The Untold Truth Of Post Malone
Austin Richard Post — better known as Post Malone — has invaded the music scene in the most fascinating way. After releasing the track "White Iverson" on his SoundCloud account in August 2015, he went from being relatively unknown to making a mad dash to the top of the charts.
His hodgepodge of hip-hop, R&B, rock, country, punk, and emo tunes creates a mishmash formula that has spawned numerous hits, including the mega-popular "Rockstar," featuring 21 Savage, and "Congratulations," featuring Quavo of the rap trio Migos. Not many hip-hop newcomers hit it out of the ballpark with their debut album, but Malone's freshman attempt, Stoney, snagged the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, solidifying his title as the prince of tracks that are both moody and hedonistic.
One perk of being one of the hottest artists on the scene is gaining immediate access to the industry's elite. Malone went from sleeping in a closet to becoming besties with Justin Bieber.
You might know his lyrics by heart, but how much do you really know about this multi-talented musician who's "saucin' on you?" This is the untold truth of Post Malone.
A rockstar at heart
Post Malone makes a beeline for the top of the rap and hip-hop charts every time he drops a new record, so you may be surprised to hear that hip-hop music wasn't always his forte.
According to GQ, he knew he wanted to be a musician by age 12, and at 16, he started performing with various rock bands around his hometown of Grapevine, Texas. In high school, his taste in music began to expand, though he continued performing with different metal and indie bands. According to Rolling Stone, "His tastes were all over the map."
That eclectic appetite shaped his unique and unparalleled sound. He now has the luxury to mix together all of the genres he loves and the artists who've inspired him, including the late country western crooner Hank Williams and rapper A$AP Ferg.
A self-taught 'Guitar Hero'
Post Malone was a huge fan of video games growing up, including Guitar Hero – a game in which players use a guitar-shaped controller to rock out. After catching the guitar bug, he began scouring the web for more music tutorials. "I taught myself how to play real guitar off YouTube videos. Watching people play stuff, like a lot of AC/DC and Metallica," he told The Fader.
Practice has certainly paid off. It's not uncommon for Malone to grab his trusty guitar while on stage to serenade adoring fans. His musical prowess is quite phenomenal, especially when you factor in his upbringing. "My parents don't make music. I was around music, but my parents were never musical. I just wanted to rock out," he said. Though his parents wanted him to pursue a higher education, he said they supported his move to Los Angeles to find his own way. "My dad is my biggest fan, which is cool," he said. "My mom doesn't get it, my mom is crazy. I love you though."
From sleeping in a closet, to the top of the charts
One of Post Malone's hometown friends is Jason Probst, who gained an online following by streaming videos playing the video game Minecraft. Probst, and a group of other Minecraft players, decided to move from Texas to Encino, Calif. and rent a home together. Malone decided to tag along — or do some "chilling and freeloading," as he called it during an interview with Rolling Stone.
Freeloading meant Malone had to rough it for awhile. "When I was young and I came out here [to California], I had a super dark time .... I was sleeping in a closet, I didn't have any money, and I would just f*****g scrounge in my f*****g friend's center console for quarters so I could buy cigarettes..." he told GQ.
Luckily for him, being so close to the entertainment industry had its perks. Within a year, he had finessed his way into a free studio session to record a few tracks, including "White Iverson." The rest, as they say, is history.
A gun stash like you wouldn't believe
During his interview with Rolling Stone, Post Malone contemplates heading out to a gun range, but later decides to stay in and show the interviewer his extensive firearm collection. "This is an M14 — the gun Navy SEALs use," he says, before revealing a pistol and two gold-plated Glocks.
Making his way into his master bedroom, one might assume he was going to show everyone where the magic happens. Instead, he proudly showcases more firearms. The "I Fall Apart" artist reportedly keeps a shotgun beside the bed he shares with his longtime girlfriend, a FN Five-Seven pistol behind his pillow, and a Glock 19 behind another pillow. He says the Glock is for his longtime girlfriend, Ashlen (pictured,) because it's "supereasy to use."
What does a guy like Malone need with this kind of arsenal? "They're fun, they're practical, and bad s**t happens," he tells the mag. "If you hurt me, I'm gonna hurt you back." Welp, at least we know who not to mess with.
