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Michael Robert Henrion Posner (/ˈpoʊznər/ POHZ-nər;[2] born February 12, 1988) is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, poet, and record producer from Detroit.[3] He signed with J Records in 2009 and released his debut single "Cooler Than Me" the following year. The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and received septuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His follow-up single, "Please Don't Go" peaked within the top 20 of the chart and received triple platinum certification; both songs preceded the release of his debut album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff (2010), which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and received mixed critical reception. In 2014, Posner parted ways with J Records in favor of Island Records.

In 2015, an EDM remix of Posner's song "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" peaked within the top ten on the charts in 27 countries, and the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. Its success led to the release of his second studio album, At Night, Alone (2016), which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 and was met with positive critical reception. His third album, A Real Good Kid was released in 2019. His fourth album Operation: Wake Up (2020), was met with continued praise despite failing to chart.

Along with his recording career, he has served as a record producer and songwriter for acts including 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, completed by Florida rapper blackbear.

Early life

[edit]

Michael Robert Henrion Posner was born on February 12, 1988, in Detroit. He grew up in Southfield, a northern suburb of Detroit.[6][7] He has a sister who is six years older.[8] His father was a Jewish criminal defense lawyer and his mother is Catholic.[9][10] Posner attended Bingham Farms Elementary School, Berkshire Middle School, and graduated from Groves High School where he ran varsity track and cross-country. He attended Duke University, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He graduated with a B.A. degree in sociology with a 3.6 GPA.[6][7][11][12]

Posner's father, Jon, died on January 11, 2017; his mother is Roberta Henrion; and his sister, Emily Henrion Posner, is a civil rights attorney.[13]

Career

[edit]

2008–2010: 31 Minutes to Takeoff

[edit]
Posner in 2010

Posner started out as a record producer, working on some tracks with his hometown friend Big Sean.[8] Posner's second mixtape, A Matter of Time (his first mixtape was Reflections of a Lost Teen) started attracting industry attention in 2009.[14] Working with Don Cannon and DJ Benzi, the mixtape was recorded at Duke University in March 2009 under the name "Mike Posner & the Brain Trust", the Brain Trust referring to Posner's supporters.[15][16] The release was unusual for being distributed for free through iTunes U, a channel designed for educational audio content. Although Posner was not the only artist to take advantage of this loophole, his release was the most organized and high profile, and attracted the largest response, immediately reaching the number one position on the iTunes U chart.[14] Posner signed a record deal with J Records (RCA/Sony) in July 2009, after his junior year at Duke University.[17][18] He chose to return to Duke after signing and toured on the weekends while at the same time recording for his debut album.[19][20][21]

Posner's third mixtape One Foot Out the Door was released in October 2009. The mixtape was accompanied by a web series of the same name which aired bi-weekly from September to December. His debut album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff was released in August 2010. The first single, "Cooler Than Me" peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. He performed at Bonnaroo, a music festival, and on the 2010s Warped Tour. The second and third singles, "Please Don't Go" and "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" reached the top 20 and 30 on the Hot 100 respectively. The latter was released with an added verse by rapper Lil Wayne. Posner won a 2011's ASCAP Award from the publishing organization for "Cooler Than Me". On October 7, 2011, RCA Music Group announced that it was disbanding J Records along with Arista Records and Jive Records. With the shutdown, Posner (and all other artists previously signed to the three labels) will release his future material on the RCA Records brand.[22][23][24]

2011–2014: The Layover

[edit]

After the release of his debut album, Posner began working on his second studio album under the title Sky High and released the single "Looks Like Sex" to digital outlets on December 2, 2011.[25][26] As a prelude to the release of the album, he released a third mixtape, The Layover. However, with the success of his first album, he began to feel uncomfortable with being in the spotlight and struggled with depression. He took a break from making music to write and produce songs for other artists.[8] He later announced via Twitter that his next upcoming album would be titled Pages and would be released in early June or late in the summer of 2013.[27] His single "The Way It Used To Be" premiered on digital outlets on June 11, 2013.[28] In September 2013, it was announced that he had filmed a music video for his new single "Top of the World" which would appear on his upcoming Page 1 EP, set for release in October.[29] The song was originally used for a Reebok campaign, and made available as a free download under the title "Tapada World" as a special remix.[30] The song was released on December 17, 2013, featuring Big Sean; the music video came out on December 19.

