Post Malone: From genre-hopper to country star
Post Malone, whose real name is Austin Richard Post, has established himself as one of the most versatile artists in the modern music landscape in recent years. From rapper to pop singer to country musician - he seems to be at home everywhere. With his latest album “F-1 Trillion”, he has now finally completed his transformation into a country star, proving once again that genre boundaries have little meaning for him.
The rise to superstardom
Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1995, Post Malone moved to Texas in his youth, where he developed his passion for music. His career began in 2015 with the viral success of his single 'White Iverson', which quickly gained him attention in the hip-hop scene. The song, a mixture of rap and vocals with elements of R&B, marked the beginning of his rise to fame.
His debut album Stoney followed in 2016, proving his versatility with hits such as 'Congratulations' and 'Go Flex'. His unique style - a fusion of hip-hop, R&B and rock - quickly earned him a large fan base. But Post Malone was never an artist who allowed himself to be pinned down to one genre.
With his second album Beerbongs & Bentleys (2018), he finally made his breakthrough. The album contained several top 10 hits, including “Rockstar” and “Psycho”, and catapulted him to the top of the charts. Hollywood's Bleeding (2019) showed an even broader stylistic palette, with influences from pop, rock and hip-hop.
Genre-hopping and criticism
Post Malone has often been criticized for using cultural elements of hip-hop to launch his career, only to switch to other styles of music. This “fluidity” in his career has earned him accusations of exploiting black art and culture to make a name for himself before moving on to other genres. While artists like Lil Nas X and Beyoncé have had to fight hard to be taken seriously in genres like country, it seems to have been easier for Post Malone to make these transitions.
The step into the country world
Post Malone has been hinting at his affinity for country music for years. Back in 2013, he tweeted: “When I turn 30 I'm becoming a country/folk singer.” Now, at the age of 29, he has put this plan into action with his new album F-1 Trillion. The transition to the country genre was already prepared by his successful collaboration with country singer Morgan Wallen on the song “I Had Some Help”, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks.
On F-1 Trillion, Post Malone has teamed up with some of the biggest names in country music, including Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Dolly Parton and Chris Stapleton. Of particular note is the collaboration with Luke Combs on the track “Guy For That”, whose music video was filmed on a rolling trailer on the streets of Nashville.
The future of Post Malone
With this album, Post Malone shows once again that he refuses to be pigeonholed. He uses his platform to explore different genres and collaborate with artists from different musical worlds. Whether rap, pop or now country - Post Malone remains an unpredictable artist who is constantly reinventing himself. However, his success is also a reflection of the privileges he enjoys as a white artist in the music industry, which makes it easier for him to switch between genres and conquer new markets.
In any case, one thing is clear: Post Malone has firmly established himself in the music world, and his influence will be felt for a long time to come - no matter which genre he conquers next.
Source: Billboard.com & fm4.orf.at
