With a couple of Grammys already on him, Lil Nas X went into Sunday’s Grammys with four nominations.
The 22-year-old rapper also hit the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to perform an exhilarating medley of hits off his debut album Montero. Wearing a glittery black cloak, he opened his set with “Dead Right Now” before changing into a midriff-baring outfit for his No. 1 hit “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
As tweets and soundbites from his critics appeared on screen, Nas and his male dancers commanded the stage while performing choreographed moves in front of a broken statue of Nas’ head.
After another outfit change—this time a Michael Jackson-inspired jacket—he brought down the house with a rousing performance of “Industry Baby” with Jack Harlow.
Despite not winning any Grammys during the pre-telecast, Nas was still a winner on the red carpet, turning heads in a custom Balmain look.
During the pre-show, Harlow defended his collaborator against his detractors. “He’s trailblazing a track that’s sad it has to be trailblazed. I think it’s amazing,” he told E! News. “He’s innovating the game and it’s fresh, it’s powerful, and it’s necessary, so I love it.”