Music

Lil Nas X And Jimmy Fallon Stage A Battle Between Naughty And Nice In ‘Santa Vs. Santa Nas X’

While Fallon is a more traditional Saint Nick, Nas’ twisted, tinsel Kris Kringle is a bit kinkier. …

Lil Nas X is really going all-in on his Santa Nas X persona. Last night, he brought his naughty Christmas character to The Tonight Show, where he and host Jimmy Fallon dueted for “Santa Vs. Santa Nas X.” While Fallon’s more traditional Saint Nick rhymes about candy and toys, Nas’ version is a bit more risque, putting more emphasis on the “ho ho hoes” and his designer outfit. A nice touch is how Fallon raps in a squeaky-clean old-school flow — meaning 1980s not early 2000s — while Nas peppers his verses with more contemporary flourishes and plenty of bleeped-out curse words.

“Santa Vs. Santa Nas X” builds on the momentum of Nas’ new single “Holiday” and its video, in which he plays a twisted, tinsel version of Kris Kringle in a factory churning out Lil Nas X-themed toys. He’s appeared as the alter ego for a couple of appearances, including the promo for Amazon’s Holiday Plays concert series where he gives Miley Cyrus advice, and on Ellen, where he answered questions about his celebrity crushes in the glittery getup.

Nas appears to be having a lot of fun playing this new character after seemingly exhausting himself of his cowboy-themed “Old Town Road” promo, but with the New Year right around the corner, this one’s got a built-in expiration date so he can avoid that problem this time around. Until then, enjoy Lil Nas X as Santa and keep looking forward to whatever outlandish thing he does next.

Watch the “Santa Vs. Santa Nas X” video above.

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Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

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