Lil Nas X has quickly extended the “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” brand by releasing an instrumental-only version of the song on Wednesday (March 31).
The rapper, who has become an expert in flooding the zone with a variety of quick takes on his singles, added the cheeky subtitle “But Lil Nas X Is Silent the Entire Time” to the YouTube video for the vocal-less take, which finds him tweaking yet another classic image.
Much like the controversial, history-hopping “Montero” video — which puts an LGBTQ spin on Greco-Roman and medieval Christian scenes in an effort to draw connections between ancient and modern-day persecution — the still accompanying the instrumental is Nas’ take on Michelangelo’s iconic “The Creation of Adam” fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Only this time, instead of God touching the hand of the first man, it’s a nude Lil Nas pulling back his arrow (with a white-gloved hand on the tip) and a reclining, nude Lil Nas with red hair on the receiving end as the track plays out in a way that the many comments reveal have fans “politely” and “silently” twerking.
Lil Nas stirred up some heat by announcing earlier in the week that he was releasing a limited line of 666 “Satan Shoes.” Nike later announced a trademark infringement lawsuit against MSCHF Product Studio, the company behind his controversial new kicks, which allegedly have human blood in their soles. The “Montero” video has also unleashed some backlash from conservatives and Christians who object to the rapper’s use of some religious imagery in the clip, with the rapper admitting that the heat has kind of gotten to him.
“I’ll be honest all this backlash is putting an emotional toll on me,” he tweeted on Monday. “I try to cover it with humor but it’s getting hard. my anxiety is higher than ever and stream call me by your name on all platforms now!”
Listen to the instrumental version of “MONTERO” below.