On March 4, 2014, Posner announced the Unplugged tour. Running seven dates in the major US markets, the tour highlighted music new and old from his discography, including some new material from Pages, while also giving fans a shot at learning new information from him through the stories and Q&A sessions interspersed with the tunes. The unplugged sets featured little more than him on predominantly acoustic instruments, save for the potential live production on "a song or two"—much like, he says, how much of his music starts. Posner began the tour on March 31 at the World Cafe in Philadelphia, wrapping up on April 10 at The Mint in Los Angeles. The string of dates included a hometown show in Posner's native Detroit, his first such show, he says, in around two years. In an interview with Billboard, Mike revealed that he had signed with Island Records and that Pages would be replaced with another project. He also said that he would like to let the world hear his recordings from Sky High and Pages.[31]

2015–2020: At Night, Alone, Mansionz, A Real Good Kid, and The Walk Across America

[edit]

On April 15, 2015, Posner released a stripped-down single, "I Took a Pill in Ibiza", on his Vevo account.[32] The song was shared in an exclusive EP titled The Truth that Posner made available to fans through his email signup list. He later confirmed that the EP would be made available to purchase from online retailers on June 22. In addition, Posner said that his second studio album would be released after the EP.

"I Took a Pill in Ibiza" was remixed by Norwegian production duo SeeB, whose version of the song has over one billion streams on Spotify[33] and a charting position of two on the Global Top 50 Chart and five on the USA Top 50 Chart.[34] The SeeB remix topped the charts in the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Dance/Mix Show Airplay of American Billboard; it peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.[35][36]

On December 18, 2015, a remix EP of The Truth was released. It featured SeeB's remix of "I Took a Pill in Ibiza", as well as a remix by JordanXL of the single "Be As You Are". On March 17, 2016, Posner announced his second album, At Night, Alone, which was released on May 6, 2016, and featured both originals and remixes of "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" and "Be As You Are". David Jeffries of AllMusic noted an improvement for Posner in the album, writing "this might not yet be the ultimate showcase for his talents, but At Night, Alone is both a welcome return and a significant step forward." On February 17, 2017, Posner announced that the third single from the album would be a remix by American electronic duo Grey of his song "In the Arms of a Stranger". In 2017, he began to explore new ground. Not only did he release a book of poetry, Teardrops and Balloons,[37] on March 17, but he also put out a new collaboration with American singer blackbear under the name Mansionz. A soulful hip hop project with spoken word influence, the song was a collaboration with rapper Spark Master Tape titled "Stfu".[38] Mansionz is signed to Island Records[39] and has released three singles, "Stfu" (featuring Spark Master Tape), "Rich White Girls", and "Dennis Rodman" (featuring Dennis Rodman).[40][41] The duo's self-titled debut full-length album was released on March 24, 2017, and featured appearances from Soren Bryce, G-Eazy, Cyhi The Prynce, Snooze God, Spark Master Tape, and Rodman.

Posner was featured on Nick Jonas' 2017 single "Remember I Told You", the second collaboration between Posner and Jonas. The track also featured English singer Anne-Marie. On January 22, 2018, Posner announced a poetry album entitled I was born in detroit on a very, very, very, very, very, very, very cold day, which was released on January 26, 2018.[42] In September 2018, he released "Song About You", the lead single from his third studio album, A Real Good Kid; the album was released on January 18, 2019.[43] He released a fourth mixtape, Keep Going, on October 9, 2019, to commemorate his trek across the country.[44] On December 18, 2020, he released his fourth studio album, a rap-opera type album titled Operation: Wake Up.

2022–present: The Beginning

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Mike Posner released his fifth studio album, The Beginning, on February 21, 2025. Described by Posner as a “reclamation of self” and a journey of transforming pain into joy, the album delves into themes of spiritual growth and resilience while celebrating life's beauty amid challenges. The album features 13 tracks, including singles such as “I’m Not Dead Yet,” released on September 23, 2022, which reflects on Posner's near-death experience during his ascent of Mount Everest; “Beautiful Day,” released on September 9, 2024, an ode to gratitude and survival; and “Beautiful Day (Acoustic),” an intimate version of the single released on October 18, 2024. Most recently, Posner released “Is It Just Me?,” an ethereal and psychedelic pop track about the cosmic nature of falling in love on January 24, 2025.

