Image via Getty/Paras Griffin
There might not be a more unlikely superstar in the history of hip-hop than Post Malone. His introduction to the world came in 2015 with his hit single “White Iverson,” and he hasn’t looked back since. Post’s debut album Stoney was a slow burn, but eventually became a wildly successful commercial monster, producing six platinum singles. His second studio album Beerbongs & Bentleys, which came out nearly three weeks ago, has planted itself atop Billboard's Top 100 albums list since its release, and broke a host of streaming records in its first week alone. Unexpectedly, Post has firmly planted himself among other top tier artists in hip-hop in regards to his popularity and demand. While there are plenty that have a problem with him, the numbers bear out that he's one of rap's most bankable stars.
His rise from relative obscurity as a teenager from Texas to chart-topping artist has happened fast enough to feel like it happened overnight. But the journey from relative obscurity to the top of the charts wasn't exactly straightforward. Post weathered ongoing accusations of being a culture vulture to being caught on camera using the n-word to his questionable comments about hip-hop and how there’s “not a lot of real shit.” Each controversy, no matter how serious, has bounced off of him. While each of these incidents could (and, in some cases, should) have been the nail the coffin for Post, none of them have managed to meaningfully slow down his momentum over the past three years.
Post is not only one of the biggest artists in hip-hop now, but one of the biggest artists in all of music. Here’s how he blew up.
August 2012: Post Drops His First Video
When he was 17, Post released this satirical track under the alias "Leon DeChino" as a project for an art class. It doesn't resemble his current music much, but it's the earliest available instance of a music video from him.
October 2013: But Guitar Is His Passion
Before he was making rap, Post was more focused on his guitar skills. This cover of Bob Dylan's 1963 track "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" proves he had real chops. In high school, Post played guitar in a band called Love in Colors.
February 2015: 'White Iverson' Explodes
The turning point for Post Malone was "White Iverson," a song he first dropped on SoundCloud. Artists like Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller publicly co-signed the track, which would peak at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The video for the song has been viewed over 554 million times.
August 2015: Months Later, Post Gets a Record Deal
Then the record companies came calling. Post told Complex in 2015 that he had multiple offers on the table before he eventually signed with Republic. "I think I just knew automatically," he said about choosing the label, "so that's where I wanted to go."
September 2015: N-Word Controversy
The dreaded culture vulture label has been used to describe Post multiple times. It happened in 2015, after an old Vine video in which he used the n-word surfaced. He apologized for his use of it, saying it was unacceptable and wrong of him.
February 2016: He Gets a Feature on Kanye West's 'Fade'
That didn't stop his momentum. Post Malone was one of the many featured artists on Kanye West's The Life of Pablo album—he, along with Ty Dolla Sign, lent his voice to "Fade." The song was eventually released as a single, and came with a saucy, Teyana Taylor-led video.
March 2016: Then He Goes on Tour With Justin Bieber
Post was introduced to a whole new audience after he landed a spot on Bieber's Purpose Tour. No doubt the most viral moment from their time together came from the April 2016 photo in which Post appeared to be choking Bieber. The pop star later made light of the photo with one that showed his own hand around Post's neck.
December 2016: His Debut Album, 'Stoney,' Arrives
It took some time for Post Malone to drop his first disc. The project came with features from Bieber, Kehlani, and Quavo, and spawned another massive single for him in "Congratulations." That track went seven-times platinum and hit No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
September 2017: He Breaks a Record With 'Rockstar'
Post proved he had staying power after his first album by returning to radio in September of last year with this 21 Savage-assisted song. According to The Verge, it broke the Apple Music single-week streaming record at the time, with 25 million plays. The numbers were aided by placement on several top hip-hop playlists on the streaming platform.
November 2017: Post Makes Controversial Comments on Hip-Hop
The culture vulture criticism came back in November, after Post offered a rather simplistic take on lyricism in hip-hop to a Polish news outlet. "If you're looking for lyrics, if you're looking to cry, if you're looking to think about life, don't listen to hip-hop," he said. Post publicly apologized for the comments amid the outrage that followed.
November 2017: Earl Sweatshirt Calls Him Out for Them
One of his public detractors was Los Angeles rapper Earl Sweatshirt, who initially caught flak in 2016 when he said on Twitter that he wasn't feeling "White Iverson." Earl reminded his followers of that event after Post's comments on lyricism, questioning why people so fervently supported him.
February 2018: Post Drops 'Psycho'
Again, it didn't stop Post Malone. His last big song was "Psycho," which features "Fade" collaborator Ty Dolla Sign. The track debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped build the buzz for his second album, a project that's long been in the works.
April 2018: 'Beerbongs & Bentleys' Is Here
Over a year after its title was announced, Post Malone's second studio album dropped last month. The project is 18 tracks long, and features YG, Nicki Minaj, Swae Lee, and others. It's already eligible for platinum status—if only Leon DeChino could see Post now.