Rapper Lil Nas X gave birth to his baby “Montero” and the delivery was successful. 

Montero, Lil Nas X’s album debut, manifests a different side to the popular, unconventional artist as he was able to strip himself bare to the world through colorful pop and rap beats.  

Lil Nas X posted on his Youtube channel on Thursday night, counting down to his album release. 

Throughout his 14 tracks and one interlude, he takes us on a vulnerable ride where we witness his relationship with his family, his lover, the music industry, haters and, most importantly, with himself. 

In “The Montero Show” Youtube video, he comedically mocks interviewers who’ve both laughed at and disrespected him as well as his music in the past.

In the skit he acts as an interviewer who, at one point, asks if Satan is the father of his child, referring to his album Montero. 

After receiving backlash in March for his “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” music video, many believed his music was Satanic because it included sexually explicit imagery. 

In the March 25 music video, Lil Nas X slides down a pole to hell and sexually greets Satan by giving him a lap dance, then snapping his neck and taking over his throne and control of the underworld. 

Clearly the hate doesn’t phase Lil Nas X as he rightfully calls out all the hatred and social biases toward him and refuses to let it hinder his musical identity. 

“You’s a meme, you’s a joke, been a gimmick from the go,” raps Lil Nas X in “One of Me” featuring British singer Elton John. 

With the slow beat and disappointment in his voice, he expresses his resentment toward the critics who only want to see him as a one-hit wonder from his 2019 hit song “Old Town Road,” which started his career.

With John’s piano ballad, the track lyrics include “Do this here, don’t you do that, say you one of me, say you one of me yeah, yeah.”

As he sings in mezzo piano and the piano keys hit simultaneously, you can hear the pain in his voice as he conveys the trialing emotions of being true to himself. 

Lil Nas X is very open and hides nothing about his personal life.

“Tales of Dominica” accompanied by acoustic guitars adds another layer of vulnerability from Lil Nas X. It describes his dysfunctional family relationships, his depressive moments in life and the hopelessness one feels during darker times. 

“Sometimes you’re hurting, sometimes you’re all alone, sometimes I’m anxious, sometimes it makes me feel like there’s only now,” he says.

The violin accompaniment in Tales of Dominica with vibrato in the end, sets the listener with a deeper feel of his sadness like an empty vase waiting to be filled. 

He hits a falsetto in “Void” and lyrically writes a letter to his younger self. 

Over the electric guitar he admits to weeping through the nights, running away from home and trying to find love. 

“Hello, old friend from the road. I wanted to write a note to let you know that all in all, it ain’t all what it seems.” 

He’s giving his younger self a warning in preparation of what’s to come and through his grief you go back in time to your own life and picture all the depressive moments. 

In “That’s What I Want,” Lil Nas X unapologetically projects his desire to find a special someone in his life where the love is reciprocated. 

“Look it’s harder to find in these times but I got nothin but love on my mind. I need a baby while I’m on my prime, need an adversary to my down and weary,” Lil Nas X says. “Cause it don’t feel right when it’s late at night and it’s just me in my dreams. So I want someone to love, that’s what I fuckin want.” 

Although lyrically and vocally he expresses his sorrow, the track is upbeat and energetic with synth instrumentals that ignites feelings of both discouragement and hope. 

The track makes you want to dance, throw something at the wall and cry all at the same time, which is a more than accurate account of what it means to find love in your twenties right now. 

On the brighter side of things, his album isn’t all sadness as it includes tracks including “Dolla Sign Slime” featuring rapper and songwriter Megan Thee Stallion. 

Lil Nas X brushes off all the haters: “Y’all take a rumor then y’all go and wear it out, fuck all that talkin’ ‘bout who’s in the whearabouts.” 

The staccato brass in Dolla Sign Slime adds to his cockiness and how far he’s come in reaching his throne. Despite many not believing in him, he is at the top and isn’t coming down. 

“Scoop,” featuring rapper and singer-songwriter Doja Cat, gives the listener a close feel of their successes as artists, how they work hard for their bodies and what got them to the levels they’re at now. 

Lil Nas X and Doja Cat told the world in this song that they will always stick to their authentic selves while also being at the top of the music industry. 

Other collaborators include rapper Jack Harlow in “Industry Baby” and singer-songwriter Miley Cyrus in “Am I Dreaming.” 

He expresses the pain of being gay in a world that still isn’t as acceptive as one would hope, but also the happiness he has found in openly embracing his sexuality. 

Throughout the album, Lil Nas X showcases his journey to fame and reveals an honest portrait of himself at 22.

As a 22-year-old myself, his music connected with me every step of the way including the struggle of pleasing others. 

Lil Nas X has created a musical progression and proves to the world nothing can stop him and this album is only the beginning of his raw talent.