Lil Nas X makes history as ‘Old Town Road’ breaks Billboard Hot 100 record

Rapper surpasses the likes of Luis Fonsi and Mariah Carey

Lil Nas X’s song “Old Town Road” has broken a new Billboard Hot 100, having spent 17 weeks at the top of the ranking.

The 20-year-old rapper thus tops records previously established by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day”, as well as Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito”.

Each track spent 16 weeks as number one of the chart, in 1995-1996 and in 2017 respectively.

The version of “Old Town Road” currently at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 ranking is a remix that also features country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.

Previous record holders for most weeks at the top of the chart include “Uptown Funk!” by Mark Ronson feat Bruno Mars (2015), “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas (2009), and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston (1992).

All these songs and more spent 14 weeks as Billboard Hot 100 number ones.

In June this year, Lil Nas X publicly came out as gay.

His announcement, which came at the end of Pride Month, prompted strong support as well as homophobic comments, resulting in a global conversation about homophobia in hip-hop and online.