Lil Nas X had to get security after the video for “Montero” came out

Out rapper Lil Nas X was forced to hire a security detail after the release of the video for his single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”

The superstar, who is now the top streamed rapper on Spotify after knocking anti-gay rapper DaBaby off the throne, said that it hasn’t been easy being an out gay man in a homophobic industry. While he’s taken several knocks from fellow performers, it was a stranger that sparked the security concerns.

Related: Lil Nas X releases uncensored “Industry Baby” video

While the rapper famously came out as his song “Old Town Road” was number one on the charts and he’s often included gay themes in his songs and music videos, his critics have frequently used it to attack him.

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Nas refused to respond to other rappers’ negative comments directly in an interview with Variety but admits that the fans worry him more than other performers’ opinions.

“The honest truth is, I don’t want to speak on a lot of the homophobia within rap because I feel like this is a very dangerous playing field,” he says. “It’s more for my own safety rather than anything else.”

He said he feels unsafe frequently.

“Especially after [‘Montero’]. There was literally someone who chased my car a few days after that video came out, yelling, ‘Fuck you!’ or something. And that’s when I actually started getting security.”

“I feel like it couldn’t be a coincidence.”

DaBaby has been embroiled in controversy over the past few weeks after making disparaging remarks about gay men and people with HIV. The unrepentant rapper has defended his actions, apologized, changed his mind, apologized again, and deleted that apology as well. Getting dethroned by Nas has also irritated him.

“Historically, there has been a lot of homophobia in the hip-hop world,” Elton John told the outlet. “DaBaby’s recent damaging comments about the LGBTQ community and people living with HIV/AIDS clearly demonstrate that there is still so much education and work to be done.”