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"Old Town Road" was released independently as a single on December 3, 2018, during the rise of the "Yeehaw Agenda" [[Internet meme|meme]], a movement incorporating cowboy fashion and culture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/welcome-to-the-yee-yee-club-bitch-805169/|title=Giddy Up! Here’s What You Need to Know About the Yeehaw Agenda|date=March 8, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|author=Brittany Spanos}}</ref> Lil Nas X listed the song under the [[country music]] genre on [[SoundCloud]] and [[iTunes]] as a way to manipulate chart algorithms, as it would be easier to top the country charts than the dominant hip hop/rap charts.<ref name="RS"/> Lil Nas X began creating memes to promote "Old Town Road" before it was picked up by [[TikTok]] users.<ref name="TIME"/>
"Old Town Road" was released independently as a single on December 3, 2018, during the rise of the "Yeehaw Agenda" [[Internet meme|meme]], a movement incorporating cowboy fashion and culture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/welcome-to-the-yee-yee-club-bitch-805169/|title=Giddy Up! Here’s What You Need to Know About the Yeehaw Agenda|date=March 8, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|author=Brittany Spanos}}</ref> Lil Nas X listed the song under the [[country music]] genre on [[SoundCloud]] and [[iTunes]] as a way to manipulate chart algorithms, as it would be easier to top the country charts than the dominant hip hop/rap charts.<ref name="RS"/> Lil Nas X began creating memes to promote "Old Town Road" before it was picked up by [[TikTok]] users.<ref name="TIME"/>


The song gained traction in late December 2018 after becoming the "Yeehaw Challenge" meme on TikTok, where users created short videos set to the song. The challenge is credited with launching the song to debut at number 83 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]],<ref name="XXL">{{Cite news|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2019/03/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billboard/|title=Rapper Lil Nas X's Country-Trap Song Sets Billboard Record|work=XXL|date=March 22, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019|author=Marisa Mendez}}</ref> where the song has since peaked at number 15 on the chart.<ref name="Hot 100"/> The song's popularity grew so quick that radio stations had to download the audio from [[YouTube]].<ref name="RS"/> On March 22, 2019, the success of the song allowed Lil Nas X to sign to [[Columbia Records]], which now distributes the single.<ref name="RecordDeal">{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8502868/lil-nas-x-signs-columbia-records|title='Old Town Road' Rapper Lil Nas X Signs to Columbia Records|work=Billboard|date=March 22, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019|author=Tatiana Cirisano}}</ref>
The song gained traction in late December 2018 after becoming the "Yeehaw Challenge" meme on TikTok, where users created short videos set to the song. The challenge is credited with launching the song to debut at number 83 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]],<ref name="XXL">{{Cite news|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2019/03/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billboard/|title=Rapper Lil Nas X's Country-Trap Song Sets Billboard Record|work=XXL|date=March 22, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019|author=Marisa Mendez}}</ref> where the song has since peaked at number 15 on the chart.<ref name="Hot 100"/> The song's popularity grew so quickly that radio stations had to download the audio from [[YouTube]].<ref name="RS"/> On March 22, 2019, the success of the song allowed Lil Nas X to sign to [[Columbia Records]], which now distributes the single.<ref name="RecordDeal">{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8502868/lil-nas-x-signs-columbia-records|title='Old Town Road' Rapper Lil Nas X Signs to Columbia Records|work=Billboard|date=March 22, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019|author=Tatiana Cirisano}}</ref>


==''Billboard'' controversy==
==''Billboard'' controversy==

Revision as of 04:06, 7 April 2019

This article is about the Lil Nas X song. For the Staten Island Railway station, see Old Town station (Staten Island Railway).
"Old Town Road"
Single by Lil Nas X
ReleasedDecember 3, 2018 (2018-12-03)
Genre
Length1:53
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • YoungKio
  • Reznor
  • Ross
Visualizer
"Old Town Road" on YouTube

"Old Town Road" (also known as "Old Town Road (I Got Horses in the Back)") is a song by American rapper Lil Nas X. It was independently released on December 3, 2018, and became popular in early 2019 through the social video sharing app, TikTok. The song reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on the Hot Country Songs chart before the magazine disqualified it from being included on the latter.[1] It also made the top 40 of charts around the world, including in Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway. Had it not been disqualified, "Old Town Road" would have been the Hot Country Songs number-one song, as of the chart dated April 6, 2019.[2] A remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus was released on April 5, 2019.

