Lil Nas X thinks conservatives would “try to kill” him had he released “Montero” now. This statement comes amid growing tensions in the music industry around artistic expression and political polarization.
The 25-year-old singer has reflected on his 2021 hit — which was taken from the album of the same name and accompanied by a video in which he went from the Garden of Eden to ancient Greece and dance on a pole into Hell — and recalled the backlash he faced. The controversial music video sparked intense debate across social media platforms and traditional media outlets alike.
“The world was shifting so much at the time,” he said, speaking to Paper magazine. “Even right now, [there’s] everything with the young males being taught these super conservative ways.” Cultural analysts have noted a significant increase in polarizing content aimed at young audiences across social media platforms in recent years.
With the current landscape of the United States and Donald Trump back in office, Lil Nas X suggested the reaction to that era of his music would be even more fierce in 2025. Political tensions have heightened following the recent election cycle, with many artists expressing concerns about creative freedom.
“[If I did that today,] they’d actually try to kill me, like I’m not kidding,” he added. Threats against public figures have increased substantially according to recent reports from digital safety organizations monitoring online behavior.
Despite fears over what’s happening in the U.S., his upcoming album Dreamboy — and recent single “Light Again” — will try to provide an escape rather than deal with politics. The new album is expected to showcase a different artistic direction while maintaining his signature boundary-pushing style.
“I know a lot of people are very scared in the world right now about all the s–t that’s happening, especially in our own country,” he explained. “I don’t want to think about it. I don’t mean that in the sense of being dismissive, but I’m just so f—–g tired of being tired of this s–t.” Mental health professionals have documented a notable increase in anxiety related to political events among young adults in recent surveys.
“If this song could even for three minutes make somebody just forget what’s going on and just feel some oblivious joy, then so be it,” he said. Music therapy studies have shown that engaging with uplifting music can reduce stress hormones and increase endorphin production.
Meanwhile, he has also credited Camila Cabello — who he worked with on “He Knows” last summer — with helping him embrace his new era. The collaboration received critical acclaim for its innovative sound design.
“We did a great job at uplifting each other and showing each other how we view the situation and how we view each other from outside of ourselves,” he said. Creative partnerships have been shown to significantly boost artistic confidence and reduce impostor syndrome according to research from music industry psychologists.
“Once you made up your mind: ‘Oh, the world doesn’t see me as something great or feels like I’ve done anything amazing’… To hear [affirmation] from somebody who you greatly respect and you love what they’ve done, it feels great, especially because you can feel like it comes from a genuine place, and not like someone trying to get something from you,” he said. Peer validation among artists has been identified as a crucial factor in sustaining creative careers.
The Grammy-winning artist’s comments reflect growing concerns about creative expression in an increasingly divided cultural landscape. Industry insiders note that many artists are now carefully considering the political implications of their work before release, with some choosing to self-censor controversial content.
Dreamboy is expected to release in the summer of 2025, with industry analysts predicting it could become one of the year’s most talked-about albums. Early listening sessions have described the project as “boldly introspective” while maintaining Lil Nas X’s trademark genre-blending approach.
Despite the challenges, Lil Nas X remains committed to authentic self-expression through his art. “Creating music that resonates with people is what matters most,” he told Paper. “At the end of the day, connecting with listeners who find comfort or joy in my songs makes all the difficulties worthwhile.” This sentiment echoes findings from music psychology research showing that artistic authenticity typically resonates more deeply with audiences than commercially-calculated content.
