Why is 'nah he tweaking' trending? Inside the Lil' Nas X and Tony Hawk feud

Confused over why is "nah he tweaking" trending on social media? We'll give you the details

little nas x at tom ford show
(Image credit: Mike Coppola/FilmMagic)

We've been confused about it all day: Why is "nah he tweaking" trending on social media and where the heck did the phrase come from? 

Well, turns out there's a reason behind the new social media catchphrase, and it's all inspired by none other than Lil' Nas X. We'll walk you through the details. 



You might recall that the "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" singer recently came under major scrutiny for teaming up with Nike for "Satan Shoes," black sneakers festooned with a pentagram, inverted cross, and, perhaps most interestingly, drops of human blood. It appears many wanted to add these bad boys to their capsule wardrobe because the kicks sold out instantaneously. 

Now, Tony Hawk is following suit. The skateboarding legend just designed limited-edition skate decks that include his own blood. For $500, you can shred on the halfpipe with the GOAT's vital fluids at your feet. Well...

Lil' Nas X caught on to Hawk's new launch and realized that the athlete didn't receive anywhere near as much backlash as he did for his sneakers. Naturally, he took to Twitter to express his views. 

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"now that tony hawk has released skateboards with his blood painted on them, and there was no public outrage, are y’all ready to admit y’all were never actually upset over the blood in the shoes? and maybe u were mad for some other reason?" he wrote.

Lil Nas X also commented on a social media post via RAP TV discussing Hawk's skateboards by saying: "Nah he tweakin." Thus, a new social media saying was born.

"Nah he tweaking": Know your meme

Now, plenty of feeds are swarming with the term. It's become an overnight hit—a viral clapback that has gotten everyone's attention. But, what exactly does it mean?

Some seem to believe it's a saying that includes the act of not making sense, per Urban Dictionary. At first glance—or perhaps to the older millennials who aren't quite as savvy with these types of things— the term could be interpreted as Hawk tweaking the already established blood-infused item that Lil' Nas X created earlier this year. No? Was that just us who thought that? OK, moving on...

It's a bloody mess out there when you're trying to have the best blood-filled item on the market. As of yet, Tony Hawk hasn't commented on the new popular term—or the rapper's reaction to his new skateboards. We'll be sure to let you know if anything changes in the "nah he tweaking" universe. 

Although Lil Nas X might have some hard feelings about the sneaker debacle, he did seem to have a productive few weeks. According to Spotify, his hit "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" earned the fourth slot for Spotify Song of the Summer, a feat that's not shabby at all. 

Until the next social media frenzy takes place, we'll be over here keeping a watchful eye on our newsfeeds.

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.