โWhite Iversonโ was an absolute hit song. It was catchy, and just wholly different than any other sound out there, but I had little faith thatย it would be little more than a one hit wonder, like the likes of โAll Gold Everything.โ That was until I heard โGo Flexโ, and โToo Youngโ, and โLonelyโ, and the surprisingly dope August 26th.ย Maybe there was something more to Post Malone, maybe he had something real to offer to the culture. It was something I increasingly became interested in finding out with his major debutย Stoney.
โEverybody asking Post when is the album droppinโ?
Ever since the very first day that I been poppinโ
Donโt wanna prove you wrong but shit you leave me with no option, yeah yeahโ
Say what you want about Post Malone, but heโs got some damn good production.ย Stoney is full of that โtrill popโ sound that he practically birthedย into existence. The trap kicks and percussion paired with the country guitar strums on โGo Flexโ is an example of a sound that on paper shouldnโt work, but in practice, sounds amazing together. โWhite Iversonโ after almost two years of constant spins still stands up today as a moody masterpiece. โNo Optionโ, โCongratulationsโ, and โMoney Made Me Do Itโ are all hits waiting to happen. The way the production combines hip-hop percussions with his other country/rock/pop influences makes for some compelling sounds andย Itโs really hard not to get swept up into the grooves and vibes of the album.
โAnd I wonโt go on, like a highway to hell
Going too damn fast, I spilled drink on my Chanel
And I woke up and my roomโs fuckinโ trashed like a damn hotel
Where I go next, now, only time will tellโ
When it comes to his songwriting itโs much like his production where itโs style over substance. A lot of mainly forgettable verses, but big, catchy hooks, and irresistible melodies all delivered in his unique angsty voice. I never got a deeper sense about who he was as an artist or a person, but I never really wanted to either. I wanted to give into the cynicism a lot of people have about his โmusicโ and being a โcultural appropriatorโ, but I just couldnโt. When youโre putting out music thatโs this pleasing to the ears, itโs easy to forgive his shallow shortcomings. If youโre going to rely on style as your musical calling card, then you better bring a lot of it, and he does just that.
Have you heardย Stoney? Whatโd you think about it? Do you think heโs done enough to prove heโs more than โWhite Iversonโ? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your rating for the album.
