Lil Nas X ‘World’s Greatest’ out Oct. 1 after tragic loss
Lil Nas X is returning with a new single and a deeply personal message. The Lil Nas X “World’s Greatest” rollout began Sept. 30 with a video announcing that the song and its official music video arrive Oct. 1 at noon ET, Billboard reported.
In the 44-second clip, the 27-year-old rapper sits in his sunlit bedroom, listening closely to a voicemail from his late mother, Tameka Hill, who died in August. When the message ends, he reaches for a sketch pad on his bed that reads “World’s Greatest” under a drawing of a crown, revealing the title of the new track.
“Hey Doobie, been calling you multiple of times today,” Hill says in the message. “I just wanna say love you, keep your head up and continue to walk by faith, not by sight. Let go and let God handle the rest. Everything else is gonna work itself in its own place. Don’t give up, never give up.”
In the caption for the Lil Nas X “World’s Greatest” teaser, the rapper said the phrase was his mother’s signature saying. “‘Walk by faith, not by sight’ was my mom’s favorite phrase to say. As I move through life it resonates more & more,” he wrote.
What we know about Lil Nas X “World’s Greatest”
Billboard described Lil Nas X “World’s Greatest” as an uplifting, inspirational single. Beyond the title, the release time and the music video, no other details, such as features or a larger project, have been announced.
His return after a difficult year
The rapper, born Montero Hill, has largely stayed out of the spotlight since a June 17 Instagram video in which he said he had spent “a few months” in rehab. He also said he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was now working with a therapist and a psychiatrist, PinkNews reported.
That treatment followed his arrest in Los Angeles in August 2025. He pleaded not guilty to four felony counts and was released on bond to attend treatment, according to Billboard. He broke his silence about the arrest days after his release.
He announced his mother’s death on Aug. 29 in a social media tribute, theGrio reported.
In August, Lil Nas X joked in an Instagram Reel that people have treated him with extra care since he left rehab. “Ever since I got out of rehab, like, everybody’s, like, OD nice to me,” he said. “I can be like, ‘Hey!’ Everybody’s gonna be like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so brave.'”
He also marked his 10,000th day alive with an Instagram Story that took a jab at doubters. “So, tomorrow is my 10,000th day alive and I made it,” he said. “A lot of you won’t make it, but I made it.”
What’s next
The Lil Nas X “World’s Greatest” single and its official music video arrive Oct. 1 at noon ET.
Reporting from Billboard contributed to this story.