Biographic - Sunday July 7, 2019 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

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Lil Nas X, the rapper behind the worldwide chart-topper "Old Town Road" was born Montero Lamar Hill in Atlanta on April 9, 1999. He began playing trumpet in fourth grade and was first chair in junior high, but abandoned the instrument over his fear that it might make him look uncool! He studied briefly at the university of west Georgia, but devoted much of his time trying to establish himself as an internet personality. He reportedly posted short-format comedy videos, created interactive scenario threads and ran a Nicki Minaj fan account, although he has subsequently downplayed his involvement. By 2018, he was releasing music online... and in early 2019, thanks in large part to the "Yeehaw Challenge" meme on the social media app TikTok, his country rap song "Old Town Road" became a viral sensation and spiked a bidding war among record companies. When Billboard removed the track from the hot country songs chart, it ignited a huge controversy... and Lil Nas X responded by releasing a remixed version featuring country legend Billy Ray Cyrus. "Old Town Road" soared to the top of the pop charts worldwide, setting airplay and streaming records along the way to multiplatinum status.

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