Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus topped Billboard Hot 100 for the fourth week in a row with their viral track “Old Town Road” – and we’re yet to see for how long they’ll stay there.
The enormous success of this two-minute-long smash hit is leaving music experts puzzled, and we won’t judge you if you feel the same way.
Total unknowns like Lil Nas X rarely make it to the top of Billboard charts this easily. “Old Town Road” is, in fact, the first single he ever released and it’s a part of the Yeehaw Challenge. He promoted it using memes, and users of the emerging social media app TikTok eventually embraced it and helped it make it to no. 83 at Billboard Hot 100.
This meme-worthy single became so popular that it caught the eye of country legend Billy Ray Cyrus. He joined forces with Lil Nas X and recorded a remix which gave rise to dozens of memes after its release on April 5.
Despite the fact it’s a strange hybrid between rap and country, “Old Town Road” is nowhere to be found on Billboard’s country chart. They removed it after coming to the conclusion it doesn’t embrace “enough elements of today’s country music”.
Lil Nas X was disappointed by their decision but said it’s just the kind of things that happens when you’re trying to do something new.
