In Conversation With Lil Nas X On His New Calvin Klein Campaign

The rapper opens up about his star turn in the DEAL WITH IT campaign, winning two Grammys, and cowboy culture

Charismatic, young, and super cool. Fresh off an incredible performance and two victories at the 2020 Grammys, Lil Nas X is now the face of Calvin Klein for the Spring/Summer 2020 season. Lensed by Mario Sorrenti, the rapper oozes star power in the new DEAL WITH IT campaign, together with Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Maluma.

What was it like to work with Calvin Klein on the DEAL WITH IT campaign?

I had an incredible experience working with Calvin Klein. The atmosphere on set was fantastic, and the team went out of their way to make me feel at ease. I love the message behind this campaign, and I'm honoured to be able to contribute.

What was it like to win at the 2020 Grammys?

The Grammys were amazing. I was grateful to have even been nominated, and I feel very lucky to have won two awards that night. I found myself in a room full of people I had admired for the longest time, along with all the artists who had come before me. This year was truly special. Definitely a day I will never forget.

You have a unique style and a contemporary vision. What attracted you to the cowboy culture?

Cowboy culture wasn't something I liked very much until I wrote Old Town Road, but once I felt the beat, I imagined myself as a lone cowboy on the run; it represented what I was going through at the time from a different perspective. When the song took off and became a success, I embraced that character and that ideology more and more. I have to say it was fun to put my personal touch on it. Now I have like a hundred cowboy hats.

You're a rapper who supports the queer community. How important is it to free the world of labels and stereotypes?

I think it is extremely important to create a world where everyone can be true to themselves, and live an authentic life without the fear of being judged in any way. This is one of the reasons I love this Calvin Klein campaign. To be able to say, "I am what I am. I don't care what you think. DEAL WITH IT."

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You first went viral on TikTok. How important is social media today?

I honestly would not be where I am today without social media. It gave me the power to promote my music and at the same time gave me the opportunity to communicate with my fans. Twitter can make many things happen, and there's plenty of proof of that. Of course, there are negative aspects to social media, but I think it's fantastic because it helps people find friends and an audience, and so helps to make their dreams come true.