Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. Recognized for his eclectic blend of hip hop, pop, R&B, and trap, Malone’s stage name originated from a rap name generator. He began his musical career in 2011 and gained prominence with his 2015 debut single “White Iverson,” which peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Malone signed with Republic Records and released his debut studio album, “Stoney” (2016), which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and included the diamond-certified single “Congratulations” featuring Quavo. His second album, “Beerbongs & Bentleys” (2018), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, setting numerous streaming records and featuring the number-one singles “Rockstar” featuring 21 Savage and “Psycho” featuring Ty Dolla Sign. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 61st Grammy Awards.
In 2018, Malone released “Sunflower” with Swae Lee for the “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” soundtrack. The song became the highest-certified in RIAA history, achieving double diamond (20-times platinum) status. “Sunflower” was included on his third album, “Hollywood’s Bleeding” (2019), which also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and featured the number-one single “Circles,” which spent 61 weeks on the chart. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 63rd Grammy Awards.
Malone’s fourth album, “Twelve Carat Toothache” (2022), was supported by top-ten singles “I Like You (A Happier Song)” featuring Doja Cat and “One Right Now” with The Weeknd. His fifth album, “Austin” (2023), explored pop rock and achieved similar success, supported by the lead single “Chemical.” In 2024, Malone scored two more Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles with his guest appearance on Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” and his first country pop song, “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen.
With over 80 million records sold, Malone is one of the best-selling music artists. His accolades include ten Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, one MTV Video Music Award, and nine Grammy Award nominations. He holds several Billboard chart records, including being the first solo lead artist to top both the Rap Airplay and Adult Contemporary charts. “Circles” set the record for the longest climb to number one (41 weeks) on the Adult Contemporary chart by a solo artist. As of 2024, Malone holds the record for the artist with the most diamond-certified songs, with nine to his name.
Malone’s music spans hip hop, pop, R&B, trap, pop-rap, pop rock, indie pop, rap rock, and cloud rap. Described as a “melting pot of country, grunge, and hip hop,” his vocal style is often noted as “laconic.” Influences on his music include Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, 50 Cent, Kanye West, and Key!. Despite being labeled a “culture vulture” for his appropriation of African-American culture, Malone has defended his place in hip hop and his broader musical influences.
His notable songs include “White Iverson,” “Congratulations,” “Rockstar,” “Psycho,” “Sunflower,” “Circles,” “I Like You (A Happier Song),” “One Right Now,” “Chemical,” “Fortnight,” and “I Had Some Help.” Post Malone continues to push the boundaries of genre and remain a significant figure in contemporary music.
