The Rise: From Internet Troll to Music Industry Royalty

The Fall of Lil Nas X: What Really Happened to the Internet’s Biggest Hitmaker?

Lil Nas X once stood at the peak of pop culture. He wasn’t just a one-hit wonder — he was a phenomenon. A disruptor. A record-breaker. With viral marketing genius, bold visuals, and unapologetic queerness, he dominated the charts, challenged stereotypes, and rewrote the rules of what a pop star could be.

But fast forward to 2025, and the story is very different.

What happened to Lil Nas X? How did the artist behind the longest-running No. 1 hit in Billboard history lose the momentum that once made him unstoppable? This blog post unpacks his meteoric rise, the calculated controversies, and the slow but steady decline that has left even his most loyal fans wondering: is Lil Nas X already washed?

The Rise: From Internet Troll to Music Industry Royalty

Before the music, there was trolling.

Lil Nas X began his internet life as the admin of a Nicki Minaj fan account. Under the alias "Nas Mirage," he mastered the art of stan culture, memes, and going viral — skills that would later become his greatest weapon.

But when he stumbled on a $30 beat by YoungKio on YouTube, everything changed. He transformed it into “Old Town Road,” a playful, catchy, genre-blending track that nobody saw coming — and everyone would eventually hear. With cowboy aesthetics and hip-hop swagger, the track became a TikTok sensation just as the platform was taking off.

In 2019, “Old Town Road” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and refused to let go — staying there for a staggering 19 weeks. It broke the record previously held by "Despacito" and "One Sweet Day." With a remix from Billy Ray Cyrus and a meme-fueled rollout, Lil Nas X cemented himself as a new kind of star: internet-born, genreless, and unstoppable.

The Transition: Beyond One Hit

Critics expected him to vanish after “Old Town Road.” He didn’t. Tracks like “Panini” and “Holiday” proved he had staying power. His EP ‘7’ showcased his range and even earned Grammy nominations.

But his biggest evolution came in 2021, when he leaned into full creative control with “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” The music video was bold, provocative, and deeply personal. A queer Black man dancing in hell, seducing the devil, and reclaiming trauma? It was either art or blasphemy — depending on who you asked.

The rollout included “Satan Shoes,” Nike Air Max 97s allegedly containing human blood. Lawsuits followed. So did headlines. And millions of views.

For Lil Nas X, controversy was the marketing plan — and it worked. For a while.

The Cracks Begin to Show

As time passed, the same formula began to wear thin.

Lil Nas X became less known for his music and more for his antics. Pregnancy photos to promote his album. Tweets aimed at sparking outrage. And a growing sense that behind the trolling was a young artist unsure of how to top his own legacy.

His debut album Montero did well commercially — selling 126,000 units in its first week — but none of the songs managed to hit as hard as “Old Town Road” or “Industry Baby.”

By 2024, the buzz was fading. His singles struggled to chart. New music received lukewarm reactions. The internet that once loved him for his rebellion now accused him of being repetitive, attention-hungry, and out of touch.

Jay Christ: The Flop Heard Round the Internet

“Jay Christ” was supposed to be the comeback. It became the breaking point.

The single, which featured Lil Nas X as a modern-day Jesus, was meant to be bold. Instead, it felt like a rerun. Listeners were no longer shocked by religious imagery or boundary-pushing visuals. They were tired.

The controversy — once his strongest asset — had become a crutch. And for the first time, it didn’t deliver. The track charted at #69 on Billboard and was quickly forgotten.

Even worse, fans accused him of faking outrage and faking apologies when the stunt flopped. The same artist who once laughed off backlash was now explaining himself in livestreams and trying to clarify intent — a move that felt like damage control, not artistry.

Lost Confidence and Label Drama

Around this time, fans noticed something else: Lil Nas X wasn’t just fading, he seemed uncertain.

In a deleted social post, he shared multiple snippets of unreleased songs — then immediately doubted them, asking fans which ones were “worth it.” The confidence was gone.

Rumors soon swirled that Columbia Records scrapped his next album, saving only a few tracks. Insiders claimed the label didn’t believe in the new material and pushed him to rework the project.

For an artist whose whole brand was rebellion and control, this was a brutal blow. Suddenly, the freedom that fueled his creativity was now boxed in by corporate pressure and public doubt.

The Tired Formula and Internet Fatigue

So what really went wrong?

In simple terms: he ran the playbook too many times.

From devil dances to pregnant promo shoots, Lil Nas X built his career on shock value and memes. But controversy only works when it's rare and surprising. He pressed the “rage bait” button so often that audiences became immune — or worse, annoyed.

He became known more for marketing stunts than music. His art was no longer leading the conversation — his gimmicks were. And as attention spans shortened and new stars rose, Lil Nas X struggled to evolve beyond the image he created.

What Now?

With his upcoming album Dreamboy lacking any real buzz, Lil Nas X finds himself in uncharted territory: a superstar with no viral moment.

Even his confession of having Bell’s palsy — a condition that partially paralyzes facial muscles — was met with concern, but not renewed excitement. The internet has moved on, and the artist once known for being ahead of the curve now seems a step behind.

That doesn’t mean it’s over. But it does mean something has to change.

To regain relevance, Lil Nas X must do what every great artist eventually does: reinvent.

No more gimmicks. No more controversy for the sake of headlines. Just music that resonates, stories that feel real, and vulnerability that isn’t packaged as clickbait.

Final Thoughts: Will Lil Nas X Rise Again?

The fall of Lil Nas X isn’t just a cautionary tale about fame — it’s a lesson in how fast the internet giveth and taketh away. He had the culture in the palm of his hand and let it slip through his fingers by repeating a formula that stopped working.

But he’s still young. Still talented. Still capable.

If he can step away from the noise, tap back into what made him an icon in the first place — clever songwriting, cultural relevance, and authenticity — there’s no reason he can’t rise again.

But for now, the cowboy has fallen off the horse.

And the world is waiting to see if he can ride again.