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Watch: Lil Nas X Teases New Single, 'Hot Box,' and Gay Twitter Melts for It
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Out recording artist Lil Nas X teased fans with a tweet previewing a forthcoming single titled "Hot Box," and Gay Twitter melted like butter.
"In a post to his X account, the 'Industry Baby' rapper shared a video of himself dancing along to an unreleased single of his, while finally confirming that new music was on its way," Billboard reported.
"The song clip Lil Nas shared takes fans through the intro and first verse of the track, where the rapper melds some early 2000s R&B with his signature rap sound to deliver something fresh for his catalog," the site said.
Another clip shows Nas X and a crew of dancers grooving to the tune on, in, and around a hot pink Jeep – while dressed in pink, themselves, with even Nas X's underwear proving to be pink as they peeked above his pants.
The clip drew some homophobic, though, noted ThatGrapeJuice.net.
"It seems some folks on the internet were upset about it and thinking it was 'too gay' and, for some, too 'effeminate,'" the outlet relayed.
Nas X, never afraid to mix it up with trolls, clapped back.
"Yall saying this song too gay for mainstream as if I didn't have song with the lyrics 'sh**t a child in your mouth while im riding' go number 1 lmaoo," the "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" singer posted in response.
"Given Nas' penchant for controversy," ThatGrapeJuice.net noted, "some have questioned whether the 'backlash' (and response to it) is made up and that this is all a PR stunt to create drama for attention."
Nas X has been out and proud for most of his career, and the single's queer creds are unimpeachable. "Hit me with your lovin'/ Boy, I know you wanna," Nas X sings in the new track. "Pick me up and love me / I'll be waitin' on ya!"
Fans on the social media platform proved they, too, are waiting eagerly for new Nas X material, while the social media-savvy music maker leaned into the excitement of the new track.
"THIS EATS????" one fan posted in response.
See what else Nas X fans had to say:
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
