Lil Nas X Releases Explicit New Music Video For ‘Industry Baby’

On Wednesday, Lil Nas X tweeted out that his new video for “Industry Baby” was “NOT FOR KIDS,” and the singer was undoubtedly correct.

Nas channeled The Shawshank Redemption in the music video for his latest song, acting out a prison break in hot pink jumpsuits. He had initially released a two-minute teaser video that depicted him playing the part of the judge, defense attorney, prosecutor and jury member shaking their heads and himself as a defendant. At the end of the trial and the beginning of the music video, Montero is sentenced to five years in Montero state prison for being gay, a reference to his last single, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”

The music video, which was released at midnight on Friday, shows Nas embracing his sexuality as he dances around the prison with his fellow male inmates. In the most jaw-dropping scene, the artist and company dance completely naked, with certain sections pixeled out, of course.

The record-breaking performer exudes confidence throughout the entirety of the music video. The clip featured many themes that Nas, who came out publicly in 2019, had recently touched on in a letter he wrote to his younger, closeted self. He posted the piece to Twitter.

He started with, “I wrote a song for us. I know sometimes you feel like it’s all downhill from here. I know your sexuality has made you feel like an outcast amongst your peers. I know going from having the biggest song in the world to being trapped in your apartment is weighing heavy on you. And I know if you hear the phrase ‘one hit wonder’ one more time you might combust. But I need you to keep going.”

After referencing his first hit song, “Old Town Road,” he continued, “I need you to realize that you have the opportunity to be the person that you needed growing up. I need you to stop feeling sorry for yourself. And I need you to remember that the only person who has to believe in YOU is YOU.”