Lil Nas X and Nas are two of the most popular and influential rappers in the music industry, but do they share any family ties? Many fans have wondered if Lil Nas X’s stage name is inspired by or related to Nas, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Here is what we know about their relationship and the origin of their names.
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Lil Nas X’s Stage Name Explained
Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, rose to fame in 2019 with his viral country-rap hit “Old Town Road”, which featured Billy Ray Cyrus and broke the record for the longest-running number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, he has released several other successful singles, such as “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”, “Industry Baby”, and “That’s What I Want”, and his debut album “Montero” in 2021.
But how did he come up with his stage name? According to Lil Nas X, he chose the name as a joke when he first started rapping, as a reference to the common trend of using “Lil” as a prefix for rap names. He later added the “X” to signify the number of years he felt it would take him to become a legend.
In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, he explained: “When I started doing music, I was like, ‘I want to have fun with this.’ And every new rapper’s name is Lil, Lil, Lil. ‘What if I was Lil Nas? That’d be funny.’ So I was like, ‘All right, bet. I’ll be Lil Nas.’ And I added the X later on.”
He also clarified that his name was not meant to disrespect or copy Nas, who is one of his idols. He tweeted in 2019: “nas is a legend and i never meant any disrespect by my stage name. i actually might change it in the future.”
Nas’s Rap Name and Legacy
Nas, whose full name is Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, is a veteran rapper who has been active since 1991. He is widely considered as one of the best and most influential rappers of all time, with his debut album “Illmatic” (1994) being hailed as a masterpiece and a landmark in hip-hop history. He has released 13 studio albums, four of which topped the Billboard 200 chart, and has won four Grammy Awards out of 14 nominations.
Nas’s rap name is derived from his first name, Nasir, which means “helper” or “protector” in Arabic. He initially went by the nickname “Nasty”, but later shortened it to Nas. He has also used other aliases, such as Nas Escobar, Nastradamus, and God’s Son.
Nas has a daughter named Destiny Jones with his ex-fiancée Carmen Bryan, and a son named Knight with his ex-wife Kelis, who is an R&B singer. He is not related to Lil Nas X by blood or by marriage.
Lil Nas X and Nas’s Collaboration
Despite having no familial relation, Lil Nas X and Nas have collaborated on a song together. In 2020, they released a remix of Lil Nas X’s song “Rodeo”, which originally featured Cardi B. The remix was performed live at the 62nd Grammy Awards, where Lil Nas X also brought out other guests, such as BTS, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mason Ramsey, and Diplo.
The collaboration was well-received by fans and critics alike, who praised the chemistry and contrast between the two rappers. The remix peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA.
The collaboration also showed that there was no bad blood or rivalry between Lil Nas X and Nas over their names or their music styles. In fact, they seemed to respect and admire each other as artists and as individuals.
Conclusion
To sum up, Lil Nas X and Nas are not related by blood or by marriage. They have different backgrounds and rap names that are not inspired by each other. However, they have collaborated on a song together and have shown mutual respect and appreciation for each other’s work. They are both talented and successful rappers who have made their mark on the music industry in their own ways..
