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HA! Lil Nas X inks deal with Wrangler Jeans, country fans are big mad
In what seems like a never-ending snowball, Lil Nas X’s smash hit “Old Town Road” has notched yet another feat.
Thanks to a lyric from the rapper’s No. 1 hit, “Cowboy hat from Gucci / Wrangler on my booty,” a partnership has been inspired between the popular denim line and the Atlanta rapper.
Monday, May 20, the company announced Lil Nas X will become the focus of its new capsule collection, making it publically official with an Instagram post.
“As an iconic brand in fashion, we have shown up in music, film, and popular culture for decades, but this is the first time our jeans are actually the key to unlocking a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a chart-topping hit,” Jenni Broyles, VP/GM of Wrangler North America, said in a statement to Complex.
“We’re incredibly excited about the success of ‘Old Town Road’ and our partnership with Lil Nas X. It is another great example of the power music – and in our case, fashion – has to unite and inspire us all.”
The look is just the latest of what has been larger-than-life developments for the viral rapper.
Originally taking off on the app TikTok, the genre-defying single that can only be described as trap-rock, debuted on Billboard’s cross-genre Hot 100 chart, the Hot Country Songs chart and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart all at once.
He then recruited one of country music’s most prominent figures, Billy Rae Cyrus, for the remix, and, as if that wasn’t enough, dropped a video with comedian legend Chris Rock in it.
It’s been great, really, especially seeing how Lil Nas X was a kid with a pipe dream just a couple of months ago. Except, every step of the way country fans have tried to impede his progress.
When the original version of “Old Town Road” charted, it was quietly taken down because the song did “not currently merit inclusion on Billboard‘s country charts,” as told to Rolling Stone.
https://twitter.com/KarenCivil/status/1111295920098861056
https://twitter.com/Jim_ParkBand/status/1120765101869608960
Now, they’re in the Instagram comments threatening to boycott Wrangler because of the new partnership.
“Really? Supporting an artist that so clearly is mocking country music and the lifestyle it represents? Bad move Wrangler,” one commenter wrote.
“Thank you, Wrangler, for ruining the original cowboy cuts awesome just fantastic,” another person wrote.
Not too long after the controversy, Lil Nas X hopped on Twitter to address his haters.
“Y’all really boycotting wrangler? Is it that deep?” Nas X tweeted.
y’all really boycotting wrangler?? is it that deep 🧐
— i am reading all that (@LilNasX) May 21, 2019
It’s ironic, being that country is a derivative of blues and soul, that it’s fans now feel like Lil Nas X’s contributions are out of place. Honestly, it does nothing more than speak to the genre’s demographic and how they view others outside of it.
Who wouldn’t want country opening its doors to hip-hop and all the versatility, flavor and money it brings? What country purist is this angry that they’ll get in front on another man’s bag?
And we know Wrangler is light-weight affordable. Lil Nas X’s collection has prices ranging from $39 to $139. That’s a steal compared to most designer wears.
Either way, it seems like Lil Nas X has a nose for the bag. I’m sure a little country hate won’t stop him.