The numbers are in, and Post Malone's third album, Hollywood's Bleeding, was the number one on the Billboard 200 for 2020. This is his consecutive year at the top of the charts. 2020 was the first year that an artist topped the list two years in a row since Adele in 2011 and 2012. He's the only male artist to do it since Garth Brooks back in 1992 and 1993. The album's now been nominated for Album of the Year at the 2021 Grammy Awards. (We won't learn whether it's the winner until the delayed broadcast, currently scheduled for March 14.)
From the moment it was announced, Hollywood's Bleeding seemed to be on an unerring road toward success. Reports that Post was working on a new album started circulating just six weeks after the release of Beerbongs & Bentleys in June, 2018. Post said that he hoped to have a new album ready for release by the end of the year. But, only the single "Wow" was put out, just before the end of the year.
Momentum picked up in mid 2019, though, with the release first of "Goodbyes," then "Circles," just a month later. The single soon hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Three more singles followed, each one charting in the top 100. By the time the album itself came out on September 6, 2019, people were ready to hear the rest of it. The album debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200, and was quickly added to best of lists at Complex, NME, Rolling Stone and Uproxx.
Critics, meanwhile, have been just about universally positive. The record features Post's distinctive harmonies and wordplay. Tracks gracefully switch from rap to alternative rock to pop without a pause in between. Guest appearances from Halsey, Meek Mill and even Ozzy Osbourne add to the spectacle.
While it has some tough competition at the Grammy's, there's a good chance this one's taking home the award, and likely making it onto many people's permanent playlists.