Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road': From $30 Beat to Longest-Running No. 1 Ever

by Julian Spivey
In the 60 year history of Billboard’s Hot 100 there have been 1,086 songs that have gone to no. 1. Only 38 of those songs have spent 10-plus weeks atop the chart. Three songs made it to at least 15 weeks. And, now one song has made it to 17 weeks and still counting … that song is the breakthrough hit of 2019 “Old Town Road” by 20-year old Georgian rapper Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, a country music star who hasn’t been relevant on the country charts in more than two decades and has since become better known as the father of pop star Miley Cyrus.
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“Old Town Road” is perhaps the biggest Cinderella story in the history of pop music … something that came out of nowhere from an unknown, received a collaboration from a has-been and took pop culture by storm. The song has been something of a controversial one too, especially amongst some country music fans who view it as sacrilege to the genre (that has been bastardized so much in the last decade that this should barely register as an issue). It was also controversial when Billboard removed the song from its country music chart just as it was gaining ground (it was already in the top 20).

But, “Old Town Road” is an earworm of a song that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. It’s meant to be fun and has a video, which has been viewed more than 240 million times on YouTube since its release in late May, that is capable of putting a smile on the face of those who normally wouldn’t be a fan of such things (I know because that’s me).

No matter how you feel about the quality of “Old Town Road” it’s truly worth marveling at its success and give props to Lil Nas X. He’s truly a self-made success story in an industry where that was once nearly impossible, but due to social media apps like YouTube and TikTok, which is where “Old Town Road” got its start, may be a thing of the future.

Lil Nas X paid $30 for the beat to the song anonymously on an online store from the Dutch producer YoungKio, according to Business Insider, and rapped the catchy verses over it. Its Western theme hit at just the right time with the popular Yeehaw fad and “Yeehaw Challenge” meme blowing up on social media. The song was originally released by Lil Nas X on December 3, 2018 and its fast popularity on TikTok led quickly to a record deal with Columbia Records, which distributed it as a single. The popularity of the original led to the remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, which is the version that has been no. 1 for 17 consecutive weeks. Either the original or remix version have gone on to top the charts in at least 10 different countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia.

You could debate whether or not a struggling young artist purchasing a beat for roughly the price of a new album on vinyl and rapping over it is a good or a bad thing for music and the future of such, but for now I just have to say congratulations to Lil Nas X for this little tune that’s taken over our entire world for the spring and summer of 2019. It’s truly one of the most remarkable music stories I’ve ever heard. 

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