seemed purposeful, but the idea that this was supposed to be overcoming disapproval, seemed to have backfire greatly. However, he seems to be standing up to anyone who comes in his way.

I do not completely commend these tactics. I was honestly outraged when Playboi Carti released his Satan merchandise. This situation I think was viewed a bit more harshly than Playboi Carti, because Lil Nas X had been praised and listened to by children. While many are questioning how he went from Old Town Road to this crazy song about doing drugs, adultery and hanging out with Satan, Lil Nas X reminds others that Old Town Road was not meant to be a children song. On top of all that, we have seen this happen with every childhood artist. From Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and plenty more.

Overall, I was never listening to Lil Nas X in-depth, but I am overall indifferent to the situation seeing both sides. I would not wear ever wear the Devil’s apparel or footwear, but I also wouldn’t spend $1,018 on a Lil Nas X sneaker. Is he cancelled in your books?