The recording of "Industry Baby” by Lil Nax X featuring Jack Harlow in 2021 popped off around the world and birthed a friendship between the two rappers. After its release, the song reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 42 weeks. But what a lot of people don't know is that the process of creating "Industry Baby" is what kindled Harlow and Lil Nas X's entire working relationship.

Before the two met, Harlow told Variety that they admired each other from afar. "I thought [Lil Nas X] was hilarious and I loved the way he was handling the internet," he explained. "So we just started chopping it up — we got cool, followed each other, typical digital s**t. And then after we told a few jokes and exchanged respect, he said he had a song he wanted me on and texted it over." Thus, "Industry Baby" was born!

Due to the homoerotic imagery in both the song and the music video, "Industry Baby" was deemed controversial by certain groups of people. When Teen Vogue asked if this perceived controversy affected his decision to join the track, Harlow said he supported Lil Nas X no matter what. "It was a decision I made from my soul," Harlow shared. "I do think Lil Nas stands for something really important. I'm gonna be really proud as that ages."

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7XCpKCsr5mbwW%2BvzqZmcmtpZYJ0e8eormaikZi4brTAq6Oor12nsqK4y7Jkn52VocBurcGorK1lnJ65brrArGSxZw%3D%3D