Post Malone is a changed man, thanks in large part to Nashville and the country music community. The rapper and singer just released his first country album, F-1 Trillion, a sharp detour from the music he usually makes, and perhaps the start of an entirely new musical direction for Post Malone.

“I am happy… I have a two-year-old. I’m 29 years old,” Post Malone says on Apple Music Country’s Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen. “I’m taking it easy and slowing it down. And I think it’s really nice meeting people in Nashville that made me feel so welcome and new friends, and kind of building new stuff. And for once, I’m not sad anymore. I’m happy, very happy.”

“It was such a fresh thing going and watching this band and writing with new people,” he adds. “I’m so pumped.”

F-1 Trillion features songs with some of country music’s biggest stars, including  Lainey Wilson, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs and more. Post Malone co-wrote all 27 songs on the massive project, teaming up with Combs, Wilson, McGraw, Dean Dillon, Ashley Gorley, Brad Paisley and more to help write the album. The songwriting alone is enough to lure Post Malone back to Music City, time and time again.

“I gotta keep writing in Nashville,” the New York native says. “I’ve always wanted to make a record like this, but for the longest time, it [seemed] so inaccessible because I [didn’t] know how the hell it [worked]. I didn’t know how band day worked. I didn’t know how session dudes worked, and I was just like, ‘Well, is it like these particular artists’ band that they go with all the time?’…  It was just so cool. And I’m just mind-blown.”

Post Malone currently calls Los Angeles home, but says that, thanks to the process of working on F-1 Trillion, Nashville is now forever going to be part of his creative process.

“I’m blown away,” Post Malone says. “LA is LA and working here, I’ve always felt very distracted. It’s nice to go to Nashville and really just meet people who are the best at what they do and who are super kind and super talented.”

F-1 Trillion is Post Malone’s sixth studio album, and likely the beginning of a new journey for him in country music.

“I’m happy it comes out in the music because I’m having the time of my life… I’m having the time in my life and I’m so excited,” he boasts. “That’s why I said it’s a drug. I cannot wait to go and write more songs and get the band out.”

Post Malone has two songs on the country radio charts right now, both “Pour Me A Drink” with Shelton, and “Guy For That” with Combs. Post Malone made his Grand Ole Opry debut last week, invited by Paisley. Find all of Post Malone’s music and upcoming shows at PostMalone.com.

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