Personal life

[edit]

On January 4, 2019, Posner announced that starting on March 1, 2019, he would begin a walk across America, with a support tour bus, indicating that the journey would take "most of my 31st year."[45] He received a significant amount of press and fandom surrounding the walk, including an interview on CBS This Morning.[46] On April 15, 2019, he set out from Asbury Park, New Jersey to begin the 3,000+ mile trip across the country. On August 7, his walk was delayed a few weeks after he was bitten by a rattlesnake in Colorado and airlifted to a local hospital.[47] He finished his walk across the US on October 18, 2019, in Venice Beach in Los Angeles.[48][49] He traveled more than 2,800 miles in the six-month trip.[50]

On March 6, 2020, Posner endorsed Bernie Sanders for president in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[51] In May 2021, Posner traveled to Nepal although a US State Department travel advisory warned people of a massive COVID-19 outbreak in the country. In Nepal, he traveled to the base camp of Mount Everest and sang for climbers in the midst of a localized COVID-19 outbreak at base camp.[52] He was described in Outside as "flaunt[ing] the rules with abandon" and being part of "a major super-spreader event".[53] On June 1, 2021, at 4:35am, he summited Mount Everest with a team composed of guide Jon Kedrowski and two Sherpas (locals who serve as porters and guides) Dawa Chirring Sherpa and Dawa Dorje Sherpa.[54] Posner used his climb to raise $250,000 for the Detroit Justice Center.[55]

On July 28, 2025, Posner began hiking the Continental Divide Trail — a 3,100-mile route from Canada to Mexico — alongside Dr. Jon Kedrowski, who previously guided him on his 2021 Mount Everest climb. The project, informally known as The Long F*cking Walk, follows the Rocky Mountains and is being documented through Posner's social media channels.[56]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Mike Posner discography
For discography with his duo, see Mansionz.

Concert tours

[edit]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2010 Z Awards Best New Artist Himself Nominated [57]
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Push Act Nominated [58]
2016 MTV Video Music Award Best Electronic Video "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" Nominated [59]
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Song Nominated [60]
2017 Grammy Awards Song of the Year Nominated [61]
iHeartRadio Music Awards Dance Song of the Year Nominated [62]
Best Music Video Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mike Posner

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Michael Robert Henrion Posner (born February 12, 1988), professionally known as Mike Posner, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer from , . Posner began his music career releasing mixtapes from his dorm room, leading to a signing with in 2009 and the release of his debut album 31 Minutes to Takeoff in 2010, which peaked at number eight on the 200. His breakthrough single achieved septuple platinum certification by the RIAA, while the 2016 remix of "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" topped charts in multiple countries and earned him his first Grammy nomination for Song of the Year in 2017. He has co-written and produced tracks for artists including , , and , amassing over 10 billion streams across his catalog. In addition to his musical pursuits, Posner has pursued extreme physical challenges for personal growth and philanthropy, walking over 3,000 miles across the from April to October 2019—starting in , and ending in Venice Beach, California—despite sustaining a bite en route, and summiting on June 1, 2021, after months of training. These endeavors, which raised funds for causes like the Detroit Justice Center, reflect a shift toward and resilience, themes echoed in later releases such as his 2025 album .

Early life

Family and upbringing

Mike Posner was born on February 12, 1988, in , , and raised in Southfield, a northern suburb of the city. His parents were Jon Posner, a criminal defense attorney, and Roberta Henrion, a . He has an older sister, Emily Henrion Posner, who is six years his senior. Posner's family background included a mixed religious heritage, with his father being Jewish and his mother Catholic, which he has described as contributing to a diverse cultural environment in his childhood home. Posner has spoken positively about his upbringing in a supportive household near , crediting his parents' encouragement for fostering his early interest in music and performance. The family's stability in Southfield provided a foundation that influenced his artistic development, though specific details on daily family dynamics or formative experiences remain limited in public accounts. His father's later battle with brain cancer, diagnosed during Posner's rising career in the mid-2010s, marked a significant personal loss but occurred well after his childhood years.

