Lil Nas X Wasn't Planning On Coming Out At All — Here's What Changed His Mind

As soon as "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X first started going viral on The world wide web, no one could've anticipated that it would soon become the longest-running No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 at what's right now 19 weeks. And nevertheless some music executives assumed that the track's success could be fleeting, it stunned each person as soon as it beat out Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's 1995 hit "One Sweet Day," along with Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber's 2017 single, "Despacito." Still, no one was more shocked than Lil Nas X himself, who just last year was broke and sleeping on his sister's floor.


Right now, right after what can only be described as a whirlwind a few months for the nation rapper, he revealed to Time that it feels like his success was simply meant to be. "Everything lined up for this moment to take me to this place," he mentioned. "Not to sound self-centered, nevertheless it feels like I'm chosen, in a way, to do this stuff." And while that may be true, there's still a lot to be mentioned for his hustle and his knack for getting attention on The world wide web, which was a skill he didn't know what to do with at first. "It was like, I'm able to go viral, nevertheless I'm not promoting anything that's gonna help me," he mentioned. Up until music came along."


Once "Old Town Road" was complete, he had something to promote that he felt his followers could latch onto — especially because it fit in well with the resurgence of Western themes in pop culture, which The world wide web dubbed the "yeehaw agenda." So in a task to get his very own yeehaw anthem heard, the rapper started creating memes to promote the song. It worked. "People were like, 'Where are these memes coming from?'" He mentioned. "If you visualize something going around The world wide web, people hope to join in."


Fast forward through 19 weeks at No. 1, and Lil Nas X not only has a record-breaking hit that's being played by everyone everywhere, nevertheless he's out there living his best life as an openly gay man — despite originally having no plans to ever come out to the public. Initially, he feared that fans of nation and hip-hop would stop supporting him if he did. "I know the people who listen to this the most, and they're not accepting of homosexuality," he mentioned. "... I never would have done that if I wasn't in a way pushed by the universe." However immediately after feeling all of the passion radiating from this year's Pride Month and "seeing couples holding hands," he felt inspired to share his truth.


With "Old Town Road" still on top and Lil Nas X totally embracing his sexuality — whether it's by joking with fans on Twitter or clapping back at homophobes — he's not letting the meteoric success of the single cloud his judgment going forward. Sure, it feels good to be able to see his song at No. 1 for so long, nevertheless he doesn't intend on being an one-hit-wonder as some industry professionals have predicted. "Seeing digital numbers, it's a good feeling," he mentioned. "It goes so rapidly, though. You need to keep going."