A celebratory meal at Olive Garden
What would you do if you had the hottest song in the country? Would you purchase some flashy jewelry, plan an island getaway, or just head back into the studio to attempt to recreate your chart-topping success? Well, if you're Post Malone, you do none of the above.
When his track "Rockstar" reigned supreme for the latter part of 2017, he told Rolling Stone that he and Ashlen headed to Olive Garden to celebrate.
But don't get it twisted, Malone has since splurged on himself. He reportedly possesses an extravagant loafer collection, including a pair of $1,700 gold-embroidered Christian Louboutins, which he proudly described as being "super-ignorant." Also, if you see a shiny, white, uber-expensive Rolls-Royce Wraith on the streets of Los Angeles, it's probably Malone behind the wheel. You know, just casually swaggin' on you.
His classmates predicted the 'weird' kid's future
Most people brush off their high school superlatives as nothing more than a snarky, teenage popularity contest, but Malone's classmates were on the money! He was voted "Most Likely to Become Famous," and truer words have never been spoken. According to Rolling Stone, the title "testified less to his popularity than his eccentricity."
Case in point: Check out this cheeky video he filmed during his younger years. It features Malone in a pair of skin-tight jean booty shorts, methodically shaking his tush to the beat. He also told Rolling Stone that while working at a fast food establishment called Chicken Express in high school, he saved up $800 and blew it all on a pair of — you guessed it — Versace loafers. "I was weird," he said.
Let your weird flag fly, Posty.
Booze cures all
Every artist has a ritual to get their creative juices flowing. For Post Malone, his rite includes libations. Lots and lots of libations. "If I make the beat, I usually have some words for it, but if somebody plays me a beat I've never heard before, I usually get ideas for it and then get drunk, go in the booth, and do melodies and mumbles and all that good stuff, then write to it afterwards," he told Noisey.
The studio isn't the only place the "Better Now" artist is getting inebriated. He told Highsnobiety that he's a shy guy, and drinking — or getting "funky," as he calls it — is the solution. "I'm just nervous. It helps me out, it helps me get lit with my fans."
So, the next time you're at one of his shows, just know there's apparently a 99 percent chance that he's wasted!
A Playboy bunny inspired by Justin Bieber
After releasing the groundbreaking single "White Iverson," and the country-inspired "Go Flex," Post Malone was asked to join Justin Bieber's Purpose World Tour in 2016. The two became instant friends, which was evident when Bieber randomly FaceTimed Malone during a podcast interview, and the two proceeded to gush over one another. Malone even ended their call by saying, "I love you more, baby." (Don't you just adore a good bromance?)
In fact, these two are so chummy, it was reportedly Bieber who convinced Malone to get his first tattoo — an image of the iconic Playboy bunny smack dab on his forearm. As the ink was healing, Bieber "messed up the whole thing" during a game of basketball, Malone told GQ. Though Bieber was supposedly "Sorry" for smudging his body art, Malone joked that his pal was "gonna have to buy me a new one."
That's what friends are for.
He says he doesn't want to be a rapper
During a 2017 interview with NewOnce, Post Malone spoke about a perceived downturn in hip hop's lyricism. "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. "Whenever I want to cry, whenever I want to sit down and have a nice cry, I'll listen to some, like, Bob Dylan."
Backlash ensued, and Malone addressed the controversy in a social media video. "Who am I to tell you you should feel a certain way when listening to something?" he asks rhetorically. "No matter how hard you are, no matter where you're from, you're going to have a time where you sit back and reflect on your life and listen to what you wanna listen to. For me, that's Bob Dylan."
Perhaps we should let those comments slide, but this wasn't the first time Malone essentially criticized the genre that made him a household name. Though he pulls inspiration from various styles, and he may not flow like a typical hip-hop artist, he's commonly classified as a rapper — much to his discontent.
While speaking with GQ about the plight of being white in a predominantly black music sector, Malone said, "I definitely feel like there's a struggle being a white rapper. But I don't want to be a rapper. I just want to be a person that makes music."
You do you, boo.