Warning: Some Quotes Contain Foul Language
Rapper Lil Nas X is raising some eyebrows after announcing he is entering his “Christian era.” The 24-year-old gay rapper posted a video of himself on social media, teasing a new Christian song and referring to God as “Father” in the video. “y’all mind if I enter my christian era?” he captioned the video. He clarified on X that this “Christian era” did not mean giving up his gay lifestyle. “making christian music does not mean I can’t suck d— no more. the two are not mutually exclusive,” he wrote. He also made a crude allusion to getting on his knees for “multiple reasons.”
Given that Lil Nas X is notorious for selling “satanic shoes” laced with blood and giving Satan a lap dance in a music video, there were some skeptics. Not the Bee reposted Lil Nas X’s video with the headline, Lil Nas X claims he’s entering his “Christian era,” but no matter how many times I watch his new video I still can’t believe it’s not satire. After detailing some of the rapper’s previous odes to Satan, the site declared, “Yeah, not so sure you’re looking for God here, at least the God I know. Maybe you’re looking for some sort of pagan god or something? Because the God I know would very much prefer me to leave my sin behind and follow Christianity. And just by your looks alone here I know you haven’t left your sin behind, so this cannot, in any way, be a ‘Christian era’ for you, Mr. Nas X.” Rapper Tyrese wasn’t having it either, posting to his social media, “Ya’ll gone learn to stop playing with God… God is not to be played with…” He added, “We can all change. I get it. But, I feel a way about people making a mockery about Jesus. Do you. [live] your life. Do what makes you happy. But, y’all better stop playing with Jesus out here.”
Lil Nas X responded to the criticism, accusing his detractors of singling him out in particular. “y’all see everything i do as a gimmick,” he wrote. “when in reality im just an artist expressing myself in different ways. Whether I’m a cowboy, gay, satanic, or now Christian y’all find a problem! y’all don’t police nobody else art like mine. y’all hate me because I’m fun cute and petite.” In response to Tyrese’s criticism, he wrote, “This really crazy cuz all I did was post a song about asking god for hope when you feel hopeless and yall acting like I posted a video of me burning a church down and peeing on a nativity scene.” Other posts on his media address the controversy, including some seductive poses by the rapper as he models for shoes.
Lil Nas X isn’t the first controversial artist to try to make it in Christian music. So-called Christian artist and drag queen Flamy Grant ruffled feathers after attending the Dove Awards as a spectator. His songs contain explicit lyrics and questionable theological conclusions. He was also recently invited to perform at a Baptist church in Virginia. The church promoted Grant as “The comedy queen with the blistering voice,” and “a gospel and roots musician from the Bible Belt who will move you, soothe you, help you heal some trauma and always leave you laughing.” Grant has also reached out to Lil Nas X to work on a collaboration for his “Christian er