Durable Goods and Executive Producer Jeremy Nachbar have teamed up with Columbia Records and director Elias Talbot to produce Lil Nas X’s latest music video, HOTBOX—the lead single from his forthcoming DREAMBOY project. The video is a joyful and striking declaration of self, marking a new era for the artist defined by freedom, confidence, and unapologetic fun.
Shot almost entirely in-camera, HOTBOX trades Nas’ typical high-concept VFX (as seen in MONTERO) for a lush, minimalist aesthetic. The video features a series of vibrant, pink-washed vignettes—including Nas swimming in a bubblegum-colored pool, boxing in fur-lined ropes, and performing inside a literal fishbowl.
To achieve the distinctive visual tone, Talbot and Nachbar enlisted an international team of set designers, stylists, and prop makers, curating everything from custom wardrobes sourced in Paris, London, and New York to original set builds constructed in Vilnius, Lithuania. Durable Goods partnered with Tantor Films to execute the shoot on a custom soundstage.
One standout moment: a pink swimming pool designed as a nod to Nicki Minaj’s iconic Super Bass video. The water’s color was created practically with the help of a chemist who balanced vibrancy with clarity under studio lights. Watch below:
“Nas is such a captivating performer,” said Talbot. “This concept was about getting closer to his personality and energy in a way that hasn’t been captured before. He’s not just a performer—he’s a world-builder who takes ownership of every creative choice.”
“Our chemist was like a mad scientist,” Talbot joked. “He matched the ‘HOTBOX’ pink perfectly—and preserved the natural shimmer of the water. What you see in the monitor is almost exactly what you see in the final video.”
Additional set pieces included a 40 x 50-foot speaker wall, and a fur-lined boxing ring to match Nas’ exaggerated pink pants. Every scene was lit, styled, and shot to create a dreamy, tactile world that feels both fashion-forward and emotionally charged.
“This was the smoothest set I’ve ever been on,” noted Talbot. “Durable Goods handled every moving piece of this international shoot flawlessly—and made it fun.”
“Elias and I came up in the industry together,” added Nachbar. “We both believe in doing things the right way: protect the vision, support the artist, and never cut corners. HOTBOX is the result of that shared commitment to creativity and craft.”
As Lil Nas X ushers in his DREAMBOY era, HOTBOX sets the tone—bold, playful, and utterly original.
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