Two days before released 鈥淔-1 Trillion,鈥� his sixth studio album and his first country record, he made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry.
A starry-eyed introduced him, celebrating Malone for his incredible career accomplishments and 鈥渃ountry heart.鈥� When Malone took the stage, beer in hand, he was gracious and grateful 鈥� characteristic 鈥渟irs鈥� and 鈥渕a'ams鈥� flying out of his mouth with the same kind of effortless, anxious charm that allows Malone to slide into any genre as a collaborator, singer, rapper and instrumentalist. It simply made sense, and on the 18-track 鈥淔-1 Trillion,鈥� so too does the idea of Malone as a Nashville superstar.
Paisley isn't his only endorsement. Co-signs, Malone has a few: Hank Williams, Jr., Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Ernest, Sierra Ferrell, HARDY, Billy Strings and Luke Combs 鈥� who appears twice 鈥� are all featured on the album. It gives 鈥淔-1 Trillion鈥� a gargantuan feeling, if not overstuffed, with tracks ripe for country radio. But is too much of a good thing, bad?
Take 鈥淚 Had Some Help," which The modern classic has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other song this year so far; there鈥檚 no denying that honkytonk hook, Malone鈥檚 idiosyncratic autotuned vibrato or It hits less like a country music crossover and more like something completely organic 鈥� the sonic equivalent of a full embrace in the back of a truck bed, bright stars stretched out big and wide as if to reflect the curves of the earth.
鈥淕uy For That鈥� slows things down bit, all heartbreak and hangovers; 鈥淧our Me A Drink鈥� with Shelton breaks out the fiddle and celebrates a cold one at the end of a long day spent trying to make a decent living. 鈥淟osers鈥� with Jelly Roll is an anthem for outsiders; 鈥淣ever Love You Again鈥� brings American roots musician Sierra Ferrell to the fore.
In fact, solo songs are so rare here, they鈥檙e limited to three. The decision serves a few purposes. It is a direct reflection of Malone鈥檚 position as an ever-featured artist on other people鈥檚 songs and his penchant for constant collaboration. This year alone, Malone was featured on Beyonc茅鈥檚 鈥淟evii鈥檚 Jeans,鈥� from her country-and-then-some masterclass, and harmonized with Taylor Swift on 鈥淔ortnight,鈥� the lead single from
But most importantly, the features on Malone's album really showcase that unlike some pop acts who鈥檝e flirted with country music recently as it continues to 鈥� the ones who operate inside the genre but outside of its politics and the well-oiled Nashville machine 鈥� Malone asked for permission to join in. That particular industry is new territory for him, but the music is not. It's formative, having grown up on outlaw country from his mom, and the '90s stuff from his dad. Malone went to Nashville, entered the insular songwriting apparatus, and came up with a sometimes traditionalist genre record.
That's evident on the solo songs as well. 鈥淩ight About You鈥� is lovely 鈥�90s country, and the closer, 鈥淵ours,鈥� is a real tearjerker about Malone鈥檚 daughter, now 2 years old, addressed to her future partner. 鈥淎nd she might be wearin鈥� white, but her first dress, it was pink,鈥� he sings. 鈥淪he might be your better half, but to me, she鈥檚 everything.鈥�
On paper, 鈥淔-1 Trillion鈥� may seem like a far cry from the melodic rap that made Malone one of the most popular voices in contemporary music. (Lest we forget that his previous work is by and far his most popular. Or the most popular of any artist: 鈥淪unflower" featuring Swae Lee, written for the soundtrack became the first song to ever be certified double-diamond.) But that's a myopic view. In the South, listeners of a certain age are raised on both rap and country. Malone鈥檚 seamless pivot into the latter is the most immediate and clear-cut example of that.
There鈥檚 a tweet from Malone, posted back in 2015, that has reemerged around 鈥淔-1 Trillion." 鈥淲hen I turn 30 I鈥檓 becoming a country/folk singer,鈥� a few months before his cloud rap debut single, 鈥淲hite Iverson," was heard 鈥榬ound the world.
Now, he鈥檚 29. The message is prescient. At age 29, his arrival is a bit early. It鈥檚 also right on time.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
