In an ironic turn of events, Lil Nas X just might have eclipsed DaBaby’s heralded monthly streaming record as Spotify’s most listened to male rapper — a blissful ending to the hellish controversy of the past weeks.
On Tuesday, a fandom account of the popstar reached 52 million monthly listeners and surpassed DaBaby’s standing on the streaming giant this month. In response, Lil Nas X wrote, “wow this is insane. this is the most i’ve ever had in my career. thank u to everybody listening.” On the platform, DaBaby garnered 51,749,552 monthly listeners while Lil Nas X raked in 52,318,623 monthly listeners. In May, the former dethroned Drake’s long-lauded run as the most listened to male rapper of all-time as he accumulated 54,935,540 monthly listeners.
In hindsight to the scathing aftermath of DaBaby’s homophobic remarks during his Rolling Loud set, it took no time after the announcement for the internet to point out the Lil Nas X’s karmic comeback. While doyens of the industry took a stance against the rapper’s jarring sentiments, others — notably hip hop veterans T.I. and Boosie — defended him by disturbingly comparing his seeming “freedom of speech” to Lil Nas X’s liberating expression. Alluding to his sudden involvement in the brewing uproar, the Montero megastar tweeted, “Some of y’all not even mad that I’m gay, some of y’all mad that I’m gay and still succeeding.”
Attempting to capitalize off the contention, DaBaby pushed the notions of the fallacy even further when he released the visuals to his single “Giving What It’s Supposed To Give.” The self-directed video features the 29-year-old in carceral-themed scenes, glaringly similar to Lil Nas X’s acclaimed “Industry Baby,” as he spits verses that take a jab at his perception of cancel culture. In closing, he leaves the audience with a message: “Don’t Fight Hate With Hate… My apologies for being me the same way you want the freedom to be you.”
wow this is insane. this is the most i’ve ever had in my career. thank u to everybody listening. 🤍 https://t.co/JbCmp8QFN3
— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) August 10, 2021
