After achieving massive success with his country-rap single, “Old Town Road,” last year and scoring multiple Grammy nominations with his debut EP, 7, Lil Nas X is back today with the release of the first new single from his upcoming debut album. “HOLIDAY” features production from Tay Keith and Take a Daytrip, and Lil Nas X co-directed its Christmas-themed music video alongside Gibson Hazard.
On the track, Lil Nas admits that the success of “Old Town Road” was a “gimmick,” but that it helped him break into the industry:
Man, I snuck into the game, came in on a horse
I pulled a gimmick, I admit it, I got no remorse
Nobody tried to let me in, nobody opened doors
I kicked them motherf-ckers down, they didn’t have a choice
The rapper, who came out as gay in 2019, has faced homophobic comments from rappers like Dave East and 50 Cent. Despite the backlash, he includes coy lyrics referencing gay sexual positions (top/bottom) and asserts his ability to experiment in multiple genres:
Ayy, can I pop sh-t?
I might bottom on the low, but I top sh-t
Switch the genre on you hoes, do a rock hit
I got the biggest damn song, f-ck the charts, sis, I don’t need ‘em
He even brushes aside the criticism, calling himself a “pop star, but the rappers still respect me.”
Lil Nas X hasn’t set a release date for his debut album yet, but he’s been busy recording music and teasing tracks online. Fans have been clamoring for him to drop a song titled “CALL ME BY YOUR NAME,” a reference to the Oscar-winning 2017 LGBTQ romance film. In the meantime, he’s looking to make another major chart impact with “HOLIDAY.”
Watch the video above and read all the lyrics to Lil Nas X’s “HOLIDAY” on Genius now.
