Nov 14
Lil Nas X Repositions with 'Dreamboy' Era, New Single – and Fresh Controversy
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Lil Nas X didn't quite achieve the "comeback" he was looking for with his single "J Christ" last January. Now the rapper has announced a new phase and a fresh start with his "Dreamboy" era, heralded by the official launch of his single "Light Again." Still, Nas' Comeback 2.0 has already drawn controversy.
"The rapper largely retreated when the era-launching single failed to connect with fans," Rolling Stone recalled of Nas X's failed comeback bid, "and sparked backlash about his apparent reliance on controversy as a promotional tactic."
The "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" singer caused a stir when he used Christian symbolism to illustrate his ambitions for a resurgence on the charts. Nas X had previously used religious imagery in the video for "Montero," in which he appeared to take a journey to Hell and give the Devil a lap dance – imagery that countered the narrative from religious conservatives that claims gay people are destined for damnation simply for being who they are.
It wasn't his only brush with outrage. His collaboration with art collective MSCH to create a line of unauthorized modified Nike shoes called "Satan Shoes" further antagonized religious conservatives, as well as sparking a lawsuit from Nike.
Following the J Christ fiasco, Nas X fell back to Soundcloud and mix tapes for a time, reports noted, adding that he contributed a song to the soundtrack for Eddie Murphy's "Beverly Hills Cop" sequel "Axel F." Now the controversial out hitmaker has reemerged and seems poised for another run at reclaiming the glory of his debut album. A teaser for the upcoming single portrayed Nas X as tempest-tossed and missing in action... but no more.
"Light Again," Rolling Stone noted, already received a release of sorts when Nas X put it out on Soundcloud and promoted it with a tweet in which he wrote he was "probably gonna get in trouble for this," and added: "Sorry Columbia!"
The song will be getting its official release tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 15), and the "Old Town Road" singer is promoting it as his Next Big Thing.
Even now, though, controversy follows the artist. Stereogum reported that "when Lil Nas X posted what appears to be his 'Dreamboy' cover art, Sega Bodega quite rightly pointed out how closely it resembles the art for his own 2021 single 'Angel On My Shoulder.'"
"Sega Bodega is a London producer who's worked with artists like Björk, Rosalía, and Caroline Polachek," Stereogum noted.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
