Post Malone: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Austin Post's map runs wider than rap: a Grapevine, Texas kid who learned guitar from Guitar Hero, worshipped Bob Dylan and Nirvana, and arrived in LA through a SoundCloud fluke. The mix tracks the genre-agnostic wiring — country and classic rock sitting beside Houston screw tapes and Atlanta trap — and the producers who built the sound.

The Kynda mix for Post Malone

• Key Influence · The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan (1963). Post has repeatedly named Dylan his favorite songwriter, covering him live and citing him as the reason he writes rather than merely raps. He has a Dylan-referencing tattoo and performed Dylan material in acoustic sets that predate his rap career. The folk-confessional template explains why songs like 'Stay' and 'Feeling Whitney' sit on trap albums without apology, and why his melodies lean toward plain-spoken lament.','
• Influencia Obscura · 3 'N the Mornin' (Part Two) by DJ Screw (1996). Post grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area steeped in Texas rap radio, and the chopped-and-screwed language of Houston — syrupy tempos, pitched-down hooks, codeine-slowed atmosphere — underwrites the 'White Iverson' blueprint. That record's narcotized drift and reverb-soaked vocal owe more to Screw tape aesthetics than to any East Coast lineage, a regional inheritance rarely mentioned in coverage of his pop crossover.','
• Local Roots · The College Dropout by Kanye West (2004). Not geography by birth but by adoption: Post moved to Los Angeles and fell into the Encino house shared with members of the collective that became part of G.O.O.D. Music's orbit, and Kanye co-signed 'White Iverson' early, bringing Post in on 'Fade' for The Life of Pablo and inviting him to Yeezy-season events. That co-sign converted a SoundCloud upload into an industry career almost overnight.','
• Beyond the Medium · The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954). Post is an unabashed fantasy obsessive — a dedicated Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering player who has appeared in Magic promotional content and spoken about tabletop gaming at length. That imaginative register, more than any musical source, explains the tattoo-covered medieval-adjacent persona and the willingness to treat pop stardom as costumed world-building rather than autobiography.','
• Peer · Luv Is Rage 2 by Lil Uzi Vert (2017). Uzi emerged from the same 2015–2017 SoundCloud-to-streaming pipeline, likewise fusing emo guitar melancholy with trap production and rock-star iconography. Both broke through on melodic hooks that radio could not classify, and both toured the festival circuit as the generation that made 'rapper' a genre-neutral job title. Uzi is the clearest contemporary working the same emotional register.','
• From the Canon · Stoney by Post Malone (2016). The debut that proves the thesis: 'White Iverson' and 'Congratulations' sit beside the acoustic 'Feeling Whitney,' a nakedly folk confession that signals the Dylan inheritance before anyone had categorized him. Stoney explains the whole career — a cloud-rap breakout album that already contains the country-rock future, and whose chart longevity outlasted critics who filed it as novelty.','
• Key Collaborator · Peace Is the Mission by Major Lazer (2015). Frank Dukes, the Toronto producer behind much of 'Congratulations' and other key Post sessions, built a career supplying loops and chord beds to Drake, Camila Cabello, and Kendrick Lamar. His sample-sculpting approach gave early Post records their warm, slightly dusty harmonic foundation, a sound distinct from the icier trap production dominating 2016 radio.','
• Legacy · Sour by Olivia Rodrigo (2021). Rodrigo's debut runs on the template Post normalized: pop built from distorted guitars and bedroom-confessional lyrics, with hip-hop drum programming underneath and no concern for genre borders. Her producer Dan Nigro worked in the same post-genre space Post's run opened commercially, where a guitar ballad and a rage track can sit adjacent on one chart-topping album without explanation.','

