# INDUSTRY BABY

> A prison-break video and TikTok remixes accompanied a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.

- Owner: Lil Nas X / Columbia Records
- Kind: Music
- Sector: Entertainment
- Seed date: 2021-07-23
- Peak date: Week of Jul 29, 2021
- Date basis: Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 62 (Viral), v1.2
- Mechanics: Sound or audio meme, Controversy, Platform jump, Press loop, Newsjacking

## Summary

Lil Nas X released a prison-break video with a bail fundraiser, then redirected criticism to the song. TikTok covers became memes, and 100 Thieves chose it for an official playlist. It reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 after discounted versions went on sale.

## Timeline

- 2021-07-19 — Lil Nas X (YouTube) — Lil Nas X announced the single with a mock trial about his Satan Shoes.
- 2021-07-21 — The Bail Project (Open web) — A Bail Project page dated July 21 carried a Lil Nas X appeal to donate to the Bail X Fund.
- 2021-07-23 — Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow (YouTube) — Lil Nas X released INDUSTRY BABY with Jack Harlow and a prison-break music video.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/industry-baby

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “INDUSTRY BABY.” Case HIS-00228. Spread Score v1.2: 62/100. Updated 2026-10-12. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00228