MONTERO is the debut album by rapper Lil Nas X. The album was released on September 17, 2021, coming off the success of the mega-hit single "Old Town Road" (and its many, many remixes) and his EP 7.
Wanting to prove that he was not the One-Hit Wonder that many labeled and dismissed him as, Lil Nas X departed from the Country Rap sound of "Old Town Road" and worked with the same producers of 7, Take a Daytrip, to embrace a more mainstream-friendly pop-rap sound for his first full mainstream work. The album also uses influences from genres such as R&B, alt-pop, and rock.
The album's lyrics largely revolve around two main subjects: Lil Nas X coming to terms with his success and recounting his journey to acceptance both from the world and from himself, and him speaking openly about being gay after coming out following the release of 7.
The latter topic is reflected in the four singles that were released before or on the album's release datenote : "MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)", "SUN GOES DOWN", "INDUSTRY BABY", and "THATS WHAT I WANT". While their depictions of Lil Nas X's homosexuality sometimes took the form of introspection in recalling his struggles coming to terms with it, considerable press attention was given to the more explicit content in the singles' lyrics and/or music videos. The sexually charged "MONTERO", and its music video's use of religious imagery, received the most success and controversy of all the singles, but undeniable cultural attention nevertheless.
Lil Nas X conducted several publicity stunts as part of the album's promotional campaign, one of which was an extended storyline of him "becoming pregnant" which culminated in him "giving birth" to the album on its release day.
MONTERO was released to commercial success and critical acclaim, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 album charts.
Track listing:
- "MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)" (2:18)
- "DEAD RIGHT NOW" (3:41)
- "INDUSTRY BABY" (with Jack Harlow) (3:32)
- "THATS WHAT I WANT" (2:23)
- "THE ART OF REALIZATION" (0:24)
- "SCOOP" (featuring Doja Cat) (2:54)
- "ONE OF ME" (featuring Elton John) (2:42)
- "LOST IN THE CITADEL" (2:50)
- "DOLLA SIGN SLIME" (featuring Megan Thee Stallion) (2:25)
- "TALES OF DOMINICA" (2:26)
- "SUN GOES DOWN" (2:48)
- "VOID" (4:08)
- "DONT WANT IT" (2:12)
- "LIFE AFTER SALEM" (3:31)
- "AM I DREAMING" (featuring Miley Cyrus) (3:03)
Tropes in the album include:
- Boastful Rap: "INDUSTRY BABY" and "DOLLA SIGN SLIME" are the typical braggadocious rap songs about how much money, power and influence Lil Nas X has.
- Break-Up Song: "LIFE AFTER SALEM", where Lil Nas X's romantic interest is changing before his eyes and he demands to know just what he wants from him anymore.
- The Cameo:
- Colton Haynes plays the prison guard in the "INDUSTRY BABY" music video, but contrary to popular belief, the Samoan inmate in the yard scene is not Jason Momoa.
- Billy Porter appears as the church pastor in the music video for "THATS WHAT I WANT".
- Caps Lock: The titles of all the songs are stylized in all uppercase letters, sans features or Either/Or Titles in parentheses.
- Cure Your Gays: In "SUN GOES DOWN", Lil Nas X sings, "These gay thoughts would always haunt me / I prayed God would take it from me." This was reportedly inspired by his real-life story of coming to terms with his homosexuality; he has stated that before he accepted his orientation, he would pray that it was just a phase.
- Gayngst: A major theme throughout the album, most prominently in "SUN GOES DOWN", where he sings about his struggles with fitting in and having had suicidal thoughts for being gay.
- Genre Roulette: The album bounces between rap, trap, pure pop, and rock.
- I Just Want to Be Loved: "THATS WHAT I WANT", where Lil Nas X sings about wanting someone to love him.
- Macho Camp: As of the MONTERO album cycle, Lil Nas X has fully leaned into this aesthetic. He and the dancers he chooses for the visuals/performances are cut, chiseled and very manly — but it's clear they are also gay and campy. A large portion of the video for "INDUSTRY BABY" involves him and other very muscular prison inmates dancing in the nude in the prison showers. A follow-up video purports to be the uncensored version, but just before it cuts to the naked dancers, it begins to buffer indefinitely.
- Miniscule Rocking: "VOID" is his longest song to date, at just 4 minutes and 10 seconds. The majority of his songs are at least a minute shorter; both the original "Old Town Road" and "Panini" clocked in at just under two minutes.
- Self-Titled Album: A variant; Rather than being titled after his stage name, the song and album MONTERO are titled after his given name.
- Spoken Word in Music: "THE ART OF REALIZATION", an interlude wherein Lil Nas X talks to someone about how he generally has "no actual direction" and is "not heading towards any specific place" in life.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song: "SUN GOES DOWN" comes across this away after the released singles, as well as "ONE OF ME", "TALES OF DOMINICA", and "AM I DREAMING".
- Textless Album Cover
- You Are Not Alone: "SUN GOES DOWN" is a song about Lil Nas X's experiences with bullying, homophobia, and Gayngst growing up, and its chorus alludes to suicide, but he uses his experiences to assure listeners dealing with similar thoughts and hardships that everything will be alright.I know that you want to cry
But there's much more to life than dyin'
Over your past mistakes
And people who threw dirt on your name
