LIL NAS X is continuing to make country cool with the release of his Wrangler collection but the move has resulted in him being targeted by critics who aren't happy about his connection with the genre.
The rapper’s breakout hit Old Town Road features the line: “Cowboy hat from Gucci, Wrangler on my booty” and now his fans can live the lyrics thanks to his collaboration with the brand.
The 20-year-old, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, teased the capsule collection on social media on Monday.
Coming Soon @Wrangler [2] #Wrangleronmybooty [3] pic.twitter.com/F4Lqfan17S [4]
— nope (@LilNasX) May 20, 2019 [5]
The collection, which is available to shop now, includes a pair of jeans with the words “Old Town”, a homage to his chart-topping hit, and “#1”; a pair of denim shorts with “Wrangler” emblazoned across the back and a t-shirt with the words Old Town Road and Lil Nas X in red across the front.
The shorts, which pay homage to Lil Naz X’s “Wrangler on my booty” lyric, have already sold out. But there’s good news for fans, Wrangler has said they will be restocked.
While the news has gone down well with his supporters, who have wasted no time in snapping up items from the collection, some have criticised the brand for the partnership and posted angry comments accusing Lil Nas X of not fitting in with the "country identity" or "spirit".
“So what happened to your motto long live cowboys not long live the hood,” one commenter wrote on Instagram.
Another wrote: “Wranglers are to be worn by cowboys and farmers not rappers, this is very disappointing.”
Wrangler responded: “We believe the country spirit is about having courage, independence and confidence, which are the same qualities encapsulated in this limited-run, one-of-a-kind collection.”
One of Lil Nas X’s supporters wrote: “Oh they BIG MAD! WE created country music, or did y’all forget and try to take credit for it just like everything else!”
The rapper himself has also responded to the backlash and boycott threats.
He tweeted: “Y’all really boycotting Wrangler? Is it that deep?”
Regardless of the hate, Lil Nas X’s star is continuing to rise and shine. Old Town Road has topped the Billboard 100 chart for seven consecutive weeks after previously having been dropped from the country music chart as his song was deemed ineligible.
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