Does Post Malone rely on autotune? Rapper's declaration to fans at 2021 Governors Ball explored

Post Malone has notably made his presence in the hip-hop industry, with hits like Sunflower and Circles. The ten-time Grammy Award nominee is also recognized for his tattoos and use of auto-tune in songs. Autotune has transformed the music industry and its first usage is often traced back to hip-hop artists in the early 2000s.

In a 2018 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the Rockstar singer talked about his musical journey and noted that he's "very good" at playing guitar. He shared that he got himself a guitar as a Christmas present. The show host Fallon complimented his singing and curiously asked Malone if he picked his singing skills from his mom. Malone replied humorously:

“No sir, that’s from AutoTune."

Moreover, Malone also spoke about his vocal skills during the Governors' Ball Music Festival on September 26, 2021. Just before the singer performed his then No. 1 track titled Circles, he took a minute to talk to his crowd and asked:

"Everyone here knows I can't sing without autotune, right?"

Seth Rogen's Hilarity For Charity. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Netflix)

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Post Malone's declaration about using autotune at the 2021 Governors Ball

In his 2018 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Malone was candid about the use of autotune in his songs. This was not the first time Malone opened up about this subject.

Post Malone delighted his fans with a final headliner performance at the Governors Ball in 2021 and told his fans that he usually can't sing without autotune on stage. In an honest confession, Malone drew attention to his vocal abilities and any potential mishaps in the performance. He continued:

"If I sound like s**t, it's not my fault."

Post Malone added:

"Someone spilled some beer on the computer or something."

The rapper ended his performance with the final songs, Rockstar and Congratulations.

Times Square New Year's Eve 2020 Celebration. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

While autotune has notably become an aspect of Post Malone's signature sound, he also sings without it, especially off the stage. In a 2020 Nirvana Tribute livestream on YouTube, Malone took his guitar and performed various songs without autotune. The event was dedicated to raising funds for The United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

At the event, Post Malone was joined by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, guitarist Nick Mack and bassist Brian Lee.

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Apart from Post Malone, one of the early artists who used autotune in their music was Snoop Dogg. He incorporated it in his song, Sensual Seduction in 2007. Other hip-hop artists on this list include Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Future.

Most recently, Malone performed at the 2024 Governor's Ball at the Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens. He played all of his classics, from his 2017 hip-hop tracks titled Zack and Codine to his country anthem, I Had Some Help.