It’s hard to talk about Lil Nas X’s recent album, “Montero,” without discussing the controversy surrounding it. Satan shoes, lap dances with the devil, kissing men on stage and creating a gay prison all attract a chorus of criticism from homophobes. However, there’s more than just controversy that makes Montero a near-perfect representation of the LGBTQ experience.
“Montero (Call Me by Your Name),” the first song on the album, was described by Lil Nas X as a song that was about a fling he had but also a song to make everyone in his life who was homophobic feel the same pain they had caused him. Since many homophobes tend to be deeply religious, the music video portrayed Lil Nas X pole-dancing to hell and giving Satan a lap dance and then killing him, becoming the new devil. Queer people experience discrimination based on religious values all over the world and a great way to combat arbitrary rules from the man in the sky is to simply ridicule them. Lil Nas X not only succeeded in this task, garnering so much attention that he made FOX News, but also looked amazing while doing it.
Songs like “Industry Baby,” “Swoop” and “Dolla Sign Slime” highlight what attracts so many people to queer spaces: how fun they are. When not being oppressed by society, the LGBTQ community knows how to throw a party. It’s worth noting that not only is Elton John featured on this album, but Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat, two artists featured in the previously mentioned songs are both bisexual.
Not every song on the album is fun and games. Many songs like “Void,” “Dead Right Now” and “Sun Goes Down” deal with abusive relationships, regret and unaccepting families. Behind almost every queer icon, artist and leader is the fear of coming out to family and if they are unaccepting, the pain of rejection, stigmatization in society and being in a relationship that does not fit the societal norm. Coming out to the world is a deal that people of the LGBTQ community must make. It means finally getting to be free and be yourself, but it also means your life will be harder.
Lil Nas X talks openly about his sexuality for the first time on the album. Prior to the album, the artist came out as gay after his hit single “Old Town Road,” only to receive to support from many and disgust from some. Lil Nas X then went on to kiss a man on stage at the BET awards, stirring more controversy and then doubling down with the music video to one of the albums singles: “Industry Baby.” The music video featured Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow in an all-male prison with pink jumpsuits and naked shower dances. These open demonstrations of Lil Nas X’s sexuality caused unrest on Twitter and even made Lil Nas X a target of other rappers, such as DaBaby, who was under heavy criticism for making inaccurate statements regarding AIDS.
None of these demonstrations should have warranted the response they drew from some online but that sort of ignorance, unfortunately, is often a part of the LGBTQ experience.
Lil Nas X’s new album “Montero” tells an honest story of the life of queer person. He displays the beauty of our culture but also delivers the harsh truth of the experience.
