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Post Malone’s “F-1 Trillion” marks the artist’s latest stop along his genre journey: country. And, it sounds nothing like his first album. The 57-minute-long album’s shimmering feature list would have been difficult to imagine singing alongside Post, until recently.

When he emerged into the music scene in 2015, the Syracuse-born, Texas-raised artist set his sights on hip hop’s heights. Spurred by SoundCloud success from “White Iverson,” Malone’s debut album “Stoney” includes iconic hits like “Congratulations” with features such as Justin Bieber, 2 Chainz and Quavo.

Malone solidified his status as one of modern music’s most prolific streaming giants with his sophomore album, “beerbongs & bentleys,” a colorful collection of hits that includes “Better Now” and “Psycho.”

With two strong records to his name, Malone took awkward steps further into pop in the second half of his discography: “Hollywood’s Bleeding” and “Twelve Carat Toothache.” Although he was still producing hits, Malone’s bold sound was fading, barring a few hidden gems in both albums.

Malone’s standout songs in each of these albums were soft, often acoustic, emotional tracks, like “Feeling Whitney,” “Stay” and “Reputation.” Last summer’s “AUSTIN” embraced those sounds, and feels truer to the artist than his previous work.

Although it’s not the sound he is known for, “AUSTIN” and “F-1 Trillion” may be Malone’s two most consistent albums. Both feel complete, fleshed out and cohesive. I immediately connected with the mellow, vulnerable songs within the featureless tracklist of “AUSTIN.”

In making “F-1 Trillion,” Malone assembled the country music “Avengers.” The album’s roster of featured artists includes Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and other legends of the genre. If the music alone didn’t convince you of Malone’s legitimacy as a country artist, perhaps the list of contributors will.

“Baby, I don’t have the heart to break yours/Yeah, and trouble rode in on the back of a pale white horse,” Malone and Parton duet on “Have the Heart.” Parton and the others on the album fit well with Malone’s sound.

Throughout the album, and its follow-up deluxe edition “F-1 Trillion: Long Bed,” Malone sings about themes originating from his debut: money, status, love and heartbreak. While this album sounds nothing like his first, there are still more similarities than differences.

“I got a thing for the finer things/I’m in that deer blind with a diamond ring,” Malone boastingly sings on “Finer Things” with Hank Williams Jr. “My lambo and my ammo’s all camo green/Yeah, I got an F-1 Trillion limousine.”

In 2015, Malone Tweeted: “WHEN I TURN 30 IM BECOMING A COUNTRY/FOLK SINGER.” The idea, in some capacity, was always there — and the 29-year-old is making good progress, hitting his goal a year early.

In retrospect, folk and rock sounds were present throughout the artist’s discography, even seeping into his lengthy list of hits in songs like “Chemical” and “Circles.”

“F-1 Trillion” leans into country music’s most wonderful cliches. The album earns its genre swap and doesn’t feel like a cheap parody. Malone, featured on Taylor Swift’s spring album, made the most of his superstar status to curate this feature list.

Although many conversations may be around the jarring genre swap and the album’s supporting cast, credit should go to Malone for its gripping music. On songs like “Missin’ You Like This,” with Combs, the artist evokes many of the same emotions his older work did.

“And I’da called you crazy/After we were through/If you’d-a told me it would take me/All my life to get over you,” Malone sings, lamenting over a past lover.

“F-1 Trillion” flaunts a distinctly country sound. There is plenty of mention of beer, women, trucks and whiskey. The album is charming and sounds polished. “F-1 Trillion” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and Top Country Albums chart, his third number one.

For the last few years, Post has live-streamed band sessions and covers on his YouTube channel, including a Nirvana tribute session at the peak of the pandemic. In collaborations throughout his career, from SZA to Ozzy Osbourne, Malone has proven himself as a cross-genre genius.

“F-1 Trillion” is the latest success in the artist’s genre-exploration projects. Now that he has broken beyond the confines of mainstream hip-hop, Malone’s future is packed with possibilities. Any longtime fan will point to rock as the obvious next pivot, but who knows?

It’s safe to say that the country “Ain’t How It Ends” for Malone’s baffling career path. What is clear: Post’s pop appeal is still his x-factor, and whatever he creates next will undoubtedly be a hit.

Published on August 28, 2024 at 10:09 pm

Contact Griffin: gbrown19@syr.edu