Tonight marks a new era for Post Malone.
After gaining popularity as a SoundCloud rapper, the 29-year-old Grammy winner has experienced a drastic evolution in both artistry and aesthetics. Posty has established a genre-defying sound that fuses elements of hip-hop, rock, pop, and R&B; but when it came to his sixth studio album, he decided to fully embrace his country roots.
On Aug. 16, the Texas-raised artist came through with F-1 Trillion, an 18-track project he confirmed back in June. The announcement was preceded by the album’s lead single “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen. Malone would go on to release the Blake Shelton-assisted “Pour Me a Drink” and “Guy for That” with Luke Combs.
“Genres suck,” Malone recently told the New York Times. “It’s easier to catalog music that way. But at a certain point — and the cool thing is that it’s moving towards this — why can’t you mix all this together and make something that’s truly unique to you?”
F-1 Trillion is a duet-dominated project that includes appearances by some of country’s biggest acts. We’re talking everyone from Dolly Parton and Hank Williams Jr. to Brad Paisley and Tim McGraw to Chris Stapleton and Jelly Roll.
You can stream F-1 Trillion now on all major platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. On the cover is a commissioned art piece by Gonzalo Lebrija. Shortly after the release, Posty shared a deluxe-ified version of the album, dubbed Long Bed, featuring nine more solo records.
In the run-up to F-1 Trillion being taken out for its inaugural ride, Posty made sure to hit a number of key Music City stops. In July, he and Bud Light took over the Marathon Music Works venue, which Nashvillians know for its unique history as a former auto factory. The show saw Posty backed by a live band, as well as joined by a slew of surprise guests.
Hardy, whose Joey Moi-produced latest album Quit!! arrived last month, was among the highlights of the evening, dubbed A Night in Nashville. Complex was in attendance for the fittingly celebratory throwdown, which also saw recent Tiny Desk performer Sierra Ferrell joining Malone and company for a cover of Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber’s "Jackson," previously a hit for Johnny Cash and June Carter back in 1967.
See a live video for “Yours,” shot at the Marathon Music Works show, below.
As Thursday turned to Friday, Post further celebrated the proverbial F-1 Trillion engine rev with an intimate, decidedly sweaty night at Losers Bar & Grill. Complex was also in attendance for the Spotify-backed takeover, which saw the bar, known as a popular gathering spot for music industry figures ranging from the truly green to the undeniably veteran, temporarily renamed Posty’s.
The new album will be supported with a 21-date U.S. tour. The trek will begin Sept. 8 in Salt Lake City and will include stops in Boston; New York City; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Atlanta, before wrapping up Oct. 27 in Austin.
Check out Posty's full tour schedule below.