Post Malone, born Austin Richard Post, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his genre-blending style that incorporates elements of hip-hop, pop, rock, and country. He gained widespread recognition in 2015 with the release of his debut single ‘White Iverson,' which quickly became a viral sensation and led to a recording contract with Republic Records.
Post Malone's debut album, ‘Stoney' (2016), solidified his place in the music industry with hits like ‘Congratulations' and showcased his unique sound and laid-back persona. His follow-up albums, ‘Beerbongs & Bentleys' (2018) and ‘Hollywood's Bleeding' (2019), further propelled him into superstardom, with chart-topping singles such as ‘Rockstar,' ‘Psycho' and ‘Circles.' His music has pushed boundaries and has consistently broken streaming records, earning him multiple Grammy nominations and awards. Being a good old boy from Texas, it is no surprise to find Malone moving into the Country space on this unique and eagerly anticipated album ‘F1-Trillion'.
2024 has seen Post Malone's duet with Morgan Wallen breaking records all over the place. ‘I Had Some Help' made history as the first single to debut at #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart, maintaining the top spot on each chart for three weeks. Appearances at California's Stagecoach festival, various Country award shows and several other high profile duets with the like of Luke Combs and Blake Shelton have all led up to both the release of his debut Country album and first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry – which you can watch in the video below:
Post Malone’s debut country album ‘F-1 Trillion' is an ambitious and eclectic journey that sees the versatile artist deftly navigating the rich landscapes of country music while bringing his own signature style to the genre. Featuring a star-studded lineup of collaborators, Malone’s venture into country is both a tribute to its roots and a fresh reimagining that blends traditional elements with modern flair.
The album opens with a bang on ‘Wrong Ones,' a swaggering track featuring Tim McGraw that sets the tone with its dark, banjo-led intro and frenetic guitar and fiddle closing. This energy is matched by the playful ‘Finer Things,' where Malone teams up with Hank Williams Jr. to celebrate the excesses of life with a 90s country vibe. ‘I Had Some Help,' featuring Morgan Wallen, is already a massive hit, with its breezy yet biting take on a failed relationship. The album continues to impress with tracks like ‘Pour Me a Drink,' a nostalgic nod to 00s country with Blake Shelton, and ‘Have the Heart' a honky-tonk-infused duet with Dolly Parton that oozes retro charm. It's a superb, retro-Countrypolitan song full of honky tonk pianos and 80s melodies in which Parton & Malone take the parts of two people who know they are wrong for each other but just can’t stop hooking up. ‘Wanna hear something sexy?’ Dolly asks at one point. ‘What the hell is one more night going to hurt?’ Blimey, is it getting hot in here or is it just me?
Malone doesn’t shy away from introspection either, as seen in ‘What Don’t Belong to Me,' a smooth, pop-leaning solo track that contrasts the more classic sounds of the album. ‘Goes Without Saying,' with Brad Paisley, delivers a catchy, regret-filled anthem, while ‘Guy for That' with Luke Combs offers a simple yet effective earworm about friendship and heartbreak. The collaboration with Lainey Wilson on ‘Nosedive' stands out with its poignant reflection on life’s ups and downs, while ‘Losers' featuring Jelly Roll, becomes an inclusive anthem for outcasts and misfits. ‘Nosedive's ‘I found god looking for the devil,’ is the best opening line on the album as both Malone and Wilson offer wisdom and solace for those looking for strength in adversity whilst ‘Losers' channels everything that we've come to love about Jelly Roll's sound on a song for ‘people who ain’t ever felt at home’ – outcasts, sinners and never been the winners as the two singers welcome all to the safety & warmth of their inclusive community.
The album’s final stretch continues to deliver gems, including the West Coast-tinged ‘Devil I’ve Been' with Ernest and the haunting ‘Hide My Gun' with HARDY, which explores themes of love and loyalty within an intense and gripping narrative. ‘M-e-x-i-c-o,' featuring the sublime Billy Strings, is a rollicking bluegrass tale of adventure and mischief, showcasing Malone’s storytelling prowess and his willingness to infuse a decent amount of songs with a little humour, something that seems to be in short supply in mainstream Country music these days. The album closes with ‘Yours' a deeply personal acoustic ballad dedicated to his daughter and the boy that one day might become her husband. It's part advice, part warning. that would have this boy running for the hills if I heard it! ‘One day I might give her away but that don’t mean she’s yours!’ Malone declares, offering a tender, slightly threatening yet heartfelt conclusion to a project that is as varied as it is cohesive.
‘F-1 Trillion' is a bold and successful foray into country music for Post Malone, blending traditional sounds with his own unique twist, and solidifying his place as a genre-bending artist with broad appeal. There's a satisfying mix of sounds and styles on offer here with the better songs being the ones that go the deepest into the genre rather than sitting on the fence and dangling their feet in around the edges. So tracks like ‘Have the Heart,' ‘Pour Me a Drink,' Finer Things' and ‘M-E-X-I-C-O' really shine and should provide a pathway for Malone should he want to go deeper into the genre as he begins the process of exploring just exactly what sort of Country artist he is.
Tracklisting: 1. Wrong Ones 2. Finer Things 3. I Had Some Help 4. Pour Me a Drink 5. Have The Heart 6. What Don't Belong to Me 7. Goes Without Saying 8. Guy for That 9. Nosedive 10. Losers 11. Devil I've Been 12. Never Love You Again 13. Missin You Like This 14. California Sober 15. Hide My Gun 16. Right About You 17. M-e-x-i-c-o 18. Yours Release Date: 16th August Record Label: Island Buy ‘F-1 Trillion' right here
