Mike Posner
Biography
Michael Robert Henrion Posner, born February 12, 1988, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was raised in Southfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Posner's musical journey began at Duke University, where he balanced his studies with creating music and releasing mixtapes. One of these, "A Matter of Time," gained significant traction on iTunes U, a platform for educational content, which helped launch his career.
Musical Career
In 2009, Posner signed with J Records. His debut album, "31 Minutes to Takeoff," was released in 2010 and featured the hit single "Cooler Than Me," which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also included other successful singles like "Please Don't Go" and "Bow Chicka Wow Wow." Following the dissolution of J Records, Posner signed with Island Records.
Rise to Global Fame and Songwriting
A significant resurgence in Posner's career came with the 2015 release of "I Took a Pill in Ibiza." A remix of the song by Seeb became a global phenomenon, reaching the top ten in 27 countries and earning him a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. This success led to his second album, "At Night, Alone." (2016). Posner is also a prolific songwriter for other artists, having co-written hits like "Sugar" for Maroon 5 and "Boyfriend" for Justin Bieber.
Later Albums and Projects
Posner has continued to release critically acclaimed albums, including "A Real Good Kid" (2019) and "Operation: Wake Up" (2020). He is also one half of the alternative hip-hop duo Mansionz, with Blackbear. In 2017, he published a book of poetry titled "Tear Drops & Balloons."
Personal Journeys
Beyond his music, Posner has undertaken significant personal challenges that have influenced his life and work. In 2019, he completed a walk across America, a journey of over 2,800 miles from New Jersey to California. This trek was inspired by personal loss, including the death of his father and his friend, the DJ Avicii. During the walk, he was bitten by a rattlesnake in Colorado but recovered and completed his journey. In 2021, he summited Mount Everest, another transformative experience.