A new single was released on Friday morning as Post Malone revealed his new project with country star Morgan Wallen titled “I Had Some Help.” While Wallen is named as a feature artist on the track, it's arguable who is the biggest star in the collaboration.
It's an upbeat contribution to the music landscape that the artists hope will be a summer hit. The accompanying video, directed by Chris Villa, has already garnered nearly five million views on YouTube — just a couple of days after its release.
Music
Listen to the song released by Paul McCartney's and John Lennon's sons
Post Malone, who has been called a versatile, adaptable artist — appears to be making a possible move into the country music genre, according to critics. The song was called "jovial on the surface," by the New York Times — talking about its subject matter, circling around an ex who is the blame for a wrecked relationship.
The University of Southern California looked at the music industry technique, or "phenomenon" as a paper called it, of combining artists from different genres to increase the popularity of songs. In a paper published in 2018, researchers found that this particular type of "creative collaboration" will have one artist integrate another artist's contribution to the song, then add a "featuring" credit.
The technique appears to have increased in popularity as "featured" artists on Billboard's Hot 100 music charts have spiked "exponentially," researchers found, in the past 20 years.
Post Malone did a surprise set at the Hollywood Bowl last week for the Netflix comedy festival "Netflix is a Joke." He is also set to appear on the ACM Awards this Thursday May 16, Stereogum reported.
