Old-Town-Road

"Old Town Road" has dominated the airwaves and the internet for more than a month now. It has risen to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and catapulted Lil Nas X in the national spotlight.The remix with country music legend Billy Ray Cyrus has made the song even more popular. Now, a teacher in Alabama came up with the great idea to make a school-appropriate version that her kids can recite all the way home. Jasmine Merlette, a teacher at Sun Valley Elementary School in Birmingham, posted a video on Twitter and Instagram of her students singing along to the hit with their own lyrics.A day in the life of Ms. Merlette... 🍎👩🏽‍🏫🔥 #MyClassHasBarsss #TurntUpTuesday #ThisIsOURJam #WeKILTOurStateTest #ThirdGradeShawty #YoFavoriteTeacher pic.twitter.com/X7jQ4s1y2p— Jasmine A. Merlette (@futuredrjas) May 1, 2019"I got the answers in the back, scratch work is attached, pencils in my bag, and I’m solvin’ mighty fast," the students sang in the video. "School is my task, I can do this math, really quick and fast, education is that swag."Merlette posted the video last week and it quickly went viral. It even caught the attention of both Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus.i’m cheesing hard as hell watching this. this beautiful lol https://t.co/em0RUX5cqX— nope (@LilNasX) May 2, 2019This is what it’s all about!!! pic.twitter.com/GwhbN57I5I— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) May 4, 2019“It’s a call to action to empower not just yourself but those around you as well, especially our youth because they need us,” Merlette told the Huffington Post in an email.“The goal of our song was to encourage my kids to remain confident and motivated while taking the state exams. Music is a fun and easy way to remind them that they possess the tools for success.” Merlette's students were absolutely ecstatic when they found out the two musicians saw the video and approved of it. “A few of them cried because they were overwhelmed with excitement,” she said on Sunday.“One of my students said, ‘Ms. Merlette, (Lil Nas X) saw our classroom! He saw our classroom!’ And to me, that validation is the most important part of this whole experience. The world got a glimpse of what our classroom is like, seeing how much happiness can be filled in schools.” View this post on Instagram A day in the life of Ms. Merlette🍎👩🏽‍🏫🔥 #MyClassHasBarsss #TurntUpTuesday #ThisIsOURJam #WeKILTOurStateTest #ThirdGradeShawty #YoFavoriteTeacherA post shared by Jasmine A. Merlette (@futuredrjas) on Apr 30, 2019 at 5:23pm PDTNow, check these out:Nipsey Hussle's Music Streams Have Increased By Over 1,000 PercentActually, Don't Bring Out The Daisy Dukes: Freaknik Is Returning To Atlanta But The Children Are Allowed'Dear White People' Star DeRon Horton Apologizes For Pulling A Kanye West-Style Stage Bomb At GLAAD Media...

It is officially festival season, and you know what that means? Time to wear some really exotic, “I don’t usually dress like this” outfits and stunt for the ‘gram! Festival attendees — from the novice to the veterans — know if there is ever an occasion to flaunt your eccentric personal style, Coachella is it!Because Coachella plays host to a diverse roster of performers and guests, the assorted atmosphere presents a prime opportunity to create or repurpose fashion trends. This year, one of the more popular style trends that appears to be making a comeback based on festival-goers ensembles is a spin on the classic cowgirl aesthetic. Celebrities like Hennessy Carolina and a variety of festival attendees dawned some pretty hot renditions of that “Old Town Road” country style.Here are some of our favorite looks from Coachella 2019.1. Hennessy CarolinaThe rambunctious younger sister of superstar Cardi B, Hennessy Carolina came through with the pink cowgirl drip. View this post on Instagram AUNTIEANA💘A post shared by @ hennessycarolina on Apr 14, 2019 at 10:18pm PDT2. Salma SlimsRapper Salma Slims wore stone-studded, rawhide for her performance at a Coachella party. View this post on Instagram Thank you @Galore @truereligion for having me perform at the Coachella party ! We had that bitch on tilt !!! 💋A post shared by Runway Rapper (@salmaslims) on Apr 13, 2019 at 3:20pm PDT3. Daenerys Hive AKA @tatiXXVI Via TwitterTwitter user @tatiXXVI pulled together a classic cowgirl hat, cowgirl boots, fringe and a bandana to serve and slay in her two-piece rodeo look.Yeehaw agenda in full force this coachella pic.twitter.com/xqjfx9CK8A— daenerys hive 🔥🐉 (@tatiXXVI) April 12, 20194. Lala MilanComedic actress Lala Milan was spotted striking a pose at Coachella while rocking a look she styled herself. View this post on Instagram #Coachella Day 1: @Instagram brought me out, so I gotta fxck it up 🐎 🎡 ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ MUA: ME HEAUX Stylist: ME HEAUX Wig: @darius_boone Outfit: @swankblue Boots: @prettylittlething Shot By: @shalomblacA post shared by LaLa: Free Medicinal Laughter (@lalamilan) on Apr 13, 2019 at 1:06pm PDT5. Lil Lauren AKA @laurenx.o.x.o Via InstagramCoachella attendee  “lil lauren” stepped out looking like a futuristic, rhinestone cowgirl! View this post on Instagram space cowboyA post shared by lil lauren (@laurenx.o.x.o) on Apr 20, 2019 at 4:57pm PDTOverall, it seems the yeehaw movement made its mark Coachella with a little bit of body and flare.Like this content? Now, check these out:The Man Behind Beyoncé's Coachella Couture Breaks Down How He Came Up With The Night's Iconic LooksFeminist Icon Calypso Rose Is The Oldest Artist Ever To Perform At CoachellaLizzo Didn't Miss A Beat When Coachella Screwed Up Her Sound For The Second Time: 'That’s Why I Got My Music...

