The rapper Lil Nas X's Old Town Road has officially broken the record-breaking longevity record in the United States with 17 consecutive weeks in number one, Billboard magazine announced on Monday. Lil Nas X's hit, featuring singer Billy Ray Cyrus, dethroned One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey (1995) and Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, with Justin Bieber (2017).
The incredible story of Lil Nas X
This is the result of an extraordinary story for Montero Hill, the real name of Lil Nas X, who less than a year ago, lived with his sister, was unemployed and had just dropped out of school. He composed Old Town Road on the basis of a $ 30 bought rhythm to a musician based in the Netherlands. The result, which mixes an air of banjo and heavy bass, was presented as a rap with country accents. But Billboard refused to add it to the category standings because it "did not have enough elements of today's country."
A few days after Billboard's decision, Lil Nas X released a remix of what was already a hit, starring country star Billy Ray Cyrus, incidentally father of popstar Miley Cyrus. But despite the legitimacy of Billy Cyrus, twice nominated for Grammys in country categories, the remix was entitled to the same treatment as the original, left on the threshold of the country ranking. The piece has bypassed the category to become the leader in record sales all styles, which he occupies continuously since the week of April 4. Lil Nas X has released several remixes of her hit, whose sales are counted in a single total, which has contributed to the longevity of the title. Billboard integrates online listening, streaming, to establish its ranking.