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Mike Posner

Michael Robert Henrion Posner (/ˈpoʊznər/ POHZ-nər;[2] born February 12, 1988) is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, poet, and record producer. He was born in Detroit, Michigan.[3] 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.

Mike Posner
Mike-Posner B96 Summerbash 2012-06-16.jpg
Posner at the B96 Pepsi SummerBash in 2012
Background information
Birth nameMichael Robert Henrion Posner
Born12 February 1988 (aged 38)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OriginSouthfield, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • poet
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2007–present
Labels
Websitemikeposner.net

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.[4] In 2017, Posner released his first book of poetry, Tear Drops & Balloons.[5] 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.[6][7] 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.[6][7][8][9]

His father, Jon, was a Jewish criminal defense lawyer. He died on January 11, 2017. His mother, Roberta Henrion, is Catholic.[10][11] His sister, Emily Henrion Posner, is six years older. She is a civil rights attorney.[12]

Artistry

Mike Posner was often compared to Justin Timberlake.

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.[6] 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.[13] 31 Minutes to Takeoff and lead single, "Cooler Than Me", fall into the first category. The second single, "Please Don't Go," combines this sound with hip-hop and trance. Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone said he was pioneering a new genre: "frat-house R&B."[14] Other critics compared him to Akon, Chris Brown, Elliott Yamin, Ne-Yo and especially Justin Timberlake.[15] 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."[16] Matt Collar of AllMusic noted it expanded his folk and indie pop sound. This was started on his prior EP, The Truth.[17]

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."[6] 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."[18]

Discography

Main page: Mike Posner discography

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

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2010 Z Awards Best New Artist Himself Nominated [19]
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Push Act Nominated [20]
2016 MTV Video Music Award Best Electronic Video "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" Nominated [21]
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Song Nominated [22]
2017 Grammy Awards Song of the Year Nominated [23]
iHeartRadio Music Awards Dance Song of the Year Nominated [24]
Best Music Video Nominated

Mike Posner Media

  • Mike Posner.

  • Mike Posner in 2023 promoteing his song OMG

References

  1. ↑ ‹ ISLAND RECORDS LAUNCHES ISLAND LIFE ! ‹ Austin Fusion Magazine. austinfusionmagazine.com. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ Zach Sang. Mike Posner Interview (March 18, 2014)YouTube. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  3. ↑ Mike Posner - Music Biography, Credits and DiscographyAllmusic. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  4. ↑ Mike Posner Song Credits (March 7, 2012). Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ (in en) Mike Posner turns poet with release of first book. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/arts-and-entertainment/20170313/mike-posner-turns-poet-with-release-of-first-book. Retrieved March 20, 2017. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Leahey, Andrew. Mike Posner Overview - Allmusic. Allmusic. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 McCollum, Brian. Groves graduate and was very good friends with me (later mentioned in one of his and pop star Mike Posner heads to the D for the Warped Tour). Detroit Free Press (July 29, 2010). Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  8. ↑ 3 Questions with Rising Music Star Mike Posner. Coed (December 8, 2009). Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  9. ↑ Williams, Nick. Mike Posner's meteoric rise to stardom. Vox (April 22, 2010). Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  10. ↑ Z. Mike Posner Interview. DJBooth.net (February 16, 2010). Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  11. ↑ Copeland, Rod. Fly for a White Guy. The Chronicle (Duke) (December 6, 2006). Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  12. ↑ Civil liberties attorney Jon Posner dies at 73 (January 19, 2017)World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  13. ↑ Misceo, Penelope. Mike Posner’s newest release, “A Real Good Kid” presents a deep personal story, compelling listeners throughout. La Vista (January 28, 2019). Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  14. ↑ Rosen, Jody. 31 Minutes to Takeoff. Rolling Stone (August 9, 2010). Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  15. ↑ Keefe, Jonathan. Review: Mike Posner, 31 Minutes to Takeoff. Slant (August 8, 2010). Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  16. ↑ Wang, Maggy. FLY WITH MAGGY: In the still of night. New Straits Times (August 16, 2016). Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  17. ↑ Collar, Matt. The Truth Review. AllMusic. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ DeVille, Chris. Kygo, Mike Posner, And EDM's Soft-Rock Phase. Stereogum (May 5, 2016). Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  19. ↑ Z Awards 2010. archive.md (July 1, 2013). Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  20. ↑ Rainey, Naomi. In full: MTV EMAs 2010 nominations. Digital Spy (September 20, 2010). Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  21. ↑ Geffen, Sasha. Get Ready: Your 2016 VMA nominations are here (July 26, 2016)MTV. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  22. ↑ 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards Nominations Are Here. Teen Vogue (27 September 2016). Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  23. ↑ Graff, Gary (7 December 2016). "Mike Posner Reacts to Grammy Nomination: 'It's a Goal of Mine'". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/mike-posner-grammy-nomination-reaction-interview-7604373/. Retrieved 8 September 2022. 
  24. ↑ Here's The Complete List Of #iHeartAwards Winners | iHeartRadio Music Awards | iHeartRadio. iHeartRadio. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
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