What influenced Post Malone

• Kanye West. Malone cites West as an influence. (also via The College Dropout) “Malone has also cited 50 Cent , whom he called a legend, [ 161 ] Kanye West and Key! as influences.” (Wikipedia)
• Bob Dylan. Malone names Dylan as a musical influence. (also via The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan) “Malone cites Bob Dylan , in whom he became interested around the age of 15, as an influence on his music, calling him "a genius" and "a god"” (Wikipedia)
• The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance (2006). Weingarten identifies Post Malone as inspired by The Black Parade. “The New York Times ' s Christopher R. Weingarten has noted that The Black Parade inspired a number of 2010s musicians in different genres, including Twenty One Pilots , Crown the Empire , Famous Last Words , Halsey , Fun , Billie Eilish …” (Wikipedia)
• Key!. Malone cites Key! as an influence. “Malone has also cited 50 Cent , whom he called a legend, [ 161 ] Kanye West and Key! as influences.” (Wikipedia)
• The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan) — titan for Post Malone “Malone cites Bob Dylan, in whom he became interested around the age of 15, as an influence on his music, calling him "a genius" and "a god" though his music has been called "about as far away from Rock n' Roll as you can get".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Nevermind by Nirvana (1991). Nevermind (Nirvana) — titan for Post Malone “In late April 2020, Malone performed a livestreamed set consisting entirely of Nirvana covers from his home.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Goodbye & Good Riddance by Juice WRLD (2018). Goodbye & Good Riddance (Juice WRLD) — titan for Post Malone “On March 5, "Life's a Mess II" (featuring Clever and Post Malone), an alternative version of the track "Life's a Mess" from Legends Never Die, was released.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Guitar Hero. The game series prompted Malone’s interest in learning guitar. “He credited his initial interest in learning guitar to the video game series Guitar Hero .” (Wikipedia)
• Kurt Cobain. Malone cites Cobain as a key influence. “Malone has cited Kurt Cobain and Johnny Cash as key influences too.” (Wikipedia)
• Johnny Cash. Malone cites Cash as a key influence. “Malone has cited Kurt Cobain and Johnny Cash as key influences too.” (Wikipedia)
• 50 Cent. Malone cites 50 Cent as an influence. “Malone has also cited 50 Cent , whom he called a legend, [ 161 ] Kanye West and Key! as influences.” (Wikipedia)
• The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954). The Lord of the Rings (J. R. R. Tolkien) — culture for Post Malone (wikidata.org)
• Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson (1975). Red Headed Stranger (Willie Nelson) — culture for Post Malone (musicbrainz.org)
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Terry Gilliam (1998). Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Terry Gilliam) — culture for Post Malone (themoviedb.org)
• 3 'N the Mornin' (Part Two) by DJ Screw (1996). 3 'N the Mornin' (Part Two) (DJ Screw) — ghost for Post Malone
• Guitar Hero World Tour by Neversoft (2008). Guitar Hero World Tour (Neversoft) — ghost for Post Malone

