A feud between Lil Nas X and skateboarder Tony Hawk sparked a bizarre meme that has since gone viral on Instagram. The controversy stems from a collaboration between Hawk and beverage company ...

It’s easy to forget that “Old Town Road” was a meme before it was a hit. Lil Nas X’s ubiquitous, indelible blend of trap and country initially blew up as a dance challenge on TikTok.

What then do we make of the stardom of Lil Nas X? Is he truly, as the L.A. Times have labeled him, a trailblazer for a “wave of gay/bisexual rappers?” Or is he merely an extension of poptimism that ...