Songfacts®:

• A motley crew describes a mixed group of people. This song finds Post Malone describing his rowdy party-loving lifestyle with his "myriad" collection of friends. "The people around me are the same," Malone told Apple Music. "What I remember most about making this song is that night in the studio. I was home thinking about people getting back in the mosh pits and partying again."
• One particular member of Malone's gang – Tommy Lee – also inspired the song. Lee, who is the drummer of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, previously collaborated on Malone's 2018 Beerbongs & Bentleys track "Over Now." The Texan rapper later recorded a single with Tyla Yahweh titled "Tommy Lee."
• David "D.A. Got That Dope" Doman and Louis Bell came up with the haunting, bass-heavy beat.
  
  Chicago-native producer David "DA" Doman is a frequent Eminem collaborator, having worked on "Godzilla," "Those Kinda Nights," "No Regrets" and "Gnat." His other credits include Chris Brown's "Privacy," Tyga's "Taste" and Megan Thee Stallion's "Cry Baby."
  
  Louis Bell is Post Malone's go-to producer, having contributed towards every Beerbongs & Bentleys and Hollywood's Bleeding track. His other credits include Camila Cabello's "Havana," 5 Seconds of Summer's "Youngblood," and Miley Cyrus' "Midnight Sky."
• Lyrical Lemonade's Cole Bennett shot the video at Auto Club Speedway. It sees Post Malone performing the song interspersed with footage of him driving around the NASCAR track.
• The video highlights the song's raggedy gang theme by featuring cameos from many of Post Malone's friends, collaborators and celebrities. They include NASCAR drivers Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin, Big Sean, French Montana, Kerwin Frost, LoveLeo, Tank God, SAINt JHN, Ty Dolla $ign, BabySantana, Tyga, Pressa, Trinidad James, Tyla Yaweh, Dre London and of course, Tommy Lee.
• Malone released the song and video on July 9, 2021. It is his first solo material since he dropped his 2019 album, Hollywood's Bleeding.
• Doman came up with the original beat in his home studio. He didn't make it specifically with Post Malone in mind, but when he listened to the final product he felt it would fit the Texan. The producer sent it to Post's manager, Dre London, who saw its potential and ran with it.
• Doman told Genius Post recorded "Motley Crew" in an out-of-the-way location far from any big city. "The pandemic and the remoteness I think definitely gave his vocal performance that extra edge that summed up how we were all feeling in wanting to get back outside with our friends," he said.