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23 September 2021

Lil Nas X on why a hoped-for collaboration with Lady Gaga for ‘Montero’ didn’t happen

Responding to fans on Twitter, the 'Industry Baby' rapper hinted at a collab in the future

By Alastair James

Words: Alastair James; pictures: Instagram/@lilnasx and @ladygaga

Lil Nas X has revealed there were at least two big collaborations he wanted for his debut album Montero that sadly just didn’t happen.

The 22-year-old rapper released the LP on Friday (17 September) to critical acclaim. It already features collabs with Doja Cat, Sir Elton John, Megan Thee Stallion, and Miley Cyrus.

But, responding to fans’ dream duets on Twitter, the ‘Industry Baby’ singer indicated there was much more we could have had.

“I never finished writing to it”

Asked by one fan which song he’d sent to Nicki Minaj, Nas replied with the aforementioned hit, which already features Jack Harlow.

The rapper has previously admitted to being a long-time Nicki stan, and indeed the man behind Nicki stan accounts. He recently told an episode of The Breakfast Club that he’d been in touch with Nicki’s team, but didn’t hear back from them.

Another fan asked if Nas would ever do a song with Lady Gaga to which Nas responded that he had wanted a song with her on the album, but that he “never finished writing to it & sending it to her.” 

Whilst we’d have loved to hear two of our favourite LGBTQ icons teaming up, we’re just excited at the prospect of it happening one day! As several fans suggested in the comments, maybe next time.

The Montero album, which has raised thousands for several charities, was praised by many for its powerful and often personal insight into the singer’s mind. Songs such as ‘Industry Baby’ demonstrate strong confidence, while tracks such as ‘Sun Goes Down’ highlight a more sensitive tone discussing teenage trauma and homophobic bullying.

Of the collaborations we did get on the album, our very own Jamie Tabberer said: “Wisely, Nas has recruited the world’s most underrated balladeer Miley Cyrus on slowie ‘Am I Dreaming?’ and Elton John pops up on piano on ‘One of Me’.

“There are typically arch verses from Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion on the fittingly irreverent ‘Scoop’ and ‘Dolla Sign Slime’, respectively. (Nas has spoken of Doja’s influence on his career, and as such playfully adopts different personas and voices throughout, although to a far lesser extent than the spiritual daughter of champion voice-thrower Nikki Minaj).

“Elton’s presence, albeit welcome, is almost a prerequisite; Nas’s dynamic with the girls, on the other hand, feels fresh and exciting. It’s a treat to see a gay male pop star vibe with his female (and in Miley’s case, genderfluid) counterparts, and for their mutual respect to be spotlighted.”

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