Montero Lamar Hill, born in 1999, is a famous American artist who goes by the stage name Lil Nas X. He gained fame with his hit single “Old Town Road” in 2019, which held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 weeks. During this time, he also publicly came out as gay, making him the first artist to do so while having a chart-topping song.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Montero Lamar Hill |
| Date of Birth | April 9, 1999 |
| Place of Birth | Lithia Springs, Georgia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter |
| Labels | Columbia Records |
| Net Worth | $9 million |
Early Life and Education
Montero Lamar Hill, born in 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia, spent his early years in various neighborhoods with his mother and grandmother. He eventually moved in with his gospel singer father in Austell, where he considered it a positive change from the city.
As a teenager, he found solace in creating internet memes and struggled with accepting his sexuality. Despite musical talent, he quit playing trumpet due to peer pressure.
After graduating from high school in 2017, he briefly attended the University of West Georgia for computer science before dropping out to pursue music full-time. During this period, he worked odd jobs to support himself and even returned to his high school for a surprise performance in 2019.
Career
During his teen years, Hill focused on building an online presence through creating memes and videos, eventually finding success on Twitter. He also ran fan accounts for Nicki Minaj, leading to controversy and denials.
In 2018, he turned to music and adopted the moniker Lil Nas X, releasing his first mixtape on SoundCloud. His breakout hit “Old Town Road” took off in early 2019 thanks to TikTok, leading to a record deal with Columbia Records.
Despite its removal from the country charts, the song became a massive success with the help of a remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Additional singles and an EP followed, solidifying Lil Nas X’s rise to fame, culminating in his public coming out as gay in June 2019.
In July 2020, Lil Nas X revealed that his debut album was almost complete and invited producers to submit beats for his new music. He released a new single, “Holiday”, in November 2020, followed by a children’s book in January 2021.
He previewed his song “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” at the Super Bowl LV commercial and released it along with its controversial music video in March. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite backlash, he continued to release new singles including “Sun Goes Down” in May 2021 and “Industry Baby” in July 2021.
In September 2021, his album “Montero” was released along with the single “Thats What I Want”. Lil Nas X later embarked on his first concert tour, the Long Live Montero Tour, starting in September 2022.
In March 2022, Lil Nas X teased new songs “Late to da Party” and “Down Souf Hoes” from his upcoming album and previewed another track, “Lean on My Body”. “Late to da Party” was released as a single in June 2022. He described the album as a fun, summer-ready collection for partying.
During his Long Live Montero Tour, he performed his unreleased single “Star Walkin'” and introduced “Down Souf Hoes”. A collaboration with Riot Games for the League of Legends World Championship produced the tournament anthem, “Star Walkin'”, released in September 2022. The concert tour also featured Saucy Santana performing on stage.
In 2023, a documentary film titled “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Lil Nas X released singles “J Christ” in January 2024, followed by “Where Do We Go Now” later that month. He was featured on Camila Cabello’s single, “He Knows”, released in May 2024.
Musical Styles and Influences
In terms of his musical style, Lil Nas X has been categorized as hip hop, pop rap, country rap, trap, pop rock, pop, and rock. He draws inspiration from LGBTQ artists like Frank Ocean and Tyler, the Creator, crediting them for paving the way for his own journey.
Additionally, he lists Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Drake, Miley Cyrus, and Doja Cat as significant influences in his career. Growing up immersed in internet culture, he finds inspiration from various genres and artists, including hip hop icons such as Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, and Lil Uzi Vert.
Personal Life
In June 2019, Lil Nas X came out publicly as gay, following earlier discussions with his family. Despite fears of backlash, he received mostly positive reactions but also faced homophobic comments, especially within the hip hop community.
In January 2023, he made a statement hinting at being bisexual, later confirming it with a tweet. By November 2023, he affirmed his continued identification as a gay man.
Religion
Lil Nas X described his beliefs, mentioning a transition from atheism to a more spiritual view in understanding the universe’s workings. He has later indicated an affinity towards Christianity in some capacity.
Lil Nas X Net Worth
Lil Nas X, the American rapper and singer, has an estimated net worth of $9 million as of 2024. His wealth stems from multiple sources, including music sales, streaming royalties, live performances, and lucrative brand endorsements.
Discography
Lil Nas X’s discography includes:
Studio Albums
- Montero (2021)
Extended Plays (EPs)
- 7 (2019)
- October 31st (2020)
Mixtapes
- Nasarati (2021)
- Nasarati 2 (2024)
Singles (as lead artist)
- “Old Town Road” (2019)
- “Panini” (2019)
- “Rodeo” (2020)
- “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” (2021)
- “Industry Baby” (2021)
- “Thats What I Want” (2021)
- “Holiday” (2020)
- “Late to da Party” (2022)
He has released a total of 18 singles and continues to expand his musical repertoire.
Awards and Nominations
Lil Nas X has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career. Here’s a summary:
Major Awards
- Grammy Awards: 2 wins (Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Old Town Road”) and multiple nominations.
- Billboard Music Awards: 5 wins, including Top Hot 100 Song.
- MTV Video Music Awards: 5 wins, including Video of the Year for “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).”
- American Music Awards: 2 wins, including Favorite Music Video for “Montero.”
Total Achievements
- Wins: 43
- Nominations: 152
