Montero Lamar Hill, the artist known as Lil Nas X, has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges following an incident in Los Angeles. The 26-year-old rapper was arrested after being found walking naked on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City around 6 a.m. on Friday.
According to police reports, officers responded to calls about a man wandering the street in his underwear. Upon encountering Hill, police say he charged at them. Law enforcement officials, suspecting a possible overdose, took Hill to a local hospital for evaluation before he was transferred to jail.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has charged Lil Nas X with three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. These charges are felonies. Initially, he was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor obstructing an officer. He entered his not-guilty plea at his arraignment in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday.
Bail was set at $75,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 15. As a condition of bail, Hill is required to stay away from illegal narcotics and attend an outpatient treatment program.
Prior to the arrest, video footage surfaced appearing to show the rapper in his underwear and cowboy boots, inviting passersby to a "party" and placing a traffic cone on his head. Other reports indicate he was later seen completely nude, singing lyrics from Kanye West's "Monster".
Lil Nas X's attorney, Christy O'Connor, told the judge that the artist has led a "remarkable" life, including winning two Grammy awards. She described the incident as an "absolute aberration" in his life.
Hill's father, Robert Stafford, told reporters outside the courthouse that his son was "very remorseful for what happened" and would receive the help he needs.
Lil Nas X rose to fame with his hit song "Old Town Road," which blended country and hip-hop and spent a record-breaking 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His first full studio album, "Montero," released in 2021, reached No. 2 on the Billboard album chart and was nominated for a Grammy for album of the year.
