Lil Nas X is dishing about his stint in the country music genre.
During a recent interview with BBC, he confessed that while he is happy for the success of black country artists including Beyonce and Shaboozey he is “disappointment” because he did not experience it himself.
He said:
“I wish this would have happened for me. I wasn’t even able to experience this.”
If you recall Old Town Road was a huge hit for him but according to People he is reflecting on when Billboard removed the single from the Hot Country Songs chart.
At the time Billboard claimed the song did “not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current form.”
Beyoncé recently became the first Black woman to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which remained atop the list for 10 weeks before Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” overtook the slot.
Since the massive hit run of “Old Town Road,” which ultimately topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 19 consecutive weeks despite its removal from the Hot Country Songs chart, Lil Nas X has largely stayed away from country music.
However, the Grammy winner told BBC he’s continued:
“trying out some country [sounds] here and there over the last couple of years,” though it hasn’t felt right. “I want to feel connected to it and not force it,” he said.
Shortly after the initial genre controversy surrounding “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X spoke candidly to Time about his thoughts on the matter, declaring in 2019, “The song is country trap. It’s not one, it’s not the other. It’s both. It should be on both [charts].”
He also addressed the idea that removing “Old Town Road” from the Hot Country Songs chart was a racially-charged decision.
“I believe whenever you’re trying something new, it’s always going to get some kind of bad reception,” said the “Industry Baby” musician at the time.
“For example, when rap started, or when rock and roll began. But with country trap, I in no way want to take credit for that,” continued Lil Nas X. “I believe Young Thug would be one of the biggest pioneers in that.”
you don’t have take me out of context and paint me as bitter rolling stone. i said im 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. https://t.co/qUgawSdxKS
— ☆ (@LilNasX) May 21, 2024
and
And he’s not wrong. Country radio refused to play Old Town Road, and they wouldn’t allow it to be placed on the country charts.
The same thing they did to Beyoncé with Daddy Lessons they did to Lil Nas X. Again showing why Cowboy Carter is so important. https://t.co/6DgrhhqiKh
— Globethotter ???? (@BrianMcLight) May 21, 2024
