Rapper Lil Nas X has been arrested in Los Angeles following an early-morning altercation with police, and briefly hospitalised after officers suspected a drug overdose.
Police said they encountered the 26-year-old artist, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, walking along Ventura Boulevard in Studio City shortly before 6am on Thursday. He was reportedly wearing only underwear and cowboy boots.
According to authorities, video footage obtained by TMZ appeared to show the two-time Grammy winner claiming he was on his way to a party.
Los Angeles police spokesperson Charles Miller said the singer was booked on suspicion of misdemeanour battery after charging at officers who confronted him. He was first taken to hospital for evaluation before being transferred to Valley Jail in Van Nuys a few hours later. He now faces a further charge of obstructing an officer.
About Nas x
Lil Nas X rose to prominence with his 2019 single Old Town Road, which spent 19 weeks at the top of the US charts, and has since had hits with Industry Baby and Montero (Call Me By Your Name).
The rapper is preparing to release his new album Dreamboy later this year, following the release of several singles this spring. In recent weeks he returned to social media, sharing snippets of new music and posting images of himself in costumes under the Instagram name “Queen Madeleine”.
This is not the first time the musician has required hospital treatment. In April, he revealed he had suffered sudden facial paralysis, sharing a video with fans in which he said he had “lost control” of half his face.
