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The Number Ones: Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby” (Feat. Jack Harlow)
Music critic Tom Breihan's "The Number Ones" column examines "Industry Baby," the 2021 collaboration between Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow that spent one week at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Lil Nas X's third US chart-topper, following "Old Town Road" and "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," and the piece situates the song within his unusually turbulent seven-year run of fame, noting that he has recently gone through a difficult period following a widely publicised incident in Los Angeles.
The column, part of an ongoing series reviewing every Hot 100 number one since 1958, describes "Industry Baby" as a triumphant, boastful victory-lap track made while Lil Nas X was still working on his debut album and shaping his public persona. Breihan contrasts it with the artist's two previous chart-toppers, calling it more conventional than the viral novelty of "Old Town Road" or the shock value of "Montero," while still finding it an enjoyable addition to his run of hits.
In short
- Column reviews Lil Nas X's 2021 hit "Industry Baby" ft. Jack Harlow.
- It was his third US number-one single, topping the chart for one week.
- Piece reflects on his turbulent recent years amid past pop stardom.
Explained simply
Lil Nas X is an American rapper and singer who achieved unexpected mainstream success in 2019 with his song 'Old Town Road,' which merged country and hip-hop in an unconventional way. Since then, he has become one of the most commercially successful new artists of his generation, scoring three number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, the American chart that tracks the most popular songs. His career path has been unusual, and he has recently faced considerable challenges in his personal and professional life.
'Industry Baby,' released in 2021, was a collaboration with rapper Jack Harlow that topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is a boastful track celebrating success and navigating the music industry, recorded while Lil Nas X was still working on his debut album. It took a more conventional approach than his previous number one hits, which had built their appeal through viral novelty or provocative imagery.
Tom Breihan's column, 'The Number Ones,' is a regular series that examines every song to have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 since 1958. Each instalment places a hit within its historical context and explains its significance in relation to the artist's career and popular culture more broadly. This piece looks at 'Industry Baby' as part of the remarkable but turbulent journey of Lil Nas X as a recording artist.