Peers and kindred spirits

• Nirvana. Post Malone performed with the reunited Nirvana members. (also via Nevermind, Smells Like Teen Spirit) “For the 50th anniversary celebrations for Saturday Night Live on February 14, 2025, Malone reunited with Nirvana members to perform " Smells Like Teen Spirit ".” (Wikipedia)
• Doja Cat by Doja Cat. Doja Cat featured on Post Malone's song. (also via Post Malone) “In June 2022, the track " I Like You (A Happier Song) " by Post Malone featuring Doja Cat was released as the third single from the former's fourth studio album, Twelve Carat Toothache (2023).” (Wikipedia)
• Luke Combs by Luke Combs. Post Malone’s official album listing credits Luke Combs on “Guy For That.” “Goes Without Saying (Feat. Brad Paisley) 3:32 Guy For That (Feat. Luke Combs) 2:44 Nosedive (Feat. Lainey Wilson) 3:12” (Post Malone)
• Blake Shelton by Blake Shelton. Shelton featured on Malone’s “Pour Me a Drink.” “On June 13, Malone announced the single " Pour Me a Drink " (featuring Blake Shelton ). It was released on June 21.” (Wikipedia)
• Beyoncé by Beyoncé. Malone featured on Beyoncé’s “Levii’s Jeans.” “On March 29, Malone was featured on the track " Levii's Jeans " off Beyoncé 's eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter .” (Wikipedia)
• Noah Kahan by Noah Kahan. Malone contributed a vocal to Kahan’s “Dial Drunk.” “On July 17, 2023, Malone collaborated with Noah Kahan on a re-released version of Kahan's single " Dial Drunk " featuring a new vocal from Malone.” (Wikipedia)
• YoungBoy Never Broke Again by YoungBoy Never Broke Again. The album listing credits Post Malone on YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “What You Say.” “Music Videos What You Say (feat. Post Malone & The Kid LAROI) YoungBoy Never Broke Again Big Truck YoungBoy Never Broke Again” (Apple Music)
• The Kid Laroi by The Kid Laroi. Post Malone’s official album listing credits The Kid LAROI on “Wasting Angels.” “Love/Hate Letter To Alcohol (feat. Fleet Foxes) 3:03 Wasting Angels (feat. The Kid LAROI) 4:03 Euthanasia 2:25” (Post Malone)
• Roddy Ricch by Roddy Ricch. Post Malone’s official album listing credits Roddy Ricch on “Cooped Up.” “Twelve Carat Toothache Reputation 4:08 Cooped Up (feat. Roddy Ricch) 3:05 Lemon Tree 4:03” (Post Malone)
• The Weeknd by The Weeknd (1990). Post Malone’s official video page identifies “One Right Now” as a release with The Weeknd. “Videos All Videos One Right Now with The Weeknd Latest Videos “Better Man” (LIVE benefit with Eddie Vedder, for EB Research) view” (Post Malone)
• Lil Baby by Lil Baby. The release listing credits Post Malone and Lil Baby on DJ Khaled’s “I DID IT.” “I DID IT (feat. Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby & DaBaby) KHALED KHALED DJ Khaled April 30, 2021” (Apple Music)
• DaBaby by DaBaby. The release listing credits Post Malone and DaBaby on DJ Khaled’s “I DID IT.” “I DID IT (feat. Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby & DaBaby) KHALED KHALED DJ Khaled April 30, 2021” (Apple Music)
• Morgan Wallen by Morgan Wallen. Post Malone’s official album listing credits Morgan Wallen on “I Had Some Help.” “Finer Things (Feat. Hank Williams Jr.) 3:05 I Had Some Help (Feat. Morgan Wallen) 2:58 Pour Me A Drink (Feat. Blake Shelton) 3:15” (Post Malone)
• Megan Thee Stallion by Megan Thee Stallion. Malone and Megan Thee Stallion both featured on “I Did It.” “I DID IT (feat. Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby & DaBaby) KHALED KHALED DJ Khaled April 30, 2021” (Apple Music)
• Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes (2008). Fleet Foxes joined Malone for “Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol.” “Insane 2:49 Love/Hate Letter To Alcohol (feat. Fleet Foxes) 3:03 Wasting Angels (feat. The Kid LAROI) 4:03” (Post Malone)
• Lorde. Post Malone featured on a remix of Lorde's song. “The album was supported by two other singles: " Perfect Places " and a remix of " Homemade Dynamite " featuring Khalid , Post Malone and SZA .” (Wikipedia)
• Love In Colors. Malone was a vocalist and guitarist in Love In Colors. “In 2013, Malone was a member of the band Love In Colors, in which he performed as a vocalist and guitarist.” (Wikipedia)
• BLCKVRD. Malone helped form and recorded with BLCKVRD. “After moving to Los Angeles, Malone, Probst, and several other producers and artists formed the music group BLCKVRD and recorded music together.” (Wikipedia)
• Astroworld by Travis Scott. Astroworld (Travis Scott) — geography for Post Malone “Malone promised a "blockbuster" lineup with headliners like rapper Travis Scott.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Blizzard of Ozz by Ozzy Osbourne (1980). Blizzard of Ozz (Ozzy Osbourne) — collaborator for Post Malone “==== Ordinary Man (2020), Patient Number 9 (2022) and Back to the Beginning ==== On 6 September 2019, Osbourne featured on the song "Take What You Want" by Post Malone.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Ashley's Arrival. Malone reportedly played guitar in Ashley’s Arrival. “In 2010, Malone reportedly played guitar in the metalcore band Ashley's Arrival (also known as Saving Summer) during his high school years.” (Wikipedia)
• Dolly Parton by Dolly Parton. Post Malone’s official album listing credits Dolly Parton on “Have The Heart.” “Pour Me A Drink (Feat. Blake Shelton) 3:15 Have The Heart (Feat. Dolly Parton) 3:03 What Don't Belong To Me 3:27” (Post Malone)
• Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. Malone performed Nirvana’s song with members of the band. “For the 50th anniversary celebrations for Saturday Night Live on February 14, 2025, Malone reunited with Nirvana members to perform " Smells Like Teen Spirit ".” (Wikipedia)
• Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Malone covered the television series’ theme song for the film. “For the 2022 film Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers , Malone covered the theme song from the 1989 television series of the same name , originally performed by Jeff Pescetto in the series and by The Jets in album releases.” (Wikipedia)
• Quavo. Quavo featured on Malone’s single “Congratulations.” “The song led him to sign with Republic Records , [ 7 ] and served as lead single for his debut studio album, Stoney (2016), which spawned the Diamond -certified single " Congratulations " (featuring Quavo ).” (Wikipedia)
• 21 Savage. 21 Savage featured on Malone’s “Rockstar.” “It contained the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles " Rockstar " (featuring 21 Savage ) and " Psycho " (featuring Ty Dolla Sign ), and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 61st Grammy Awards .” (Wikipedia)
• Ty Dolla Sign (2004). Ty Dolla Sign featured on Malone’s “Psycho.” “It contained the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles " Rockstar " (featuring 21 Savage ) and " Psycho " (featuring Ty Dolla Sign ), and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 61st Grammy Awards .” (Wikipedia)
• Swae Lee. Malone and Swae Lee recorded “Sunflower” as a duet. “His third Hot 100 number-one single, " Sunflower ", a duet with Swae Lee , was released for the accompanying soundtrack to the 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (Wikipedia)
• Taylor Swift (1989). Malone appeared on Swift’s “Fortnight.” “In 2024, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 twice more with his guest appearance on Taylor Swift 's " Fortnight " and his first country pop song, " I Had Some Help " (featuring Morgan Wallen ).” (Wikipedia)
• Rex Kudo. Rex Kudo produced several Malone tracks, including “White Iverson.” “Malone met record producers FKi 1st and Sauce Lord Rich, who formed the production team FKi , as well as Rex Kudo, who produced several of Malone's tracks, including " White Iverson ".” (Wikipedia)
• Justin Bieber. Bieber featured on Malone’s “Deja Vu.” “Stoney also featured the top 100 hits " I Fall Apart " and " Deja Vu " (featuring Bieber), with the album later being certified double platinum by the RIAA in October 2017.” (Wikipedia)
• Young Thug. Young Thug featured on Malone’s “Goodbyes.” “In July 2019, Malone released the single " Goodbyes " (featuring Young Thug ), and also announced the Runaway Tour with Swae Lee as the opener.” (Wikipedia)
• Red Hot Chili Peppers. Malone performed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. “He performed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the awards show on February 10, 2019.” (Wikipedia)
• Travis Barker. Barker played drums in Malone’s livestreamed cover set. “Malone sang lead vocals and provided rhythm guitar for the set. He was accompanied by drummer Travis Barker , bassist Brian Lee and lead guitarist Nick Mac.” (Wikipedia)
• Tyla Yaweh. Malone featured on Yaweh’s “Tommy Lee.” “In June 2020, Malone featured on Tyla Yaweh 's single " Tommy Lee ".” (Wikipedia)
• DJ Khaled (1996). Malone appeared on DJ Khaled’s “I Did It.” “On April 30, 2021, Malone was featured on DJ Khaled 's twelfth studio album, Khaled Khaled , on the song " I Did It " also featuring DaBaby , Megan Thee Stallion , and Lil Baby .” (Wikipedia)
• The College Dropout by Kanye West (2004). The College Dropout (Kanye West) — geography for Post Malone “Malone went on to work with a number of prominent rappers including 50 Cent, Young Thug, Kanye West and others.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Culture by Migos (2017). Culture (Migos) — geography for Post Malone (musicbrainz.org)
• Luv Is Rage 2 by Lil Uzi Vert. Luv Is Rage 2 (Lil Uzi Vert) — peer for Post Malone (musicbrainz.org)
• Blonde by Frank Ocean (2016). Blonde (Frank Ocean) — peer for Post Malone (musicbrainz.org)

…and 2 more on the map above.

Who Post Malone influenced

• BTS. BTS names Post Malone as a musical inspiration. “BTS have cited Seo Taiji and Boys, [ 314 ] Nas , Eminem , Kanye West , Drake , Post Malone , Charlie Puth , and Danger as musical inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• Secret Lair. Secret Lair released cards based on Post Malone. “There are also Secret Lair cards based on musicians, mainly Post Malone (an avid fan of the card game), [ 143 ] and multiple drops featuring Hatsune Miku and various Vocaloid characters.” (Wikipedia)
• One Thing at a Time by Morgan Wallen (2023). One Thing at a Time (Morgan Wallen) — legacy for Post Malone “In 2024, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 twice more with his guest appearance on Taylor Swift's "Fortnight" and his first country pop song, "I Had Some Help" (featuring Morgan Wallen).” (en.wikipedia.org)
• SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo (2021). Sour (Olivia Rodrigo) — legacy for Post Malone (musicbrainz.org)