breh a lot of people think he been trolling the whole time with the gay shyt
he and his team knew what would sell in the current zeitgeist, it was a genius pivot from what could be a one-hit wonder in Old Town Road to an actual career, the gay shyt has given him more attention, staying power, and a built-in loyal fanbase who aren't riding for him just for his music but see him as a representation of them somehow, just like those crazy ass Beyhive people.
entertainers try to tailor themselves and their art around what will sell, period.
lotta ngas can rap better than they actually do, but dumb it down
lotta ngas on the "conscious" tip only rapping that way because that's what would be easiest to configure themselves around.
look at RZA and GZA's first songs respectively
Lil Nas X saw which way the wind was blowing and adapted.
I think he's just a master troll tbh