Lil Nas X - Old Town Road

Background and cultural contexts

Read this Vox feature and podcast transcript on Lil Nas X and Old Town Road. Make sure you read the whole thing - including the podcast transcript - then answer the following questions: 

1) What is the big debate regarding Old Town Road and genre?

The main idea if Old Town Road should be classified as country or rap or a hybrid “country rap” genre. The controversy grew when the  Billboard removed it from the country music chart arguing it did not contain enough elements of country music. 

2) What do you learn about the background of Lil Nas X and Old Town Road from the podcast transcript?

The podcast shows that Lil Nas X was a young artist from Atlanta who purchased the beat online cheaply and recorded the song on his own. He used the internet to allow him to be successful and go viral. Furthermore the song was seen as a way to express himself for who he was.

3) What is the Yeehaw agenda?

The Yeehaw Agenda is a cultural movement celebrating and reclaiming Black cowboy culture.

4) How did the story become a debate about race in America?

It became a debate because many people believed that Old Town Road was removed from the charts because Lil Nas X was a black artist who challenged stereotypes against black people. Furthermore some people believed that the billboards were attempting to marginalise Lil Nas X voice which also suspected the idea that there must be racial boundaries in music and power imbalances in music.

5) How does Charlie Harding sum up the whole thing in the final part of the podcast transcript?

Charlie Harding displayed that Old Town Road became a perfect view of modern culture .It was able to combine internet virality ,a hybrid genre and a meme culture. He shows that it is much more  than just a successful /hit song but it also reflects the cultural changes in America and the power imbalance people receive.

Now read this Salon feature on Lil Nas X and LGBTQ+ identity. Answer the following questions:

1) How did Lil Nas X announce his sexuality on social media?

Lil Nas X came out as gay in 2019 through Twitter. He posted a tweet on the last day of Pride Month telling fans to listen closely to his song C7osure and hinted that the lyrics revealed his sexuality.

2) Why does the article describe Old Town Road as 'genre-blurring'? 

It is called genre-blurring because it mixes conventions of different genres. For example through the use of country rap and hip hop.

3) How has country music demonstrated the social change taking place in American culture and society? 

Country music has shown social change by becoming more diverse and challenging traditional stereotypes. This allows people to now see American culture more positively because people are being able to be exposed to diversity.

Old Town Road textual analysis

Watch the video again and answer the following questions. Use your notes from our in-class analysis to help you:

1) How are narrative features used in the music video? Apply narrative theory here.

Toderolvs theory of equilibrium:

Equilibrium->on the horses with the bag of money and riding out of the dessert

Disequilibrium->being shot at by other people for trespassing on others land

New equilibrium->being in a new environment and being welcomed by all the people around him

Propps character theory:

Protagonist->Lil Nas X

Helper->Bille ray cyrus

False hero->tunnel Lil Nas X went through 

Villan->man who tried shooting at Lil Nas X

Enigma code: Tunnel (how did it turn into a portal?),Where did Lil Nas X get all the money from?

2) What examples of genre conventions and intertextuality can you find in the video?

Western/Country conventions :Cowboy costumes (hats, boots, fringe, horses),Wild West setting with dusty streets and saloons ,Horse riding imagery displays  classic cowboy iconography.

References to Western films: Draws on classic cowboy movies through costumes and Old West imagery. References to pop culture: The opening references western movie scenes and tropes. Billy Ray Cyrus also brings intertextual links to older country music culture.

3) How are technical codes used to create meanings in the video? Analyse camerawork, editing and mise-en-scene and make specific reference to moments in the video.

Mise-en-scene: Costume-Reinforces traditional western wear due to cowboy hats,boots and cowboy outfits.

Lighting-Is high key and natural at times (Highkey at the start which stands out to the. audience Natural lighting to the middle and end which slightly makes the music video feel more authentic which can link to personal identity. Actors-Billy ray cyrus, Lil nas X (creates star power which makes audiences more likely to watch the music video)

Make-up and hair-none - Props-bag of money, guns ,hats, belts, car, horse - Setting-Dessert, seemed to be abandoned house, bingo room, road where Lil Nas X and girl had a dance battle and race between horse and car

4) How are representations of race and ethnicity constructed in the video?

The video challenges traditional cowboy stereotypes such as that only white people play the role of being cowboys. Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus display black people as the centre of atttention. Furthermore the  video links to the Yeehaw Agenda which celebrates overlooked Black cowboy culture. It draws attention to the fact that Black cowboys exist but are often erased from mainstream western imagery.

5) What other representations can you find in the video? You may wish to comment on gender, sexuality or America/American culture. 

Masculinity is represented through traditional cowboy imagery such as horses, guns and independence. The video represents American culture through cowboy mythology, the Wild West and frontier imagery. Wealth, fame and status are represented through luxury imagery and confident performance which can display the story of ‘rags to riches’.

Old Town Road Media Factsheet

Finally, read Media Factsheet #262 - Old Town Road. You'll need to log in to Google using your Greenford Google account to access this. Read the factsheet and answer the following questions: 

1) Who are the celebrities that appear in cameos in the video? 

-Chris Rock
-Diplo
-Vince Staples
-Rico Nasty
-Haha Davis
-Billy Ray Cyrus

2) Choose three of the key terms defined on the first page of the factsheet and write the definitions here. Focus on terms you are unfamiliar with.

Archetypal: A representation that is very typical of a person, place or thing

Mytheme: Small units of narrative in cultural products; such as theme, character and action, the study of which can reveal the dominant ideas and values of culture

Cultural Myth: Deeper ideologies that have been shaped through cultural coding through connotations over time.

3) How did Lil Nas X use social media to boost his own popularity and the success of the video?

Using memes, viral threads, engagement bait and running a Nicki Minaj fan page on twitter.

4) Look at the video analysis on page 3. What conventions of the western can be found in the video? 

- Bank robberies

- Chased by a sheriff 

- Deserted rocky road setting

- Opening credits in a western serif font

- Horse showdowns (but against a car which are binary oppositions)

5) How does the video begin? 

The video starts with opening credits, a western movie convention, which then introduces the characters (featured music artists). The opening scene is of Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus running from a sheriff after stealing as Lil Nas X is holding a bag of coins.

6) What does the factsheet suggest regarding the modern-day part of the video? 

The video ending with Lil Nas X hugging a old white lady shows modern day cultural conviviality whilst breaking negative stereotypes about young black men.

7) How can the video be read as a reinforcement of capitalism and the American dream? 

The montage of clips which include the Maserati car, dollar signs and gemstones reinforce consumerism of the capitalist world and shows how the American dream can take you from rags to riches.

8) How does the factsheet suggest the video creates a hyperreality? 

The message about cultural conviviality is a hyperreality of what would happen as realistically cowboys wouldn't be preforming at a bingo event.

9) How is masculinity represented in the video? 

That masculinity is fluid. We can see this as Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus change from typical, masculine cowboy clothes to cowboy suits which are glamourous which shows how gender is on a spectrum rather than two distinct sides. 

10) Look at the final page. What theories are suggested for this CSP and which do you think are the most useful? 

Paul Gilroy’s idea of double-consciousness could be applied through the idea that Lil Nas X has openly stated he’s struggled

with his own sexuality and Christian background, as well as being a black artist trying to break out in the white-centric genre

of country and western music. Furthermore, sub-genre concept of hybridity in music create through African American influence is clear in how Lil Nas X is forging a type of country music.