Lil Nas X Announces New Single, Shares Inspirational Voicemail He Received After Mental Health Rehab Stint: ‘Don’t Give Up, Never Give Up’

Lil Nas X has been keeping a low profile since revealing in June that he’d been in rehab “for a few months” after the “Montero” rapper said he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and entered a facility for mental health support.

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On Wednesday (Sept. 30), the 27-year-old MC shared a moving video in which he gets some emotional, loving support from his late mother, Tamikia Hill, who died in August. In the 44-second clip, Nas (born Montero Hill) sits in his bedroom bathed in sunlight as he listens intently to the voicemail encouraging him to keep his head up.

“Hey Doobie, been calling you multiple of times today,” she says. “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, continue to walk by faith, not by sight and let go and let God handle the rest. And I wanna say I love you, don’t forget that. And I’ll call you again just to check up on you. Love you, bye.”

The rapper said in the caption to the post that the message contained his mother’s signature motivational saying, which he keeps close to his heart. “‘Walk by faith, not by sight’ was my mom’s favorite phrase to say. As I move through life it resonates more & more.”

As soon as the recording ends, Lil Nas wordlessly reaches back onto his bed to pull up a sketch pad featuring the message “World’s Greatest,” along with a drawing of a crown. He then reveals that the phrase is the name of his upcoming inspirational, ebullient single, “World’s Greatest,” which is due out on Thursday (Oct. 1) at 12 p.m. ET, along with an official music video for the tune.

Lil Nas has been out of the public eye since he was arrested and charged with four felonies after allegedly attacking police while walking naked on the streets of L.A. last September; he pleaded not guilty to four felony counts and was released on bond to attend treatment. Last month, he posted an Instagram Reel describing to fans how nice everyone has been to him since he came home from his rehab stint.

“Ever since I got out of rehab, like, everybody’s, like, OD nice to me,” he said jokingly. “I can be like, ‘Hey!’ Everybody’s gonna be like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so brave.’ I can try to post a thirst trap on my Instagram Story, and then it’s gonna be somebody like, ‘Keep fighting, King.’” He also posted an Instagram Story featuring a cake celebrating his 10,000th day on the planet and playfully shaking off the haters who said he wouldn’t make that milestone.

“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.”