The record's name and first single come from Lil Nas X's real name, Montero Lamar Hill. His elaborate music videos featured him falling down into hell for "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," landing in (and escaping from) prison in "Industry Baby," and an otherwordly palace with a stairway to heaven for "Am I Dreaming" featuring Miley Cyrus.

Staying on theme with his pregnancy, Lil Nas X also shared a "baby registry" for each track that leads to a donation page for various organizations. The "Montero" donation goes towards the Transinclusive Group, which works to end discrimination, mistreatment, and racial disparities in healthcare for the transgender community. "Industry Baby" donates to The Bail Project, a national nonprofit that aims to end cash bail. "Lost in the Citadel" donates to the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference, which aims to collaborate with congregations to become more understanding of the struggles and health impacts for African American trans and queer communities and cis-gendered women in the Southern United States.

Prior to the release of his debut album, Lil Nas X has already found massive success following the release of his debut single "Old Town Road" in 2019. Remixes of the track saw Lil Nas X collaborating with Billy Ray Cyrus, Mason Ramsey, and Diplo. In the lead-up to Montero, Lil Nas X took the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards, bringing his "Industry Baby" music video to life. The 22-year-old was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People, with Kid Cudi writing, "to have a gay man in hip-hop doing his thing, crushing records – that is huge for us and for Black excellence. The way he's unafraid to make people uncomfortable is so rocked 'n' roll."

Stream Montero via iHeartRadio here.

Toby Knapp

About Toby Knapp