In case you have been living under a rock, or don't care for genre bending music, you may have heard the new viral hit "Old Town Road", by Lil Nas X.
This song masterfully combines country lyrics and vocals with bass heavy trap production to create one of the best songs to release in 2018-2019 (the song was released December 2 according to Youtube).
After a slow rise on the Country Billboard, Lil Nas X began to go viral after combining his hit single with clips from the critically acclaimed video game Red Dead Redemption 2. The timing was perfect, fans of the game and song alike could not get enough of the infectious beat and the aesthetic of living out of in the country.
As the momentum continued for the 19 year old artist there was a sudden halt...the Billboards removed "Old Town Road" from the country charts for not containing enough "country elements" in the music. If you take a look at the lyrics it's very, very obvious that this is a country song.
I got the horses in the back
Horse tack is attached
Hat is matte black
Got the boots that's black to match
Ridin' on a horse, ha
You can whip your Porsche
I been in the valley
You ain't been up off that porch, now
The Billboards even doubled back to make another statement saying the removal of the song "had nothing to do with his race" (even though no one asked).
My biggest issue with the Billboards making this decision is that they take the ability to judge the genre of the song from fans. If this song played on Country airways and they loved it, let it be, it's Country music. If Lil Nas X defines himself as a country artist, then guess what, he's a country artist.
No one has put up a fight about the days Taylor Swift was defined as country, the genre bending sound of Florida Georgia Line, or the heavily pop induced sounds of Post Malone and Hoodie Allen. We allowed these artist to live and thrive as who they defined themselves to be. As much as I think Post Malone isn't a rapper and should never chart on hip hop charts, if the hip hop stations enjoy him, and he calls himself a rapper (which he doesn't) I'd have to accept it.
In conclusion, allow artist to define themselves and let the consumer define the parameters. Allow Lil Nas X to chart in whichever genre he desires to work in, and if Country fans welcome him with open arms, "Can't nobody tell him nothing". But if that doesn't work...get Billy Ray Cyrus on the remix.
P.S. Happy early Birthday Lil Nas X! (It's April 9th)
Great article!
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