Education and initial musical influences

Posner attended , where he majored in with a minor in business and maintained a 3.6 GPA. He was a member of the fraternity and graduated with a degree in 2009. During his time at Duke, Posner began producing music on his in his dorm room, initially viewing it as a rather than a professional pursuit until his sophomore year. Posner's earliest musical exposure came from his parents, who introduced him to records. He developed an affinity for hip-hop, beginning to rap at age eight, and later explored rock and genres. Posner started playing in fourth grade and took up lessons shortly thereafter, laying the groundwork for his songwriting and production skills. Influences such as contributed to his broad stylistic range, blending hip-hop with melodic elements that characterized his early pop-rap compositions.

Career

Debut and early releases (2008–2010)

Posner began garnering attention for his music through independent mixtapes produced during his time at , where he founded Small Town Records. His second mixtape, , released on February 28, 2009, marked a pivotal early release, featuring collaborations such as "" with and production from and DJ Benzi; it was distributed for free via U, topping charts in that platform and building a grassroots following among college listeners. On October 28, 2009, Posner followed with One Foot Out the Door, hosted by Clinton Sparks and DJ Benzi, which included covers and originals with guests like , , and ; the project was promoted via a bi-weekly chronicling his final semester, enhancing his digital presence and blending hip-hop, pop, and electronic elements. In July 2009, Posner signed with , a imprint, transitioning from independent releases to major-label support. His lead single "," initially debuted on A Matter of Time, was issued commercially in April 2010, peaking at number six on the and achieving septuple platinum certification by the RIAA. This momentum culminated in Posner's debut studio album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff, released on August 10, 2010, via ; the 11-track project, produced with contributors including and , debuted at number eight on the , selling over 20,000 copies in its first week, though it received mixed critical reviews for its polished sound. Follow-up singles "Please Don't Go" (July 19, 2010) and "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" featuring extended the album's promotion into 2011.

Transitional period and experimentation (2011–2014)

Following the release of his debut album 31 Minutes to Takeoff in 2010, Posner began developing a second studio album tentatively titled Sky High, releasing the lead single "Looks Like Sex" on December 2, 2011, as a promotional track. In October 2011, J Records was disbanded by the RCA Music Group, shifting Posner's releases to RCA Records. On November 21, 2011, Posner independently released the mixtape The Layover, featuring 21 tracks that blended hip-hop influences, electronic elements, and covers such as Coldplay's "The Scientist," with collaborations including Don Cannon, Big K.R.I.T., and Slim Thug, marking a period of genre experimentation beyond his initial pop sound. Amid personal struggles with depression in 2012 and 2013, Posner paused his solo artist pursuits to focus on songwriting and production for other artists, co-writing Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2012. In 2013, Posner announced plans for a new album Pages, initially slated for June or late summer release, and issued the single "The Way It Used to Be" on June 11; later that year, on December 17, he released "Top of the World" featuring , accompanied by a music video on December 19. These efforts reflected ongoing refinement of Sky High material, which evolved into Pages through additional recordings. In 2014, Posner announced the Unplugged Tour on March 4, performing acoustic sets from March 31 to April 10 in cities including , , and ; he subsequently signed with , shelving Pages in favor of a new project while expressing intentions to eventually release recordings from both Sky High and Pages.

Breakthrough hits, collaborations, and personal crisis (2015–2020)

