LOS ANGELES — Rapper Lil Nas X has been charged with four felonies after allegedly attacking police officers who confronted him while he was walking naked on a Los Angeles street last week, prosecutors announced Monday. The 26-year-old artist, whose legal name is Montero Lamar Hill, faces three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one felony count of resisting an executive officer, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said officers encountered the Grammy-nominated musician shortly before 6 a.m. Friday on Ventura Boulevard in the Studio City neighborhood. When approached, Hill allegedly charged at them, prompting his arrest. Police reported that he appeared to be under the influence of a possible substance and transported him to a hospital for several hours of observation before booking him into jail, where he has remained.
Initially arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor obstruction, Hill’s case was elevated to felony charges following a review by prosecutors. He is scheduled to be arraigned later Monday. His representatives have not publicly commented on the incident, and details about the officers’ injuries have not been released. The charges were first reported by entertainment outlet TMZ.
Lil Nas X rose to fame in 2018 with his record-breaking single Old Town Road, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 consecutive weeks and became a cultural phenomenon. Known for his genre-defying blend of hip-hop, country, and pop, he has since built a reputation as one of the music industry’s most innovative and provocative performers. His debut album, Montero (2021), reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and earned multiple Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year.
The latest charges mark a dramatic turn for an artist celebrated for pushing creative boundaries and challenging norms within the music industry. Whether the legal case will affect his career trajectory remains uncertain, but the incident has already cast a spotlight on the Atlanta-born star well beyond the stage.
