Lil Nas X hasn’t released an album since 2021, and he’s been fairly quiet in the two years since. That all changes today with the release of “J CHRIST,” a triumphant pop-rap banger that’s basically about his impending comeback. Hence his reference to the titular religious figure: Who has a better comeback story than Jesus?
This isn’t the first time Lil Nas X has trolled the religious community. He benefited greatly from the conservative pearl-clutching surrounding 2021’s chart-topping “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” the music video for which features the rapper/singer giving Satan a lap dance.
Written by Lil Nas X and Blake Slatkin, Omer Fedi, and Gesaffelstein—the latter two of whom produced the song with Lil Nas X—“J Christ” gets right to the point. In the first verse, Lil Nas X admits that he’s been away for a while and vows to return with some killer music.
Last year was a quiet year
Now I’m on Mariah, yeah
I’m finna take it higher, yeah, okay
He makes it known on the pre-chorus that he’s not messing around.
You know what I’m on, I’m on a break
You know when I’m back, it’s all for take
You know that I’m ready for everything
You know when I play, it’s all for keeps, uh, uh
On the chorus, Lil Nas X has fun with the idea that only he knows what’s in store for the next phase of his career.
Is he up to somethin’ only I-I know?
Is he ’bout to hit ‘em with the high-igh note?
Is he ’bout to give ’em somethin’ vi-iral?
Is he ’bout to hit ’em with the high-igh note?
The second verse finds Lil Nas X comparing his forthcoming career resurgence to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Back-back-back up out the gravesite
Bitch, I’m back like J Christ
I’m finna get the gays hyped
I’m finna take it yay high
If Christian fundamentalists don’t like those lyrics, they’ll really have problems with the song’s music video, which depicts Lil Nas X as Jesus on the cross. The clip also shows Nas strolling through Heaven (where he catches a glimpse of a moonwalking Michael Jackson), challenging the Devil on the basketball court, and playing Noah on a giant boat as flood waters rage.
Lil Nas X took to X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week to address those offended by his use of Christian imagery. “The crazy thing is nowhere in the picture is a mockery of jesus,” he wrote. “Jesus’s image is used throughout history in people’s art all over the world. I’m not making fun of shit. yall just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. stfu”
You can read all the lyrics to “J CHRIST” on Genius now.
