Figure 1. Spotify. The cover for Post Malone’s album Beerbongs and Bentleys

This week I am reviewing Post Malone’s 2018 album, Beerbongs and Bentleys. Post Malone keeps a similar tone throughout the album. In many of the songs, he pours out his deepest thoughts and feelings, ranging for heartbreak to paranoia. This is my most enjoyable album of his, although his entire discography is packed with some of the most popular songs of the decade

Favorite Songs: Paranoid, Rich and Sad, Better Now, Stay

Paranoid

Figure 2. Bigott, Jonathan. Post Malone playing guitar at one of his shows

As the first song of the album, Post wastes no time getting into his feelings about how his fame has affected his life. He feels as though everyone treats him differently now that he is an international superstar. Everyone wishes they were wealthy and famous, but very few realize many of the cons of being so recognized. As such a popular artist, Post rakes in the cash, but as he does, “even family and friends started switchin / ever since [he] got the check [he sees them itching]”. Even Post Malone recognizes that those closest to him have “switched” their personality around him.  Post worries that nobody likes him for him anymore, and that everyone is only in it for the money. All he wishes is that these people could see him simply as a “person who makes music.” This isn’t common to only him either. As fellow rapper Polo G recently tweeted, “The higher up you go the more they feel like you owe them something”.  Post “doesn’t trust no one”; the greed of others has made him realize that he doesn’t have nearly as many true, genuine friends as he had previously thought.

“Sometimes feels like I got no friends” 

Post isn’t worried just about his friends, though. He also constantly stresses of having his home invaded. Posts states that he “sleeps with a .45 every night.” Sleeping with a gun provides him with a sense of security, knowing that he will always be able to defend himself in a robbery. Although it is safe, the fact Post sleeps with a gun speaks volumes about his mental state and how little trust he holds in his relatives and the rest of the outside world.

Better Now

Figure 3. Anzuoni, Mario. Post Malone singing passionately on stage

This song focuses on the ending of an old relationship of Post’s. The lyrics are packed with Posts thoughts on the relationship that resonate in many that go through a tough break up. He is speaking to his ex while talking about how he is coping with being single again. As the title suggests, Post assumes that his ex “probably thinks that [she] is better now,” but he reasons that it is only because he isn’t around anymore for her to see. He believes that absence makes the heart grow fonder, hoping that she still has feelings for him. Post begins to reminisce about their relationship and how he thought they would be together forever. At just 20, Post had already introduced her to all of his family because he thought they were “looking forward to the rest of [their lives]” together. But unfortunately she did not envision the same future, and had already moved on into a new relationship. Seeing her happy with someone else brings out Post’s sadness, as he knows in his heart that he still has feelings for her. He tries to think of ways to get her back, pondering if “another foreign [car] or a bigger chain” would do the trick. But, Post comes to accept that he will “be okay.” Heartbreak is never easy and Post Malone is going through his rough patch right now, but he knows that in the end everything will be alright. 

“Used to keep my picture posted by your bedside, now it’s in your dresser with the socks you don’t like”