After teasing the single since late March, Post Malone finally announced that the collab single, "I Had Some Help," will be available on streaming services on May 10th. You can trace their connection even before the snippet. Post accompanied Morgan Wallen and his frequent collaborator HARDY in their star-studded performance at the CMA Awards. It was only a matter of time until we saw what culminated in their work together.
Post Malone's Journey to Country Music
Malone has been inching his way over into Nashville for a long time. As often as he has seen success in pop and rap hits, he has frequently noted his influences stem from classic American rock acts like Bob Dylan and Metallica to vintage country icons like Johnny Cash. On his debut album Stoney, he sings on the closer "Feeling Whitney," "I put on a little Dwight [Yoakam] and sing a happy tune." It's not merely a cash grab but a genuine interest in the genre's style and form of songwriting.
Post Malone fits in with the recent shift in the country aesthetic as well. Gone are the days of the yearning cowboys of the 80s and 90s or the image of the outlaw in the 60s and 70s. Instead, an artist like Post Malone or the rising star Jelly Roll are a natural progression in the 'Bro-Country' label, where booze and girls is the name of the game and they love rap just as much as they love Jason Aldean.
The 28-year-old superstar has worked hard to cultivate his credentials to be in the genre this year. He has teased collabs with Luke Combs and covers of Garth Brooks on social media. He was featured on Beyonce's recent country excursion Cowboy Carter. When he performed at Stagecoach festival in April, he performed a duet with Brad Paisley for "I'm Gonna Miss Her." In addition, he premiered "I Had Some Help" with Morgan Wallen before its release this weekend.
With the combined efforts of Wallen and Malone's star power, "I Had Some Help" has the potential for massive success in country music. With Wallen's assist, it could also see Post Malone as a prominent mainstay in the genre.
