Lil Nas X Causes Satanic Stir with Single and Shoe Line

Lil Nas X channels Satan with a brand new vibe straight outta hell, co-creating 666 pairs of sneakers to promote his new single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”.

Credit: Hypebeast

The Hip Hop star has recently collaborated with streetwear label MSCHF.  The small Brooklyn-based company, is no stranger to controversy. Past viral marketing publicity stunts have included the sale and promotion of The Jesus Shoes which were filled with holy water, decapitated-swan pool floats and an app for stock picking based on astrological signs.

Together, the label and Lil Nas X came up with a pair of Satan Shoes which contain human blood in the sole. 666 pairs were made, costing $1,018 (£739, AU$1,334). Don’t plan on purchasing them anytime soon however, they sold out in less than one minute. However, MSCHF held back one pair, to be given away via a random drawing on April 1. To enter the giveaway, the label asks readers to tweet about the shoes, then pre-fills the tweet with “I love Satan”.

The infernal sneakers contain a drop of human blood, extracted from 6 employees. Mixed with ink, it fills an air bubble in the sole of the Nike Air Max 97’s.

Daniel Greenberg, one of MSCHF’s founders was asked by the New York Times who drew the blood, to which he replied:

“Uhhhhhh yeah hahah not medical professionals we did it ourselves lol.”

Montero

The shoes were the lead up to Lil Nas X’s new single, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”. The music video, which depicts the musician sliding down a fire pole to hell and giving the devil a lap dance, has come under fire from conservative politicians and commentators. It has been suggested that the song encourages devil worshipping.

The Guardian has reported that Lil Nas X hopes to normalise queerness.

“I know we promised to never be ‘that’ type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist.”

Source: The Guardian

The Lawsuit

However, Nike doesn’t find the satanic soles very humorous. The modified Nikes, which contain both human blood and the name of the devil in the title, have been the subject of a consequent trademark infringement claim made against MSCHF. The company said in a written statement,

“The Satan Shoes were produced without Nike’s approval or authorization, and Nike is in no way connected with this project.”

Source: Wall Street Journal

Lil Nas X Reacts

Lil Nas X has not yet responded to requests for an official comment. He has, however, been tweeting jokes about the lawsuit.

The sneaker giant states that the Nike Air Max shoes were not officially sanctioned by Nike and that it has no relationship with the rapper.

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