He is truly daring and not held back by trying to please everyone. I love how he keeps breaking boundaries through his music, through his videos and with his style choices. Mix liberally with the boldest, wildest custom looks from Versace and you have the most colourful peacock in pop since Elton John.ĭonatella Versace: “I think Lil Nas X really epitomises the idea of expressing yourself through style. Take Dolly Parton and Prince and then throw in a bit of Rick James. The fact he made his name with the country and western trap song “Old Town Road” during the moronic inferno of the Trump era makes him a once-in-a-generation talent whose time has come. Musician (NEW ENTRY) As one of the only openly gay rappers in hip-hop, the one-man meme machine that is Lil Nas X has not so much stepped out of the closet as blown it to smithereens.
It’s a dialogue when I dress Timothée – not many words are needed We understand one another like old souls people with the same sensibilities always find one another. That’s what I wanted to give him, to make him stand straight.
For such a young man to carry such a big movie, I wanted a strictness and a certain noble attitude. I like to understand the main lines of his character before my mind wanders into ideas. Haider Ackermann, designer: “Timothée explained to me what Dune was about and I proposed this look.
A gold-silver lamé Tom Ford suit at the Cannes Film Festival showed us that Chalamet is in fact an androgynous nymph who has fallen to Earth to teach us how to fast-forward tailoring into the future and beyond.
This story is part of The Advocate’s 2021 People of the Year issue, which is out on newsstands November 23, 2021. To get your own copy directly, support queer media and subscribe - or download yours for Amazon, Kindle, Nook, or Apple News.Actor (LAST YEAR N04 ) Timothée Chalamet’s red-carpet styling stunts, devised mainly in conjunction with the designer Haider Ackermann, have totally disrupted the staid concept of what was once known as “eveningwear”. With the September release of his debut studio album, simply titled Montero, Nas X is poised to remain that icon for his listeners, and he does it all just by being himself. I want your tears to fill my Grammy cup.” “I hope my haters are sad,” Nas X tweeted following the success of “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).” “I hope they are crying.
It’s that attitude of his that made him this generation’s leading gay (and media-savvy) icon. It’s this bravery in the face of seemingly unending waves of hate and his commitment to not letting it get to him that has endeared Nas X even more to the folks who love and admire his refreshing queer self-expression. Those who follow Nas X on social media, especially Twitter, already know that the same energy homophobes give him, he gives right back. Some of those typical insults included accusations that he was single-handedly “emasculating all men” and “pushing the gay agenda” on unsuspecting youth the world over.įortunately, in true Gen Z fashion, Nas X knew exactly how to get back at the trolls who seem to question (and obsess over) his every move. To say that Nas X faced his share of conservative backlash and mainstream homophobia throughout the year would be a huge understatement.Īfter an Egyptian-themed public performance of “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” at this year’s annual BET Awards in June that included shirtless men and a passionate kiss between Nas X and one of his dancers, many who are uncomfortable with the idea of a super-popular Black gay man living his most authentic life through his artistry took it upon themselves to hurl the predictable insults at Nas X. The song went understandably viral on social media, especially on apps like TikTok.īut with success, especially for an out and proud artist of color, comes a lot of hate. Its accompanying music video, which featured demonic-themed visuals like Nas X sliding down a stripper pole into hell and giving Satan a lap dance, enthralled many a viewer upon first watch. Little did we know that he was preparing to set the pop world up for one of the most epic, unforgettable, and queer eras in mainstream music.Ī reference to his birth name, Montero Lamar Hill, as well as the Oscar-winning gay coming-of-age romance starring Timothée Chalamet and directed by Luca Guadagnino, “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” is an unapologetic queer anthem that embraces sexuality. But the 22-year-old rapper came out guns a-blazing in the first half of the year with the spring release of his track “Montero (Call Me by Your Name),” which became his second Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper. Nas X, like many other musical artists, had a low-key 2020, trying to keep safe, sound, and fairly calm during the height of the ongoing global pandemic.