Mike Posner

Michael Robert Henrion Posner ( ; born February 12, 1988) is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, poet, and record producer. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. He signed with J Records in 2009. His debut single, "Cooler Than Me," was released the following year. The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It received septuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His follow-up single was "Please Don't Go." It peaked in the top 20 of the chart. The song received triple platinum certification. Both songs preceded his debut album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff (2010). It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200. Yet, the album received mixed critical reception. In 2014, Posner parted ways with J Records. He then signed with Island Records.

In 2015, Posner's song "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" received a tropical house remix. It was done by Norwegian electronic music group Seeb. The remix peaked in the top ten in 27 countries. It reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. This success led to the release of his second studio album, At Night, Alone (2016). The album peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200. It received a positive critical reception. His third album, A Real Good Kid was released in 2019. A fourth album, Operation: Wake Up (2020), was released with no announcement. Both albums were met with continued praise. Despite this, both of them failed to chart.

Along with his recording career, he has worked as a record producer and songwriter. Acts he has worked with are Justin Bieber, Big Sean, Maroon 5, Iggy Azalea, Big Time Rush, Austin Mahone, Nick Jonas, Cher Lloyd, and Labrinth. He co-wrote "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber and "Sugar" by Maroon 5, among others. In 2017, Posner released his first book of poetry, Tear Drops & Balloons. He is also one-half of alternative hip-hop duo Mansionz. The other half is Floridian rapper blackbear.

Early life
Michael Robert Henrion Posner was born on February 12, 1988, in Detroit. He grew up in Southfield, a northern suburb of Detroit. Posner attended Bingham Farms Elementary School, Berkshire Middle School, and graduated from Groves High School. There, he ran on the varsity track and cross-country teams. He attended Duke University. There, he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He graduated with a B.A. degree in sociology. His final GPA was a 3.6.

His father, Jon, was a Jewish criminal defense lawyer. He died on January 11, 2017. His mother, Roberta Henrion, is Catholic.  His sister, Emily Henrion Posner, is six years older. She is a civil rights attorney.

 Artistry 

 Musical style 
Posner said, in an interview with Digital Spy, that he "grew up a hip-hop kid doing mix-tapes." Critics have described his early work as "pop-rap songs for the college crowd." He was often compared to fellow American rapper Asher Roth. This was because they shared themes of fraternity culture, dorm life, and young adulthood. Posner began to expand his sound on his debut mixtape, A Matter of Time. It used samples, interpolations, and guest rappers (such as Big Sean). Yet, there are electropop and R&B elements. This hinted at the direction he took on his debut album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff.
Most of Mike Posner's albums are electropop or folk-pop. 31 Minutes to Takeoff falls into the first category. The lead single, "Cooler Than Me", best exemplifies this. The second single, "Please Don't Go," combines this sound with hip-hop and trance. Much of the album also has an R&B feel. Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone said he was pioneering a new genre: "frat-house R&B." Other critics compared him to Akon, Chris Brown, Elliott Yamin, Ne-Yo and especially Justin Timberlake. Despite this, Posner stuck to his hip-hop roots on his following mixtapes. Keep Going is conscious hip-hop, specifically.

Posner's cancelled second album, Sky High, was intended to bring him further into R&B. This is evident in Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" and Maroon 5's "Sugar." Both songs were originally meant for the album. Instead, he stripped down his sound on his actual second album, At Night, Alone. Posner said he was "trying to do country and it comes out weird and different." Matt Collar of AllMusic noted it expanded his folk and indie pop sound. This was started on his prior EP, The Truth. The lead single from both records, "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" exemplifies this. However, the version that charted was a tropical house remix.

His subsequent albums continue to experiment in the pop genre. Ella Chochrek of Student Life said his third album, A Real Good Kid, is "a therapy session in an alt-pop package." Andrew Leahey of AllMusic noted his fifth studio album, The Begenning, embraced a "folk- and psych-pop-influenced style." This can be heard on the singles, "I'm Not Dead Yet," "Beautiful Day," and "Is It Just Me." Posner has also shown an interest in rock. In particular, "Jade," has been described as folk punk and power pop. Chris DeVille of Stereogum felt his career arc coincided with EDM entering a "soft-rock phase."

Discography

 31 Minutes to Takeoff (2010)
 At Night, Alone (2016)
 A Real Good Kid (2019)
 Operation: Wake Up (2020)
 The Beginning (2025)

Concert tours

Headlining
 Warped Tour (2010)
 Up in the Air Tour (2010)
 The Layover Tour (2011–12)
 Unplugged Tour (2014)
 The Legendary Mike Posner Band Tour (2015–17)

Promotional
 European Tour (2011)
 MTVU VMA Tour (2011)

Opening act
Believe Tour  (2013)
Warrior Tour  (2013)
Future Now Tour  (2016)

Awards and nominations
 Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.2010 Z Awards Best New ArtistHimself  MTV Europe Music Awards Best Push Act 2016 MTV Video Music Award Best Electronic Video "I Took a Pill in Ibiza"   MTV Europe Music Awards Best Song   2017 Grammy Awards Song of the Year  iHeartRadio Music Awards Dance Song of the Year  Best Music Video 

References

category:Singers from Michigan
Category:1988 births
Category:Living people