Lil Nas X has been criticized for promoting his songs to a young audience and then releasing music that’s only suitable for adults. The 23-year-old rapper, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, insisted that he was free to change his target audience whenever he wants. Now he’s back to targeting the kids music market by inviting The Wiggles to go on tour with him.
“trying really hard to get the wiggles to coheadline the tour with me. i will keep you guys updated,” Lil Nas X shared on Twitter late last week.
Hill is kicking off his 14-city “Long Live Montero” tour in September.
Though the invitation may have been slightly in jest, the official account replied to the rapper’s tweet saying, “We’re ready to wiggle with you! 💛💜💙❤️.”
“Old Town Road,” the rapper’s first big hit, was especially popular with a young demographic. That’s why parents were so disheartened when the music video for the song “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” featured Lil Nas X sliding down a stripper pole into hell and giving the devil a lap dance.
The singer made huge waves shortly after by releasing limited edition “Satan Shoes,” full of satanic symbolism and imagery.
“i literally sing about lean & adultery in old town road. u decided to let your child listen. blame yourself,” Nas wrote in response to criticism of the song “Montero” in 2021.
Another person tweeted, “The system is targeting kids. Lil Nas X’s fanbase is mostly children. They did the same thing with Miley Cyrus after Hannah Montana.”
Hill replied to that account as well, saying, “there was no system involved. i made the decision to create the music video. i am an adult. i am not gonna spend my entire career trying to cater to your children. that is your job.”
It’s worth noting that Nas also released a children’s book directed at a much younger audience. “C Is For Country” is a board book released in January 2021.
According to NPR, Lil Nas X wasn’t too concerned about having a very young fan base. “I’m well aware that life and careers and everything goes in chapters,” the rapper said at the time. “That’s the chapter I’m in right now and I’m OK with that.”
He has also done a virtual concert with Roblox, a game popular with kids, appeared with Elmo, and hosted a surprise concert at an elementary school in 2019. The rapper inviting The Wiggles to go on tour is just the latest in a long line of ploys to attract kids to his fan base.