Old Town Road

In Old Town Road, Chris Molanphy considers Lil Nas X's debut single as pop artifact, chart phenomenon, and cultural watershed. "Old Town Road" was more than a massive hit, with the most weeks at No. 1 in Billboard Hot 100 history. It is also a prism through which to track the evolution of popular music consumption and the ways race influences how the music industry categorizes songs and artists. By both lionizing and satirizing genre tropes--it's a country song built from an alternative rock sample, a hip-hop song in which nobody raps, a comical song that transcends novelty, and a queer anthem--Lil Nas X troubles the very idea of genre. Ultimately, Molanphy shows how "Old Town Road" channeled decades of Americana to point the way toward our cultural future.

Author: Chris Molanphy
Publisher: Duke University Press
Published: 11/07/2023
Pages: 152
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.42lbs
Size: 7.00h x 7.00w x 0.33d
ISBN13: 9781478025511
ISBN10: 1478025514
BISAC Categories:
- Music | Genres & Styles | Rap & Hip Hop
- Social Science | Ethnic Studies | American | General

About the Author
Chris Molanphy is a columnist for Slate and the host of the Hit Parade podcast. He has written for publications including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, New York Magazine, NPR Music, The Village Voice, and others. He is author of Kurt Cobain: Voice of a Generation.