Post Malone's F-1 Billion: From Hip-Hop to Honky-Tonk

By Emma Djukic, September 16, 2024—

When I look back at the things that were on my bucket list for 2024, listening to – and actually liking – a Post Malone country album wasn't one of them.

Before pressing play, I had some serious concerns about what kind of songs we'd get from Post Malone's foray into country music. As a fan of the genre, I've always appreciated how different his messages are from the pop and hip-hop songs that dominate mainstream media. Country music has traditionally been a bastion of values ​​that may seem old-fashioned to some but resonate with many: the way it describes women, the respect for Christian values, and the celebration of hard-working, middle-class workers. And while Post Malone is relatively tame compared to some of his more provocative peers, his tattooed, grunge aesthetic didn't exactly inspire confidence that he would do the genre justice.

But then he released his single with Morgan Wallen, “Had Some Help.” People immediately hailed it as the song of the summer, and I was pleasantly surprised. Was it my favorite song of all time? No. But did I nod my head in the car on the way home from work? Absolutely. My apprehensions about the full album began to subside somewhat.

With a banger in his luggage, Post Malone released the full album on August 16th. The album consists of 18 songs and is a remarkable collection of collaborations with some of the biggest names in country music. The star-studded cast includes Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, ERNEST, Sierra Ferrell, Chris Stapleton, HARDY and Billy Strings.

Even if you loathe country music, you probably know names like Luke Combs and Dolly Parton. That lineup alone is enough to attract skeptics who might otherwise have dismissed Post's foray into the genre. And the tracks themselves are solid. “Nosedive” with Lainey Wilson is particularly catchy, and all of the collaborations are worth listening to at least once.

But Post wasn’t satisfied with that. He surprised everyone with a deluxe version of the album, F1 Billion: Long Bedwhich included nine additional solo tracks. After hearing the first few hits together, even the most skeptical listeners were inclined to give Post a fair chance with these solo efforts.

My personal favorite on the album is “Yours,” one of those solo tracks. It's a touching song addressed to his future son-in-law, about his daughter, and how even though they're married, she'll always be his little girl first. It's a shockingly sweet and heartfelt track that hits all the right country notes.

Another highlight is “Killed a Man,” a dark, emotionally charged song that shows Post’s ability to delve into darker stories – a hallmark of some of the best country songs.

The Billboard Hot 100 has been dominated by country songs in recent months, with the only interruption being Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” on July 20, 2024. With Twisters With his sensational success this summer, country music has been in the spotlight like never before. There were many positives that helped Post's transition to country music go smoothly, but the quality of his songs also played a part.

Here's my takeaway from Post Malone's new album: Artists can experiment with any genre, but they need to be aware that their efforts won't always be well-received. However, Post Malone has done a commendable job of breaking into the genre and establishing real credibility as a country songwriter. I look forward to hearing more from him, especially as he continues to develop and refine his new and intriguing sound.