Lil Nas X Mourns the Loss of His Mother, Tameka Hill

Lil Nas X is facing a painful loss. The Grammy-winning rapper and singer announced Saturday, Aug. 29, that his mother, Tameka Hill, has died. Nas shared the news on Instagram alongside three photos that offered a glimpse at their relationship, including one of Hill by herself, one of the two together at an event and another showing Hill with Nas when he was a child.

“RIP TO THE BADDEST EVER! LOVE U FOREVER MOMMY. this one’s gonna hurt. 🥹🥹,” Nas, 27, wrote on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Hill’s age and cause of death are not known at this time.

While Nas has not often spoken publicly about his relationship with his mother, he opened up about their complicated bond during a 2020 interview with Variety.

At the time, Nas described Hill as an “addict” and said their relationship had been strained. He also explained that he had tried to help her, even though those efforts did not always go as planned.

“She’s an addict, so we don’t have the closest relationship. Even trying to get her better — things didn’t quite work out.things didn’t quite work out. But there’s still love,” her told the outlet.

The loss comes just days after Nas marked a surprisingly specific milestone: his “10,000th day alive.”

On Aug. 24, the rapper posted a video on his Instagram Stories showing a cake he had made to celebrate the occasion.

“So, tomorrow is my 10,000th day alive and…I made it!” he said with a smile. “A lot of y’all won’t make it but I made it.”

At the time, the moment was a celebration of making it through nearly three decades of life. Now, it carries an even heavier feeling as Nas mourns his mother.

Nas, whose real name is Montero Hill, has also spent much of this year being open about some of the challenges he has faced away from the spotlight.

The artist returned to social media in June after nearly a year away. Instead of simply making a flashy comeback, he used the moment to talk honestly about his personal mental health journey.

Nas recently shared that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had entered rehab for mental health support.

In a June 17 video, he explained that he had been spending time both at home with family in Atlanta and with friends in Los Angeles while working to feel more grounded.

“I’ve been in rehab for a few months and since then, I’ve been back at home whether it’s in Atlanta with my family or in Los Angeles with myself, friends and what not, and trying to ground myself down to earth and get out of my head,” he began in the June 17 video. “I have a therapist now and a psychiatrist, which has been really helpful when I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis.”

Nas said the diagnosis was something he had suspected for years but had struggled to accept.

“I feel like I had known for like the past few years but I didn’t want to admit to it because I didn’t want to have to take medication and have people think different of me... Black, gay, bipolar. I’m living life on like extreme hard mode,” he said with a laugh. “But on a serious note, I’m doing much better. I’m doing better, I’m feeling better.

His willingness to discuss his mental health has given fans a more personal look at the person behind the music and viral moments that made him famous.

Before news of his mother's death, Nas had been focused on moving forward and finding his footing again.

He thanked his fans for supporting him and said he was excited to begin “this next chapter.”

“I love you and all I want to do is continue to try to make you guys proud and make myself proud,” he said.

Now, that next chapter begins under difficult circumstances.

For an artist who has spent years turning unexpected moments into music, jokes and unforgettable internet moments, there is no clever punchline for losing a parent. Nas’s simple message to his mother made that clear: this one is going to hurt.

As he grieves Hill, the photos he shared also serve as a reminder that behind the Grammy wins, hit songs and larger-than-life public persona is a son remembering his mom.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.