Dutch record producer YoungKio composed the instrumental and made it available for purchase online in 2018. The song has been widely labeled as ' country rap', a genre that had not often reached the mainstream prior to its release. Both were included in Lil Nas X's second EP, 7 (2019).
Lil Nas X also recorded a remix with American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, which was released on April 5, 2019. After gaining popularity, the single was re-released by Columbia Records in March 2019. ' Old Town Road' is the debut mainstream single by American rapper Lil Nas X, first released independently in December 2018.
