Hip-Hop's 'Rockstar' Moment Gets Its No. 1 Hit
Post Malone’s smash marks the biggest charts year for rap in a decade—and shows rap’s obsession with the genre it dethroned.
In the history of the Hot 100, the word the names of 12 No. 1 songs, from Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” in 1973to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 1982 to this week’s new chart-topper: Post Malone’s . Its lyrics read like a checklist of references to its title genre’s history: “Rest in Peace, Bon Scott,” “Light a fire like Morrison,” “I’m with the band.” For the oozing, weightless chorus, the 22-year-old who goes by Post Malone croaks that he “feels just like a rock
