Review: "Hollywood's Bleeding" by Post Malone

Post Malone has had a fairly rapid ascension into the spotlight, going from that guy who did the White Iverson song on SoundCloud in 2015 to topping the charts with his third major label album, Hollywood Bleeding, in 2019. He’s got two multi-platinum certified albums (meaning over one million units sold) and 20 platinum and multi-platinum songs, with his hit song "Congratulations (feat. Quavo)" growing very close to the coveted Diamond certification (10 million units). His debut album, Stoney, broke a record for time spent on the Billboard Top R&B and Hip-Hop Album chart that was held by Michael Jackson - for Thriller. He's a name known by many, and a name that clearly is going to be staying around.

Now, why start with all this information? How is that important in reviewing his music?

His success has very largely influenced his work, his music, and who he is as a person. He's come a long way: he mentions some of his career in the song "Enemies (feat. DaBaby)", saying "when I was shit broke couldn't even buy smokes". Compare that to the entirety of the song "Saint-Tropez", a track dedicated to bragging about all the things he's got now. Combined with his age (he's just a couple years younger than me, which still baffles me when I think about it), it's easy to see how his attitude has been shaped. It's evident in much of current trap and popular hip-hop, and glorified in the lives of the rich and famous. It's ingrained in our culture, especially visible in the city I call home - Los Angeles.

With all of that in mind, it's even more interesting that Post Malone decided to title his album Hollywood's Bleeding. It feels like a moment of insight, a brief surfacing of the truth beneath the glitz and the glamour. The idea that maybe that lifestyle and all the perks and comfort don't actually equate with true happiness. Take a look at the opening verse of the title track:

"Hollywood's bleeding, vampires feedin'

Darkness turns to dust

Everyone's gone, but no one's leavin'

Nobody left but us

Tryna chase a feelin', but we'll never feel it

Ridin' on the last train home

Dyin' in our sleep, we're livin' out a dream

We only make it out alone"

Post seems aware of the downfalls of living life like this. The hollowness, the lack of substance and true satisfaction that can be found in Hollywood success. When talking to Spotify, he said this about the name of the record:

"I finally made the move out of L.A. and I moved to Utah. And I feel like, in L.A. and Hollywood, there’s such a strange vibe to where it just feels like there’s a lot of vampires out there that just want to suck the life from you."

But, then he goes on to deliver lines that feel somewhat contradictory, like the chorus of "Wow.":

"Hunnid bands in my pocket, it's on me

Hunnid deep when I roll like the army

Get more bottles, these bottles are lonely

It’s a moment when I show up, got 'em sayin', "Wow" (Wow, wow)

Hunnid bands in my pocket, it's on me (On me)

Yeah, your grandmama probably know me (Know me)

Get more bottles, these bottles are lonely

It’s a moment when I show up, got 'em sayin', "Wow" (Wow, wow)".

It's hard to figure out what Post Malone is really trying to say sometimes. And I think that's one of his biggest strengths, and biggest weaknesses. He's in such a pivotal place in life right now - I know I was still in a very tumultuous place at his same age, trying to figure out who I am and where I want to go in life (still trying to figure that out). Trying out different things, different sounds, flipping back and forth from serious to goofy to almost immature. Knowing how that can be, knowing the struggle of discovering yourself, it's something I can sympathize with, but also frustrates me when I'm listening to the record and even previous albums. When he goes for those deep, meaningful, real moments, he really does well. The opening title track is one of my favorites by him, because it feels raw and dark. Even without having to get dark, he shines in these moments of real sentimentality and emotional vulnerability. "Circles" is another example of that - it's one of the few songs without swearing, and feels much more like an indie pop song than hip-hop. It shows off his versatility as an artist and is a really well written song about a toxic relationship. One of the other highlights, for multiple reasons, is "Take What You Want From Me (feat. Ozzy Osbourne & Travis Scott)". First of all, Ozzy. Osbourne. What an unexpected yet remarkable collaboration. Another song that melds sounds and genres, but also has lyrics that feel authentic. Not bogged down in extravagance or hyperbole, but genuine anguish and struggle.

I can imagine that it's easy to read that and feel like I dislike the rest of the songs on the record. That's not true or accurate - just because I don't find a lot of substance or relatable factors in some of the songs doesn't mean that I don't like them. Both "Saint-Tropez" and "Wow.", which I mentioned earlier, are fun songs to listen to - they have an infectious energy that's hard to resist. "Allergic" and "Sunflower (feat. Swae Lee)" are also songs that I didn't previously mention that have upbeat vibes (despite the former being about a bad relationship), and are ones I immensely enjoy. What I am saying with all of that is that I feel like Post Malone has a lot of potential. He clearly can make darker, grittier songs that touch on real issues and deep thoughts. However, as he said in an interview with Spotify, he doesn't want to make records with just that sort of energy. He wants a balance, and he wants to put positivity into the world. While I might not be on the same page with him about what positivity entails, I can respect that he knows what he wants to do and that he's going to do that and not what others want or expect him to do.

Like I said in the beginning of this post, I think Post Malone is going to be an artist at the top of the charts for years to come. What that music will look like, however, I'm not quite sure. We'll see more songs like "Rockstar", "Wow.", and "Saint-Tropez" - of that I have no doubt. But I'm hopeful that the budding serious artist within will make more appearances. His voice is one that many young people are listening to, and the words he chooses to speak have a lasting impact and influence.

Cheers to your latest release, Post. Congratulations on solidifying your status as an artist, and for showing you're here to stay.