Back in 2021, Post Malone caused a stir among country fans when he covered two songs from opposite ends of the country spectrum during an online telethon event: Brad Paisley’s radio hit “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” and Sturgill Simpson’s underground favorite “You Can Have the Crown.” Malone, a pop superstar who has been touting his country fan base since 2015, performed the songs with a traditional twang and raucous vibe that suggests a genuine affinity and deep knowledge of the genre. Bluegrass picker Billy Strings said Rolling Stone The same thing happened a year later, when Malone boasted that he could play more Hank Williams songs than he could.
In other words: Posty knows his stuff. And that has contributed to F-1 billionMalone’s first country album, a highly anticipated release. Fans and journalists alike speculated whether the “rock star” rapper would take the outlaw route (earlier this spring, RS saw him having dinner with Simpson in Nashville), chasing the bluegrass dragon with his buddy Strings, or reviving ’90s country music, as he did during his Stagecoach appearance with Paisley in April.
Malone eventually wove a bit of both into F-1 billionan irresistibly catchy album full of collaborations (15 of the 18 tracks feature guest appearances) that highlights Malone’s rebellious spirit but has more in common with today’s safe country radio fare than the albums of old by troublemakers like Simpson or the Waylons and Willies.
But that does not mean that F-1 billion isn’t a particularly fun ride. In fact, it can often be exhilarating, starting with opening track “Wrong Ones,” a collaboration with Tim McGraw that dispels any notion that Malone has dropped off his loot on Nashville’s doorstep. “I got some damn money, girl, come get some,” he ventures on the chorus, before deflecting responsibility for his rampant manners in the same way he did on “I Had Some Help,” the album’s hit single featuring Morgan Wallen: “I’m just looking for the right one/but the wrong ones are always looking at me.”
“Finer Things” further highlights Malone’s shooting game. A duet with Hank Williams Jr., the song allows both men to boast about their redneck wealth. “Platinum on my teeth and wagyu on my grill,” sings Malone; “I’m in the deer blind with the diamond ring,” counters Bocephus. It’s a fun pissing contest and also gives the album its title: “I got an F-1 billion Limousine,” they claim, with a “10-point blonde in the passenger seat.”
But if there’s one thing Malone has been determined to prove to Nashville over the past few months, it’s how grateful he is to be on the country music scene. On several tracks, he acknowledges the genre and his guests, even making fun of himself.
He pays his greatest tribute to Dolly Parton on their collaboration “Have a Heart,” a rollicking song animated by a bar piano and Dolly’s flirtatious charisma. “You wanna hear something sexy?” she coos before her verse. On the ’90s country ballad “Goes Without Saying,” which features Brad Paisley on vocals and guitar, Malone mourns the loss of a girl who said goodbye without saying goodbye. And on one of the album’s standout songs, “Devil I’ve Been,” a collaboration with Ernest, who co-wrote 10 of the LP’s songs, he vows to change his bad-boy ways. (Luke Combs, the only guest to sing on two tracks, co-wrote five.)
Perhaps reassured by the security that the A-listers provide on the other 15 songs, Malone goes solo on three songs F-1 billion (at least on the original edition; shortly after the release of his new album he had the Long bed (extended version with nine additional solo songs). “What Don’t Belong to Me” is an inoffensive slice of pop-country that has more in common with Brett Young than Steve Young, while “Yours,” which he debuted onstage in Nashville this summer, is a sweet ballad about the day his young daughter will get married. “Right About You” is the best of the lot, an acoustic porch number that highlights some of Malone’s most natural singing voices.
Malone has never made a secret of his use of Auto-Tune. Developed and perfected by Louis Bell, the F-1 billion On Charlie Handsome, Posty’s computer-generated voice is his trademark. But while it works wonders on pop hits like “Sunflower” or “Circles,” it can drift toward a goat-like vibrato on a country song.
It is best F-1 billion when he’s at his most stripped down. “Never Love You Again” features a sweet waltz with Sierra Ferrell and beautiful violin from Larry Franklin. “Missin’ You Like This” features a ballad about cheating’s regrets with Combs. And “MEXICO” is a bluegrass rave-up about trouble in Mexico. Strings sings harmony vocals, while guitarist Bryan Sutton, one of Strings’ heroes, contributes some rousing acoustic runs.
Aside from Parton’s cameo, the curious will probably be interested in Chris Stapleton’s performance on “California Sober.” He doesn’t disappoint. With his voice as strong as ever, the “Traveller” accompanies Malone on a road trip full of pitfalls, picking up a nice hitchhiker who is anything but nice. By the end of the song, she’s picked her up for her whiskey, weed, and wallets.
Hear F-1 billion won’t rob you of anything. But it might make you wish it added more to the discussion and challenged some long-standing conventions, much like the country album released earlier this year by another major pop star. While one can argue that F-1 billion is just Malone’s desire to play with twangy fun and sing the kind of country music that fits the times, it would have benefited from more dusty detours and fewer paved roads, more dignity and less ostentation, and certainly more Malone and fewer guests. For his next Nashville sojourn, a little pure post could actually go a long way.
