PNW- The announcement of rapper Lil Nas X's limited-edition Satan Sneakers has created a media firestorm, which was the most obvious goal of the campaign. After all, how much money can be made from a run of 666 sneakers, all allegedly featuring a drop of human blood? Yet there are practical takeaways from this publicity stunt.
Children are Lil Nas X's "Core Audience"
First, while the sneakers will be here today and gone tomorrow, we must not underestimate Lil Nas X's influence on children in general. Rather, as reported by NPR on January 5, children are his "core audience right now," and by children, NPR meant little children.
I'm talking about children who watch Sesame Street. (The rapper recently appeared on Sesame Street and performed with the Muppets.) I'm talking about elementary school children.
The NPR article references "a surprise show Lil Nas X did at Lander Elementary school in Ohio in 2019. In footage from that day, the rapper enters a gym full of children who start screaming at the top of their lungs. Some grasp their heads in disbelief. Others just jump up and down. Some are so overwhelmed they just stand there slack-jawed." Yes, little children, in awe of Lil Nas X.
His Grammy-winning song, "Old Town Road," has been a massive hit with "the elementary school set." Yet, as he boasted in a tweet, "i literally sing about lean & adultery in old town road. u decided to let your child listen. blame yourself." ("Lean" refers to "an illicit substance made with codeine cough syrup, soda, and hard candy." It is "highly addictive and potentially damaging to the body.")
So, to repeat, while the sneakers themselves are a momentary (yet demented) publicity grab, Lil Nas X's popularity with little children is deeply alarming. What are the parents thinking? And are they aware that some of their children are among the multiplied millions who have viewed.....READ MORE
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