# Psycho (Post Malone song)

"Psycho" is a song by American rapper Post Malone featuring American singer Ty Dolla Sign. It was released through Republic Records on February 23, 2018, as the third single from Malone's second studio album, Beerbongs & Bentleys (2018). The artists wrote the song with Louis Bell, who produced it with Malone. Lyrically, the song discusses the artists' lifestyle and explores the theme of excessive fame and trust issues. The song entered at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 behind Drake's "God's Plan", and reached number one in June 2018, becoming Malone's second and Ty's first chart-topper.

## Release and promotion

Malone first teased the song on January 4, 2017, with a video of him playing the song in a studio. Over a year later on February 21, 2018, he previewed the song on Twitter with a 30-second snippet, which highlights his verse. The accompanying artwork features a wolf and a bulldozer, the latter of which has the words "Posty Co." scribed on it. The song comes with its own merch line, featuring three different long sleeve T-shirts.

## Composition

According to Billboard and Spin, the song has a slow-moving trap beat and melodically bears a resemblance to Post Malone's 2015 song "White Iverson". The lyrics contain a reference to Leon DeChino, a musical alias Malone used in high school.

## Critical reception

Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork deemed the song a combination of "some of the least interesting raps you could possibly imagine" and "a downer that won't quit", writing that it "uses concepts that have been played out in hip-hop for years". Patrick Hosken of MTV News opined that the song "finds a late-night vibe that, away from the madness of crunching guitars, unfolds like a chill celebration of luxury". Mitch Findlay of HotNewHipHop wrote that it "continues the formula set by" Post Malone's previous single "Rockstar", and that they share "a few melodic similarities", describing "Psycho" as "more subdued" in comparison. The track was named the worst song of 2018 by Time.

## Music video

The official music video for "Psycho" was released on March 22, 2018, on Post Malone's Vevo YouTube channel. It was directed by James DeFina. It features Malone riding on a FV103 Spartan armored personnel carrier, fighting a wolf with a flamethrower, and Malone with Sign amidst the wreckage of ruined aircraft. As of May 2023, the video has received more than 1 billion views on YouTube.

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.
* Post Malone – production, programming, vocals
* Ty Dolla Sign – vocals
* Louis Bell – production, programming, record engineering, vocal production
* Manny Marroquin – mixing
* William Schilling Jr - Song Writer

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 9× Platinum | 630,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 10,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 2× Diamond | 320,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Diamond | 800,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | 2× Platinum | 180,000$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Platinum | 50,000$^‡$ |
| Mexico (AMPROFON) | 2× Platinum | 120,000$^‡$ |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Platinum | 80,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 2× Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway) | Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Gold | 25,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | 2× Platinum | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Gold | 30,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Diamond | 10,000,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Sweden (GLF) | Platinum | 8,000,000$^†$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
| Various | February 23, 2018 | Digital downloadstreaming | Republic | |
| United States | February 27, 2018 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Republic | |