MUSIC
Lil Nas X Debuts
“Industry Baby”
Lil Nas X in “Industry Baby,” his latest music video.
BY MATT TRACY
Lil Nas X is dazzling fans
with yet another new viral
music video released on
June 22 — and although
the video follows his escape from
a fi ctional prison, he is using the
latest song to take a stand against
mass incarceration.
The out gay rapper, collaborating
with Jack Harlow, unveiled the
video for “Industry Baby,” which
starts off with a judge sentencing
Lil Nas X to fi ve years in “Montero
State Prison” — a reference to his
actual fi rst name as well as his
upcoming album and recent song
of the same name. The video then
shows Lil Nas X in his prison cell
polishing off his Grammy awards
before shifting to a steamy nude
shower scene featuring eight other
men engaging in a dance together.
As usual, Lil Nas X does not shy
away from embracing his sexuality:
During the song his lyrics include
“I don’t f*** b******, I’m queer,
hah,” and he manages to fi t in a
limp wrist pose. Queer themes are
prevalent throughout the video,
which should surprise nobody after
Lil Nas X put his unapologetic
queerness on full display in his
other recent music videos and live
YOUTUBE
performances. And just in case the
straight crowd starts getting up in
arms about Lil Nas X’s provocative
music, he offered a little disclaimer
as the video was about to hit: “Saying
this in advance so y’all won’t
blame me. THE INDUSTRY BABY
VIDEO IS NOT FOR YOUR KIDS!”
Lil Nas X eventually manages to
embark on his escape from the fake
prison, and the video transitions to
focus on Harlow, who is seen in the
middle of an intimate moment with
a woman prison guard. Eventually,
a shirtless Lil Nas X, surrounded
by prison walls and fl ashing lights,
breaks out in another dance with
more than a dozen others in pink
jumpsuits before the video concludes
with Harlow and Lil Nas X
escaping in a prison bus. Along the
way, Lil Nas X knocks out a prison
guard who is played by out gay actor
Colton Haynes.
Co-produced by Take a Daytrip
and Kanye West, the song was
hyped up in advance by Lil Nas
X. But despite all the jokes about
breaking out of a non-existent prison,
the rapper also took advantage
of an opportunity to promote The
Bail Project, which draws donations
to cover cash bail and works
to fi ght the cash bail system. The
music video is accompanied by a
link to The Bail Project.
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