Lil Nas X releases his first single after a turbulent period. The artist had been putting out a substantial stream of standalone singles when he was arrested, half-naked and visibly under the influence. The creator of ‘Montero’ pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting law enforcement. The judge took his bipolar diagnosis into account and ordered him to participate in a compulsory two-year rehabilitation program.
This ‘World’s Greatest’ is therefore his major comeback track, and it sounds distinctly triumphant as a result. The lyrics serve as self-encouragement, with him presenting himself as a “champion,” while in the video directed by Phillip Youmans we see him in a dance class, where someone cheers him on to keep going. They ask him whether he will give up everything. The song also serves as a remembrance of his mother, Tamikia Hill, who has passed away.
‘World’s Greatest’ is evidently more a need for artistic expression and personal healing for Lil Nas X than a desire to revolutionize the world, as was perhaps the case with ‘Old Town Road’. In fact there is a nod to his biggest hit ‘Industry Baby’ (“and this one is for the champions”), although the most striking aspect is its considerable similarity to OutKast’s ‘Hey Ya’. Is there really no sample? Is Lil Nas X truly listed as the sole author in the credits on Spotify and Apple Music?
