When I first heard Post Malone was going to record a Country album, I admit that it was hard to not be skeptical. Throughout the years. there have been sooo many artists who've had success in other genres of music and then decided they want to make Country because it's "cool," only to fall on their face. Maybe they didn't "conform," maybe they were too cool for the room, maybe the music straight up sucked. Who knows?! So I'm thinking "this pop/hip-hop guy who did "Wow" and "Circles" and "Rockstar" and "Sunflower" and "Psycho"...HE'S going to make Country Music??" Yeah. Ok. Whatever. 🙄
Before we go any further, let me just say that I love music and different genres of music and love what different artists bring to the table. Above all, I LOVE to be proven wrong when I'm skeptical about a certain artist, and when it comes to Post Malone, I have never been more wrong in my life! It's not that I didn't like him... it's more that I just didn't know enough about him. Even though he had major success in other genres of music, it just kind of passed me by and I only knew a handful of his songs (though I did love singing "G-Wagon G-Wagon G-Wagon G-Wagon all the housewives pullin' up" every time I saw a Mercedes G-Class driving down the street). But all in all, my first TRUE introduction to his music was when I first heard "I Had Some Help." It was my "new favorite song" the first time I heard it- DAMN catchy, and- oh, by the way- he didn't just collaborate with any ol' singer, he collabed with Morgan Freaking Wallen. And THAT'S how you make an entrance.
Then I started learning about the work he'd been putting in to make Country music. He could have easily pulled a "I'm Post Malone. I've sold millions of albums and am one of the best-selling digital artists of all time. I got this." But he didn't. He very methodically and strategically started ingraining himself into the Nashville community. A quote resurfaced where he said he wanted to make Country music by the time he's 30 (he turned 29 July 4th). I remembered that several years ago, there was a video floating around of him covering Brad Paisley's "I'm Gonna Miss Her" with Dwight Yoakam's band backing him. Maybe he'd been planting a seed even back then? He teamed up with Hardy to cover Joe Diffie's "Pickup Man" on Hardy's HIXTAPE: Vol 3: DIFFTAPE, released last March, and a few months prior to that, he had performed a Joe Diffie tribute with Hardy and Morgan Wallen at the CMA Awards. Meanwhile, he was making friends with the best songwriters, the biggest artists, and the hottest record label in Nashville. And he was learning from all of them.
Fast forward to this past May... "I Had Some Help" became the first song since 1997 to be added to every reporting Country Radio station in the US, meaning that these 167 stations committed to playing this song on day one of it's release. "I Had Some Help" was quickly becoming THE song of the summer. And then came a very interesting invite. Post knew that the relationship between Country Radio and Country Artists is different than what he's used to in the pop/hip hop world- we're more personal, there is much more of an artist/radio station relationship- and he decided that he wanted to meet some of us to show his commitment to Country music and Country radio, so a small group of us were flown into Nashville to just...hang out. I was lucky enough to be included.
I had NO idea what to expect. There was a small private gathering at Loser's Bar in Nashville and a group of us were there anxiously awaiting his arrival. He walked in to very little fanfare and began working the room, walking around and introducing himself to each person as if we had no idea who he was. The first thing he said to me was "hi, I'm Austin," as he extended his hand to shake mine. He was soft-spoken and his body language was almost meek- he came across very shy at first. But the more we talked, the more I was blown away by him. He talked about his commitment to Country Music- as if I wasn't already sold on him on the exploding success of "I Had Some Help." We talked about my cousin, who has faithfully followed him for years. We talked about a ton of other stuff. Meanwhile, 90's Country was playing in the background and between conversations, puffs of his cigarettes, and shots and swigs of Bud Light, he was singing along and knew every word to every song! We talked a lot about his love and knowledge of 90's Country, which is solid! But the biggest takeaway was that he put off such amazing vibes... I don't know what I was expecting that night, but it wasn't that. He far exceeded any expectations I could have possibly had. He's incredibly polite- every question I asked was answered with "yes, ma'am" or "no ma'am." His laugh is one of the most contagious laughs you'll ever hear. And he constantly smiles as he talks to you. You could really feel his good vibes, good heart, and positive energy. What an AMAZING night!
Over the next month or so, the music kept coming. "Pour Me A Drink" with Blake Shelton. "Guy For That" with Luke Combs. And an A+ master plan of song teases on social media- songs with Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, every song as strong as the next and each song proved in some way that he could span the Country gamut from poppy, to twangy, to outlaw. And his presence has been EVERYWHERE! He shut down Broadway in Nashville to make a video with Luke Combs. He announced a Country tour that nearly sold out instantly in every city where it's going to make a stop. He has been playing festivals that are traditionally Country festivals and last weekend, he played at the Outside Lands Festival where his set was a solid hour of Country Classics. And then came a BIG moment- this past Wednesday night, he made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. At the close of his set, he received a massive standing ovation, which choked him up, and in turn, choked me up. And today, his debut Country album F-1 Trillion is out, 18 songs, 15 of which are collaborations with anybody who's anybody in Country music- Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Ernest, Sierra Ferrel, Chris Stapleton, Hardy, Billy Strings, and two songs with Luke Combs. There are also three solo songs, including a song to his two-year-old daughter about her future wedding day (get a tissue before listening to it the first time. Wow!). Impressively, F-1 Trillion had already achieved Gold status, meaning it had sold 500,000 copies, before it was even released due to preorders. And it's not just Post singing with a bunch of Country artists. EVERY song is incredible. He managed to make a start-to-finish MASTER. PIECE.
As someone who has been in radio since I was 17 and Country radio since I was 21, I can honestly say that I have never witnessed anything like this. Not even close. Post Malone's transition to Country has been absolutely flawless and this has been SO FUN to watch... and even more fun to listen to!
Post Malone, WELCOME TO COUNTRY MUSIC!!! Please stay!!
EDIT: And now for another plot twist- shortly after I wrote this original post, Posty went and dropped another nine songs, all of which are solo! So as if the first 18 on F-1 Trillion weren't incredible enough, he has now graced with with nine bonus tracks on F-1 Trillion (Long Bed) and they are as Country as the day is long. Unreal!!!