Background

Country rap, and its subgenre, country trap, began making a resurgence into the mainstream following American rapper Young Thug's experimental mixtape Beautiful Thugger Girls (2017). Lil Nas X has cited Young Thug as a pioneer of the country trap genre.[3] In May 2018, Lil Tracy and Lil Uzi Vert reignited the trend with their country rap single "Like a Farmer (Remix)".[4][5]

In 2018, Lil Nas X dropped out of college to pursue a musical career, but was discouraged by his parents. He moved in with his sister, spending time promoting his music on the Internet while getting just three hours of sleep each night. Lil Nas X began writing "Old Town Road" after he felt like he was "out of options.” Lil Nas X says his sister’s and parents’ frustration inspired the song’s chorus, "can’t nobody tell me nothing.” Within the month of writing it, Lil Nas X chose to spin the song's meaning so that the "old town road" would be a symbol of success.[3]

Dutch record producer YoungKio produced the beat a year prior to the song's release and uploaded it to his online store for selling beats. He sampled Nine Inch Nails' track "34 Ghosts IV" and kept the song intact instead of chopping it as a challenge to himself, saying he "didn't really have any country thoughts about it." Since purchases on his online store were anonymous, YoungKio didn't know the song was purchased by Lil Nas X until he saw it in an Instagram meme in December 2018.[6]

Composition

"Old Town Road" is a country rap song produced by YoungKio. The song heavily samples Nine Inch Nails' track "34 Ghost IV" from their sixth studio album Ghosts I–IV (2008).[7] The song prominently features the playing of a banjo and trap drums throughout.[1] The song has been compared to Lil Tracy's 2018 single "Like a Farmer", which was later remixed by Lil Uzi Vert.[8]

Release and promotion

"Old Town Road" was released independently as a single on December 3, 2018, during the rise of the "Yeehaw Agenda" meme, a movement incorporating cowboy fashion and culture.[9] Lil Nas X listed the song under the country music genre on SoundCloud and iTunes as a way to manipulate chart algorithms, as it would be easier to top the country charts than the dominant hip hop/rap charts.[1] Lil Nas X began creating memes to promote "Old Town Road" before it was picked up by TikTok users.[3]

The song gained traction in late December 2018 after becoming the "Yeehaw Challenge" meme on TikTok, where users created short videos set to the song. The challenge is credited with launching the song to debut at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100,[10] where the song has since peaked at number 15 on the chart.[11] The song's popularity grew so quickly that radio stations had to download the audio from YouTube.[1] On March 22, 2019, the success of the song allowed Lil Nas X to sign to Columbia Records, which now distributes the single.[7]

Billboard controversy

Billboard (logo pictured) controversially removed "Old Town Road" from its Hot Country Songs chart after it debuted at number 19

"Old Town Road" achieved a rare feat in Billboard history when it simultaneously charted on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts in March 2019.[a] However, Billboard quietly removed "Old Town Road" from its Hot Country chart for "not [embracing] enough elements of today's country music".[1] "Old Town Road" would've peaked at number one on the April 6, 2019 Hot Country Songs chart if it were never removed.[13]

Lil Nas X stated he was "extremely disappointed" by the decision.[14] In an interview, Time reporter Andrew R. Chow brought up Billboard's decision to remove "Old Town Road" from the Country chart but keep it on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, asking Lil Nas X if he considers "Old Town Road" a country song. Lil Nas X replied, "The song is country trap. It's not one, it's not the other. It's both. It should be on both [charts]."[3]

The exclusion of "Old Town Road" brought criticism of the evaluation of the work of non-white artists in the country genre, with Rolling Stone writer Elias Leight referring to Beyoncé, another black artist, whose song "Daddy Lessons" failed to be considered a country song by The Recording Academy in 2016. Leight also pointed out other difficulties faced by black artists making cross-genre music, noting that rapper Juice Wrld's Death Race for Love (2019) would "probably be the most commercially successful rock album of 2019", but would never appear on rock charts or playlists, another genre like country predominated by white artists.[1] In light of the criticism, Billboard later stated that the decision to remove "Old Town Road" from the Hot Country Songs chart had nothing to do with Lil Nas X's race.[15] When asked if he believed the decision by Billboard had any racial undertones, Lil Nas X replied, "I believe whenever you're trying something new, it's always going to get some kind of bad reception."[3]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[16]

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17] 18
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[18] 11
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 14
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[20] 46
Invalid chart entered Germany2 50
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[21] 30
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 69
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[24] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[25] 16
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[26] 38
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 23
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 73
UK Singles (OCC)[29] 39
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 15
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[30][b] 19
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32] 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 38
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[11] 36

Remix

"Old Town Road (Remix)"
Remix by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
ReleasedApril 5, 2019 (2019-04-05)
Genre
Length2:37
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • YoungKio
  • Reznor
  • Ross

"Old Town Road (Remix)", featuring American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, was released on April 5, 2019. The remix was recorded in support of "Old Town Road" being recognized as a country song.[33]

Background

In December 2018, a day after the original version's release, Lil Nas X tweeted out that he wanted Billy Ray Cyrus on the song.[34]

Billy Ray Cyrus stated he loved the original version the first time he heard it.[35] Cyrus related to the song the first time he heard it, connecting the "old town road" to the Old Town Bridge in Argillite, Kentucky that he used to play on as a kid.[36] In response to Billboard removing "Old Town Road" from the Hot Country Songs chart, Cyrus tweeted his support for Lil Nas X and noted that the removal put him in the ranks of great outlaws like himself.[37]

Remix personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[38]