In the debut of Lil Nas X’s country hit “Old Town Road,” there was rejection from the country genre that I would like to address. The definition of country music comes from a combination of one or more instruments, stories, allusions, and vocal range structures. I know already I can visualize tumbleweeds, horses, and cowboys when thinking of country music’s origins. What I do not think of are Black cowboys; that is uncomfortable to me because it's not that there weren't any but that they just weren’t represented in film. Lots of artists like Spike Lee, Ava Duvernay, Ryan Coogler, and Jordan Peele are working to fix what Hollywood was and through their work they have shown the world what it should have always been. They have been successful and their success shouldn't be subcategorized into Black Hollywood-just Hollywood.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.We see the same dishonor, where artist Lil Nas X was only acknowledged and categorized by country charts once Billy Ray Cyrus joined him on the song. Formerly, the song was classified as "country rap" which we can credit Nelly for building this bridge leaving room for inclusion and diversity as seen in today’s music. But, Nelly’s efforts were still subcategorized even though the style of music was still considered country. Just like the separation of history and Black history, the first response is to reject the collaboration of any and all other cultural influences. The reality is, Lil Nas X’s original version of "Old Town Road" was kept separate because of America's long, dark history of taking from Black culture and considering Black people as less than. We've yet to have a true chance at changing this and begin to heal and reconstruct our society to reflect majority interests and opinions. We cannot even agree on one account of actual history, which are real events that some groups suffered more than others. It is strange to me that we prefer to distinguish between intersectionality related topics when we could just recognize the influence and long term effects of our past.Classifying something by anything other than what the author intended is not only unjust but in a way discredits the art. Black culture is an area that is constantly being appropriated, but oddly enough we are constantly facing rejection when we enter positions that are not considered traditional for us. We can all be agents of change, but we must first come to terms that all of the hatred in which our country was built on is not going to positively affect any of...

Update (April 9, 2019): Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard charts following backlash for the song's rap-inspired take on country. I GOT THE HORSES IN THE BACCC! pic.twitter.com/PdgQbxstcs— nope (@LilNasX) April 8, 2019The Atlanta native born Montero Lamar Hill celebrated his 20th birthday Tuesday with a No. 1 track. According to Billboard, the single started at No. 15 and roared to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The rapper also becomes the first solo artist with a debut single to land on the Hot 100 since Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow.”Happy early birthday @LilNasX, congrats on #1!!! 🐴🥳🤠 pic.twitter.com/mzGnaRr1bA— alexa ☾ (@AlexaMarissa13) April 9, 2019"Old Town Road" debuted on the country charts at No. 19 and vanished abruptly in mid-March, according to Fortune. But it quickly turned into a national phenomenon due to the 20-year-old's rabid fanbase. Within its sixth week, "Old Town Road " was the fastest song to climb the Hot 100 since Zayn's "Pillowtalk" from February 2016.Lil Nas X is also a history maker. He is the first lead male artist to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100 since Desiinger's 2016 hit "Panda." The monumental success of the song has leapfrogged more seasoned artists like Post Malone and Ariana Grande. Among the other accomplishments, "Old Town Road" is expected to hold the top spot on the hip-hop charts and the streaming charts.Original: Lil Nas X recruited a country music OG to give himself some cred after his recent Billboard chart fiasco.His song "Old Town Road" made the "highest-ranking debut" when it secured the No.19 spot on the Billboard chart in March. As Blavity previously reported, it was pulled because Billboard claimed: “It does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version.”Rolling Stone reports the 19-year-old has now done a remix to his viral hit “Old Town Road” featuring none other than Billy Ray Cyrus.Yes, Mr. Achy Breaky Heart, himself. Also known as the man who created Miley Cyrus. View this post on Instagram What a beautiful bride. So happy for @mileycyrus and young @liamhemsworth. Look at the Ole man trying to hide his emotions! #ReadySetDontGo bit.ly/BRCReadySetDontGoA post shared by Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) on Feb 19, 2019 at 6:36pm PSTCyrus reportedly contributed a hook and new verse to the remix. The remix has not been released, but Lil Nas X tweeted Cyrus “murdered” his part.and he murdered the shit https://t.co/vpoVYt8kpT— nope (@LilNasX) April 4, 2019Cyrus posted words of encouragement for the young artist following the removal..@LilNasX Been watching everything going on with OTR. When I got thrown off the charts, Waylon Jennings said to me “Take this as a compliment” means you’re doing something great! Only Outlaws are outlawed. Welcome to the club!— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) April 3, 2019The song remained on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but Lil Nas X isn’t satisfied.“The song is country trap,” he told Time. “It’s not one, it’s not the other. It’s both. It should be on both.”He believes the song’s versatility was off-putting to the Billboard officials and big-upped another Atlanta native with its pioneering fusion of the genres. “I believe whenever you’re trying something new, it’s always going to get some kind of bad reception. For example, when rap started, or when rock and roll began. But with country trap, I in no way want to take credit for that. I believe Young Thug would be one of the biggest pioneers in that.”The remix is slated to be released on Thursday. Now, check these out:Nipsey Hussle's Music Streams Have Increased By Over 1,000 PercentActually, Don't Bring Out The Daisy Dukes: Freaknik Is Returning To Atlanta But The Children Are Allowed'Dear White People' Star DeRon Horton Apologizes For Pulling A Kanye West-Style Stage Bomb At GLAAD Media...

