“MONTERO,” the hit single released by Atlanta rapper Montero Lamar Hill, better known as Lil Nas X (“J CHRIST”), made the Billboard Hot 100 within the first week of its release in 2021. With the release of his second no.1 hit single, Lil Nas X sparked controversy with “MONTERO,” mainly from the far-right, calling him out on “satanic worship” and making a lot of homophobic statements towards the openly-gay rapper. With his newest documentary, “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero,” which was directed by 2021 NBCU Original Voices Grant/Fellowship winner Zac Manuel (“Bloodthicker”), he dives into not only his life as an artist before the song release, but how his entire life changed for the better of himself. 

The documentary does not open up with anything too special, but you are immediately thrown into the moments before his first-ever live performance. He shares his experience setting up the show and the work he put into practicing his performance. He shows multiple segments of his performances throughout the documentary and I am amazed at his performative talent, especially considering the “Long Live Montero” tour was his first ever experience with live performing. Lil Nas X goes on to talk about how he got emotional in his first performance, and watching his choreography and looking at his body language, even audience members can see that the moments he spent on stage were incredibly life changing for him. 

Following this segment of the documentary, Lil Nas X goes on to talk about growing up as queer, and many LGBTQ folks can relate to him when he says he grew up around more conservative parents. He mentions that although his family has still shown him support, he has always felt separated from them when he came out as queer. He never felt like he could talk about boys and crushes or the “normal” things people can talk about with their parents when it comes to relationships. His loneliness in this sense can be referenced in his music, specifically his song “THATS WHAT I WANT.” 

Watching the documentary made me realize things about myself that I should strive for. Lil Nas X is inspiring. He has brought together a community of people who are marginalized, and is able to represent them in the world of rap. Lil Nas X’s music is an important and unforgettable staple of our generation’s culture and the music world as a whole. The documentary goes into a lot more about Lil Nas X as a person and his career and even some controversies, but writing it in a review would not do his storytelling justice at all. If there is one thing anyone should take away from this review, it is that “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” is a sensational film and is a must-watch for absolutely anyone who has even heard the name Lil Nas X. 

Image from HBO via YouTube.com