According to Spotify, he’s now the fifth-most-streamed artist in the world on its platform, with almost 65 million monthly listeners. He performed and won top awards at the show on September 12, then the next night posed on the Met Gala red carpet in three custom Versace looks, including a full set of armor and a sparkling gold bodysuit, and then released his debut album, Montero, at midnight on September 17. The VMAs were the start to one of the more exciting weeks of the 22-year-old artist’s life so far.

Either way, Nas, in his powder-pink Alexander McQueen look and diamond stud earrings, had the night’s biggest trophy in his hand, and he was continuing to hold everyone’s attention. When pop superstar Lil Nas X walked onstage at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards to accept his win for video of the year, he kicked off his quick speech in peak form: “First, I want to say thank you to the gay agenda let’s go, gay agenda!” It’s a quip that will probably make someone, somewhere mad and make someone else happily tweet it in equal measure.

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