Billboard removed rapper Lil Nas X's chart-topping song "Old Town Road" from its Hot Country Songs chart, citing it a "mistake" that the song was even considered.Rolling Stone reports the entertainment media brand that tabulates the musical statistics chart informed Lil Nas X's label, Columbia Records, of the removal, saying its inclusion was an error. Billboard has not publicly announced the elimination but stated in a statement to Rolling Stone that the song "does not currently merit inclusion on Billboard‘s country charts.""When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost its musical composition," the statement continued. "While ‘Old Town Road’ incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version.”On March 16, the song made the Hot Country chart as the "highest-ranking debut" at No. 19, indicated by Billboard, following its quick spread online.Okayplayer reports another statement was released from a Billboard representative, stating the decision was not racially motivated. Still, many are questioning the validity of the removal and the chart's ability to categorize music in such a time when soundscapes are a melting pot.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.The Atlanta rapper has not released an official response to the controversy, but he did share his sentiments Wednesday on Twitter."[J]ust because old town road has funny lines doesn’t mean it’s [a] parody," he wrote. "[I]t has a theme. anybody with ears can tell [I] put some kind of effort into that song."just because old town road has funny lines doesn’t mean it’s parody. it has a theme. anybody with ears can tell i put some kind of effort into that song.— nope (@LilNasX) March 27, 2019Social media users have been vocal about their disagreement with the decision, as well. The country-trap song blew up earlier this year via the TikTok app, where users would record their interpretations of the song through video.Me: Nah I don’t fuck with country music *Old Town Road comes on* Me: pic.twitter.com/FlXpSFLGpk— Stand Up Guy 🤙🏾💙 (@BlueStripDee) February 14, 2019pic.twitter.com/VuVh1KSmF1— nope (@LilNasX) March 1, 2019ᶦ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵒʳˢᵉˢ ᶦⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ⠀ pic.twitter.com/PdcGyorlLZ— Dennis Rodman (@dennisrodman) March 23, 2019The artist has received an onslaught of support via social media since it was revealed his song was erased from the esteemed chart. Many called out the hypocrisy of the music chart, while others looked at it through a racial lens.If Lil Nas X can’t be on the billboard country list cause it "it does not embrace enough elements of today's country music" then I want EVERY Post Malone song on the billboard hip hop list taken down immediately— jalen (@YungJayy_) March 28, 2019An overlooked part of this Rolling Stone piece about Lil Nas X on the country charts is that Juice WRLD is also being shut out of the rock world, despite fitting the "sound" pretty well. Meanwhile pop songs with trap drums by Bastille & Panic At The Disco get heavy rock rotation? pic.twitter.com/Cx1UGkHgqK— bfred 👍🏻 (@bfred) March 28, 2019this lil nas x thing is maybe the most fascinating pop music story in...years and it makes me think about how ray charles isn’t in the country music hall of fame https://t.co/rIxh9AbPSv— Natalie Weiner (@natalieweiner) March 28, 2019remember when they wouldnt allow beyoncé in country award categories for daddy lessons despite it having every country music trope from acoustic guitar lead to “yee-haw!” background ad-libs and being about guns?what if…it’s not about the music at all? lmao https://t.co/j2w7beXecv— your supreme, dj franzia (@hawillisdc) March 27, 2019The thing is, if Billboard is gonna push the point, they gotta keep the energy for everyone else making music that's barely country, like the Thomas Rhett single cooling on the same chart right now.— Craig Bro Dude (@CraigSJ) March 28, 2019Billboard removed Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" from country charts & JuiceWorld omitted from the rock charts.. Please notice how they protect their spaces...— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) March 28, 2019As fans, supporters and music critics rally in support of Lil Nas X, it will be interesting to see how this story develops.Now, check these out:Detroit Police Chief Issued 'Sambo' Award By Black Activists Holds Press ConferenceA Cop Accused A Black Attorney Of Faking His Credentials While He Was WorkingR. Kelly's Old Hairdresser Reveals Herself As Formerly Anonymous Accuser In One Of The Singer's Sexual Assault...