With his debut studio album Montero, out on September 19th, Lil Nas X (born Montero Lamar Hill) is opening the door and walking listeners through the painful process it took him to break free and embrace his truest self. He was primed to bust up the “homophobic cloud over hip-hop,” according to Kid Cudi.
At the core of Montero’s extravagant and often hilarious rollout, the cheesy lawyer billboards, the pregnancy shoots, The Montero Show, is a window into a resilient soul that refused to stay broken in a world designed to keep him down. Lil Nas X knows now that he deserves to be heard, and Montero’s 15 songs will meet you exactly where you are in discovering that, too.
Songs to match the mood:
“Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”: unapologetically sexy.
“Dead Right Now”: vengeful
“Industry Baby” ft. Jack Harlow: flip off your doubters
“That’s What I Want”: lonely
“The Art of Realization”: venting
“Scoop” ft. Doja Cat: on top of the world
“One of Me” ft. Elton John: indulging the negative voice in your mind
“Lost in the Citadel”: stuck between closure and nostalgia
“Dolla Sign Slime” ft. Megan Thee Stallion: drenched in “Hot Girl” confidence
“Tales of Dominica”: anxious
“Sun Goes Down”: alone and wanting to know that you’re not actually alone
“Void”: confessional
“Don’t Want It”: reflective
“Life After Salem”: numb
“Am I Dreaming?” ft. Miley Cyrus: existential