  • Lil Nas X – lead vocals
  • Billy Ray Cyrus – featured vocals
  • Jocelyn "Jo'zzy" Donald – background vocals
  • YoungKio – production
  • Trent Reznor – sampled production
  • Atticus Ross – sampled production
  • Joe Grasso – engineering
  • Cinco – recording engineering
  • Andrew Bolooki – recording engineering
  • Eric Lagg – mastering engineering

Notes

  1. ^ While at least one source claims that this was the first instance,[10] there has been at least one other song to achieve that circumstance: "We Are the World", which appeared on six charts simultaneously, the aforementioned three plus the dance, adult contemporary, and rock charts.[12]
  2. ^ "Old Town Road" was removed from the Hot Country Songs chart in late March 2019 after Billboard reevaluated the song's genre and deemed it did not fit its qualifications for a country song.[31] "Old Town Road" would've peaked at number one on the April 6, 2019 chart if it were never removed.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Elias Leight (March 26, 2019). "Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Was a Country Hit. Then Country Changed Its Mind". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  2. ^ Adjei-Kontoh, Hubert (April 2, 2019). "Lil Nas' song was removed from Billboard for not being 'country' enough. But who gets to decide categories?". The Guardian. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Andrew R. Chow (March 30, 2019). "Lil Nas X on 'Old Town Road' and the Billboard Controversy". Time. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  4. ^ Michael Saponara (March 22, 2019). "5 Things to Know About 'Old Town Road' Rapper Lil Nas X". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  5. ^ Salvatore Maicki (March 27, 2019). "Billboard erases Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' from country music chart". The Fader. Retrieved March 29, 2019. Lil Nas X's hit is one of the latest entries in a storied canon of country rap, a trend reignited last year by Lil Tracy and Lil Uzi Vert's "Like a Farmer."
  6. ^ "'Old Town Road' Producer YoungKio on How Lil Nas X's Song Came to Life".
  7. ^ a b Tatiana Cirisano (March 22, 2019). "'Old Town Road' Rapper Lil Nas X Signs to Columbia Records". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  8. ^ "Five Burning Questions: Billboard Staffers Discuss Lil Nas X's Top 40 Breakout Hit 'Old Town Road'". Billboard. March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  9. ^ Brittany Spanos (March 8, 2019). "Giddy Up! Here's What You Need to Know About the Yeehaw Agenda". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Marisa Mendez (March 22, 2019). "Rapper Lil Nas X's Country-Trap Song Sets Billboard Record". XXL. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d Trust, Gary (April 1, 2019). "Ariana Grande's '7 Rings' Rules Billboard Hot 100 for 8th Week, Passing Her Reign With 'Thank U, Next'". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  12. ^ "[Various song charts]". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 16. April 20, 1985. pp. 22, 23, 48, 54, 58, 70. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  13. ^ a b ChartData (April 2, 2019). "chart data on Twitter: ".@LilNasX's "Old Town Road" would have hit #1 on this week's Billboard Hot Country Songs chart had it not been removed."". Twitter. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  14. ^ Emily Yahr (March 29, 2019). "Billboard pulled Lil Nas X's viral 'Old Town Road' from the country chart. It ignited a controversy". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  15. ^ Lisa Respers France (March 29, 2019). "Lil Nas X is kicked off country chart, leading some to blame racism". CNN. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  16. ^ Old Town Road / Lil Nas X – TIDAL
  17. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  18. ^ "Lil Nas X – Old Town Road" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  19. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: April 6, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  20. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201913 into search. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  21. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  22. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  23. ^ "Lil Nas X – Old Town Road" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  24. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  25. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 14, 2019". VG-lista. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201913 into search. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  27. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 14". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  28. ^ "Lil Nas X – Old Town Road". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  29. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  30. ^ "Country Songs: March 16, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  31. ^ Yoo, Noah (March 27, 2019). "Billboard Removes Lil Nas X's Viral Song 'Old Town Road' from Country Chart". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  32. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: April 6, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  33. ^ Elias Wright (April 3, 2019). "Billy Ray Cyrus Burnishes Lil Nas X's Country Credentials With 'Old Town Road' Remix". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  34. ^ Lil Nas X (December 4, 2018). "nope on Twitter: "twitter please help me get billy ray cyrus on this"". Twitter. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  35. ^ Jonathan Bernstein (April 5, 2019). "'Old Town Road' and the History of Black Cowboys in America". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 5, 2019. Today, Lil Nas X released a remix of the song with country-crossover singer Billy Ray Cyrus, who says he "loved the song the first time I heard it."
  36. ^ Billy Ray Cyrus (April 5, 2019). "Billy Ray Cyrus on Twitter: "Congrats @lilnasx 🤠 I'm always in your corner! #1 #OTR #OldTownRoadREMIX"". Twitter. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  37. ^ Dee Locket (April 5, 2019). "Billy Ray Cyrus Gives Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' a Ringing Endorsement With Remix". Vulture. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  38. ^ Old Town Road (Remix) / Lil Nas X – TIDAL
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