Topline
The long-awaited Montero, Lil Nas X's debut studio album, has been highly praised by music critics. It is now Lil Nas X's most critically acclaimed record.
Lil Nas X attends Staples Center's 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on January 26, 2020. FilmMagic
The Key Facts
According to MetaCritics, Montero received a 90% overall rating according to MetaCritics review amalgamation. This makes it Lil Nas X's highest-rated project. It is far ahead of his 2019 EP 7 which earned a 57% rating. Alexis Petridis of The Guardians praised Montero, who created the songs in an impressively diverse mix between hip-hop, pop and with catchy hooks driven Lil Nas X's confident delivery. Helen Brown, of The Independents, described Montero's 15-track album as full of technicolour heart, with songs that are as bright, witty, and varied as his headline-grabbing outfit. This was a nod towards Lil NasXs extravagant costumes. Consequence's Marcus Shorter, an online magazine, stated that Montero contains 40 minutes of rapper Lil Nas X showing his naked soul to his fans and detractors.
Tangent
Friday afternoon saw Montero listed as Apple Musics second highest charting album, after Drakes Certified Lover Boy. This album dropped two weeks ago, and has been dominating the charts ever since. After 11 songs from Drake's new album, Monteros second single, Industry Baby was ranked #12 in the Apples singles charts.
Surprising Fact
Lil Nas X used social media to mock NME's review of Montero. It rated his album at three out of five stars. He posted a meme suggesting that NME staff confront him about his low ranking. Lil Nas X used his social media skills to promote Montero's singles. He joked about faking a baby and told his followers he could face jail for his controversial Satan Shoes collaboration. Nike later sued him for copyright infringement.
Important Background
Lil Nas X rose to fame with his gimmicky hit Old Town Road, which is still the record for the U.S.'s longest-running top song. Lil Nas X was gay at the peak of the song's popularity. He has continued to put his sexuality front and center in his projects, sometimes causing controversy. Lil Nas X's March music video for Montero (Call me by Your Name) featured him falling down a pole into hell, and then giving the devil a lap dancing. This angered conservatives and religious leaders. A week later, Lil Nas X's video for Industry Baby was released. It was set in a jail cell with DaBaby, a rapper who went on a homophobic rant about the effects of gay artists on children. He was eventually dropped from several music festival lineups.
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How Lil Nas X used Satan Shoes Controversy and a Fake Court Date to Promote His New Single (Forbes).
