Lil Nas X reportedly gave hints about his sexuality via his EP cover art

Lil Nas X NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 08: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Lil Nas X performs onstage during day 3 of the 2019 CMA Music Festival on June 8, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) (Jason Kempin)

By Najja Parker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

July 03, 2019 at 3:21 pm EDT

Lil Nas X’s coming out announcement caused shockwaves Sunday, but, reportedly, the metro Atlanta rapper offered some hints about it weeks earlier.

Lorenzo Sozzi, who designed the cover for the rapper's "7" EP, told TMZ there was a very specific vision for the album art. For the image, the "Old Town Road" artist wanted to depict himself leaving a dystopian world for a futuristic one.

The budding hip-hop star knew he’d need help executing his vision, so he put out an open call to illustrators, challenging them to bring his idea to life. Sozzi did it the best.