American rapper Lil Nas X has been named ‘President of League of Legends‘ by game developer and publisher Riot Games.
As ‘President’, Lil Nas X will co-design a new League of Legends champion skin, create the theme song for the 2022 League of Legends World Championship and perform at the finals later this year.
This is not the first time Lil Nas X launched a significant collaboration with an esports company. In 2021, he worked with American esports organisation 100 Thieves ahead of last year’s League of Legends World Championship.
This time around, Lil Nas X has partnered with Riot Games to help promote the 2022 World Championship. The official theme song for the tournament, called STAR WALKIN, has already been created by the rapper and will be premiered on September 23rd.
Alongside the song, Lil Nas X will work with Riot Games to co-design a new skin for K’Sante, an in-game champion. This is the first time Riot has collaborated on a League of Legends skin with a celebrity. The in-game skin will not be available for direct purchase, but by playing League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics games during Riot Games’ Worlds 2022 in-game event.
Although the new title does have an official ring to it, Lil Nas X will not be officially employed by Riot Game, with this more being a unique collaboration. It has yet to be revealed exactly how long the collaboration between Lil Nas X and Riot Games will last.
Global Head of League Esports for Riot Games Naz Aletaha said that it was Lil Nas X who approached Riot with the idea. She commented: “We’ve all been blown away by his vision, passion, and undeniable style, and we can’t wait to see what he brings to the Worlds stage”.
Lil Nas X is also set to perform at the Worlds Opening Ceremony before the finals on November 5th in San Francisco.
In the announcement, Lil Nas X commented: “I felt like it was time for me to try something new. I’ve left my mark on pop culture in so many ways, and now it’s time to take on the world of gaming. I will be the greatest President of League of Legends, of all time. Also, I’m going to make the best Worlds anthem of all time and put on the biggest, coolest, sexiest Worlds in the history of all Worlds.”
Lil Nas X added that his new song STAR WALKIN is ‘the only song anyone is allowed to listen to’ during Worlds.
