Cop a gander of Lil Nas X!

The Pop provocateur covers the latest issue of OUT Magazine as he ramps up the push for his incoming album ‘Montero.’

2021 has seen the performer enjoy omnipresence on the charts thanks to smashes such as Hot 100 #1 ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ and ‘Industry Baby.’

Within the inner pages of the publication, the 22-year-old opens up about his tough upbringing, navigating as a Black gay man,  his overall mission, his album, his BET Awards performance, and much more.

Head below for pics and quotes…

On His New Album ‘Montero’:

“I’m turning into Montero more and more, day by day. I named the album after myself because there are a lot of things I’ve been going through and dealing with and wanting to say. I wanted to let sides of myself show that I’ve been afraid of people seeing for so long.”

On Performing At The BET Awards:

“Going to this place with all these overly masculine rappers and you’re finna be in there throwing a little ass every now and then, touching on dudes and hugging them and kissing them…at some points I was like, ‘Should I even do this? I don’t feel like they’re going to love me like that.

And [people always say] go where you’re accepted and stuff like that, but you can’t always just go where you’re accepted. You’ve got to go and break down those walls and say, ‘This is my space now too.’”

On His Challenging Upbringing:

“Growing up in the Atlanta area, I [saw] a lot of microaggressions towards homosexuality. Little things like going into an IHOP and hearing one of your family members say, ‘Look at those *******’ to two people eating or even just a small [statement like] ‘Boys don’t cry.’ Little sh*t like living in the hood, not being super into sports, and then having to go outside and pretend that I was.

[I] pushing that part of myself in more and more, almost convincing myself that it’s not even actually there.”

He brings up a recent viral video of a Black boy named Tyler, reportedly in the Atlanta area, being abused by family members, including having the word “gay” shaved into the side of his head.

“It takes you back in time, watching somebody else’s experience. I was in rehearsals like, ‘Oh, my God. I have to do my absolute fucking best with this performance because of sh*t like this.’”

On Tough Times In The Present:

“But I won’t pretend like I’m never sad or anything. I’ve had a bunch of hard times this past week, after that performance and before the performance. But for me, that’s life, and one thing I 100 percent never do when I’m in these down moments is go to social media with them. Because I know that they’re going to pass, and what a lot of people like to do is use that against you.

Growing up, I didn’t realize it, but I’ve always been kind of my own hand on my own shoulder. I’ve had to keep a lot of secrets, and I can only share those things with myself. So, I had to lift myself up when I was down, from fucking 9 years old, because I don’t feel like me and my dad ever had a super emotional connection after he got custody of me and my brother, and I didn’t really get that with my mom and my siblings.”

Your thoughts?

[Photo Credit: OUT / James White]