Leave it to Lil Nas X to get the people talking. Earlier this week, the rapper shared the clip for his latest single, the Jack Harlow-featuring “Industry Baby.” The accompanying clip depicts Lil Nas X throwing a dance party in jail with a slew of naked men. As with all good things Lil Nas X, the video has been met with criticism, to which the rapper offered his trademark smart — and sometimes hilarious — responses.
Journalist and social media commentator Tariq Nasheed accused Lil Nas X of racism in the “Industry Baby” music video, writing on Twitter: “White corporate music execs funded a music video with Lil Nas X, where a bunch of Black men are in prison twerking. And the lone white man, Jack Harlow is sexually involved with a FEMALE guard. But all the Black men are sexually engaging with each other. This is progress?”
“lemme explain,” Lil Nas X responded. “lil nas = gay so he wit boy. jack harlow = straight so he wit girl. got it??” And to the countless critics who have accused the rapper of pushing a gay agenda, he gave an opportunity for some self-reflection: “if someone influences you to suck cock you probably already wanted to suck cock.”
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Some have also condemned the “Industry Baby” music video for making light of mass incarceration, especially of black men. “on a serious note, i know the pain that incarceration brings to a family. and the disproportionate impact that cash bail has on the black community. that’s why i teamed up with @bailproject to create the Bail X Fund. let’s bring people home!” CBS reported that the video raised more than $21,000 in the first few hours; at the time of writing this article, it’s raised $37,935. Read Lil Nas X’s tweets below.
Lil Nas X’s long-awaited debut album, Montero, is on the horizon, though its release date is still TBA. We can assume the record will feature the provocative “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” — which caused a storm of backlash from conservative politicians and commentators — as well as “Sun Goes Down.”
all jokes aside the idea of a gay agenda doesn’t make sense. if someone influences you to suck cock you probably already wanted to suck cock.
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) July 24, 2021
yes manipulation is real. agendas are real. i just simply don’t believe me in a fictional prison with twerking men could lead to a heterosexual man deciding to suck dick. https://t.co/bi5p5VVmmr
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) July 24, 2021
lemme explain
Advertisementlil nas = gay
so he wit boyjack harlow = straight
so he wit girlgot it?? https://t.co/KghECFfSOw
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) July 24, 2021
on a serious note, i know the pain that incarceration brings to a family. and the disproportionate impact that cash bail has on the black community. that’s why i teamed up with @bailproject to create the Bail X Fund. let’s bring people home! 🤍 https://t.co/c6YOhNex7e
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) July 24, 2021