He has risen: Lil Nas X is back with “J CHRIST,” his first new single in two years.
Much like his lightning bolt 2021 single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X has pulled out all the stops in the accompanying video for “J CHRIST.” Marking Lil Nas X’s solo directorial debut, the video sees the rapper spoof various Biblical tales, and play a one-on-one basketball game against the devil, alongside a cast of celebrity impersonators that includes Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Oprah, Mariah Carey, and Barack Obama.
A press release for the video goes on to note: “As for those doubting which direction Lil Nas X has chosen, he proudly proclaims ‘THIS WAY’, choosing to express his spirituality in his own way. He’s forging a new life for himself while nodding to the journey that led him here, complete with homage to his iconic music video for ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’. Nas has ultimately ushered in a new beginning, and we have now arrived at DAY ZERO of this chapter.”
While announcing “J CHRIST” on Monday, Lil Nas X wrote on Instagram, “MY NEW SINGLE IS DEDICATED TO THE MAN WHO HAD THE GREATEST COMEBACK OF ALL TIME.” He also alluded to Kesha’s recent “cardboard box + paparazzi = new music tease” by writing his own message, “What she said!,” on a cardboard box, seemingly teasing a collaboration between the two.
“J CHRIST” arrives two weeks before Lil Nas X’s upcoming HBO and Max documentary Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero, set to drop on January 27th. His last album was 2021’s Montero.