Lil Nas X is one of the most popular and controversial artists in the music industry today. His debut album “Montero” has been praised by critics and fans alike for its genre-bending and boundary-pushing songs. But many people are also curious about his personal life, especially his family background and his stage name. Is Lil Nas X related to Nas, the legendary rapper who has been in the game since the 90s? Here’s what we know.
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The short answer is no, Lil Nas X is not related to Nas by blood. They do not share any common ancestry or family ties. Lil Nas X was born Montero Lamar Hill in 1999 in Lithia Springs, Georgia. He is the son of Robert Stafford and Tamara Hill, who divorced when he was six years old. He has two full brothers, Lamarco and Tramon, and several half-siblings from both his parents’ sides.
Nas, on the other hand, was born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones in 1973 in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of Olu Dara, a jazz musician, and Fannie Ann Jones, a postal worker. He has one brother, Jabari Fret, who raps under the name Jungle. He also has a daughter, Destiny, and a son, Knight, from his previous relationships with Carmen Bryan and Kelis.
Lil Nas X’s stage name is inspired by Nas
Although Lil Nas X and Nas are not related by blood, they are connected by music. Lil Nas X has revealed that his stage name is inspired by Nas, whom he admires as a rapper. In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, he explained how he came up with his moniker:
“When I started doing music, I was like, ‘I want to have fun with this,’” he said. “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.”
The X stands for “unknown,” as he wanted to keep his identity mysterious when he first started making music online.
Lil Nas X and Nas have collaborated on a song
Lil Nas X and Nas may not be related by blood, but they have collaborated on a song together. In 2020, they released a remix of Lil Nas X’s song “Rodeo,” which originally featured Cardi B. They also performed the song together at the 62nd Grammy Awards, where Lil Nas X won two awards for his viral hit “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.
The collaboration was well-received by fans and critics alike, who praised the chemistry and contrast between the two rappers. Lil Nas X also expressed his gratitude and respect for Nas on social media:
“I want to thank you for helping me take my career to the next level,” he wrote on Instagram. “You are a legend and i love you so much!!”
Nas also offered some words of wisdom and encouragement to Lil Nas X in an interview with Rolling Stone:
“He’s a great artist,” he said. “He’s going to be around for a long time because he knows what he’s doing.”