In April 2015, Posner released the single "I Took a Pill in " from his EP The Truth, which detailed his disillusionment with fame and indulgence in ecstasy during a night out; the track initially received modest attention but exploded commercially following a tropical house remix by Norwegian duo Seeb in early 2016. The remix peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 1 on the Dance/Electronic Songs chart, and topped charts in over a dozen countries including Australia, the Netherlands, and Sweden, accumulating over 1 billion streams on Spotify by 2016. This success revitalized Posner's career after a period of label disputes and creative stagnation, with the song's introspective lyrics about seeking validation through drugs and celebrity encounters resonating amid his own reported experiences of post-fame isolation. The momentum carried into Posner's second studio album, At Night, Alone., released on May 6, 2016, via , which debuted at number 11 on the and included the hit alongside tracks like "Be As You Are," whose OneRepublic remix reached number 9 on the Hot 100 later that year. The album featured production from collaborators such as Labrinth on "In the Arms of a Stranger" and on "The Heat," blending acoustic introspection with electronic elements to explore themes of and , earning praise for its vulnerability despite mixed commercial performance beyond the singles. Posner expanded into collaborations during this era, co-founding the hip-hop/electronic duo with rapper Blackbear in 2017; their self-titled debut , released independently that June, included singles like "Disconnected" featuring Machine Gun Kelly, amassing millions of streams and showcasing Posner's shift toward genre-blending production. He continued songwriting for other artists, contributing to tracks like Nick Jonas's "Jealous" remix elements and ongoing work with , though his primary output focused on personal projects amid label transitions. Amid professional highs, Posner grappled with personal crises rooted in the hollowness of sudden fame, as articulated in 2016 interviews where he described the remix's success as a "second chance" after battles with depression and substance-related emptiness that inspired the Ibiza track's raw confessions. These struggles intensified post-album, prompting a deliberate pivot from music industry pressures; in October 2018, he began a 3,000-mile walk across America from Asbury Park, New Jersey, to Santa Monica Pier, California, without security or support vehicles, aiming to confront mental health challenges through physical endurance and spiritual seeking, completing the journey on March 23, 2019, despite a near-fatal rattlesnake bite in Colorado that required hospitalization. The experience, documented in his 2019 album A Real Good Kid, which debuted at number 58 on the Billboard 200, marked a therapeutic response to his earlier voids, with Posner crediting the trek for fostering resilience amid ongoing reflections on mortality and purpose.

Revival through self-discovery and new ventures (2021–present)

In May 2021, Posner summited as part of an ongoing personal transformation following his 2019 cross-country walk, raising over $250,000 for the Detroit Justice Center through the expedition. This achievement marked a shift toward extreme physical and mental challenges, emphasizing resilience and purpose beyond music. Building on this, Posner embarked on the Continental Divide Trail in July 2023, initiating "The Long F*cking Walk"—a 3,100-mile trek from to alongside mountaineer —to further explore endurance and introspection. These ventures reflected a deliberate pivot to self-imposed trials that Posner described as tools for transcending limitations and fostering inner growth. Musically, Posner revived his output with remix packs of earlier hits, including "I Took a Pill in " (The Forest Remix Pack) and "" (Headliner Remix Pack for its 15th anniversary on Dim Mak Records), alongside a YDG remix of "Please Don’t Go," infusing fresh electronic energy into his catalog. In February 2025, he released the album , a 13-track project chronicling his life experiences and self-reflective evolution through songs like "," " Just Me?," and "Swipe Right Girls." Posner launched Inner Bloom, a free in January 2025, hosting weekly sessions of breathwork, , and discussions aimed at personal transcendence and mutual learning among members. This initiative extended his self-discovery into communal support, positioning it as an active movement rather than passive content. Live performances underscored this phase, including a June 2025 set at festival featuring a new repertoire and tributes to with covers of "Stay With You" and "Levels," alongside remixed originals like "Please Don’t Go." These events highlighted Posner's integration of past successes with themes of renewal and emotional depth.

Songwriting and collaborations

Key songs written for other artists

Posner co-wrote "Boyfriend" for , released as the lead single from Bieber's 2012 album Believe, which peaked at number one on the and received six-times platinum certification from the RIAA. He contributed to "Sugar" for , featured on their 2014 album V, reaching number two on the and earning diamond certification from the RIAA in January 2022; Posner originally wrote the track for his own use but provided it to after shelving a personal project. "," co-written with Labrinth and for Labrinth's 2012 album Electronic Earth, topped the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number five in the on the Bubbling Under chart, with Posner also serving as producer. In 2022, Posner co-wrote "Bad Decisions" for featuring BTS and , which debuted and peaked at number ten on the , incorporating a notable "Let's make some bad decisions" hook alongside his guitar and vocal contributions. Other notable credits include "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" for Big Sean on his 2011 debut album Finally Famous, which reached number three on the Billboard 200, and "IDGAF" for Nelly featuring Pharrell Williams and T.I. from Nelly's 2013 album M.O.

Production and co-writing contributions

Mike Posner has produced and co-written tracks for a range of artists, often blending pop, hip-hop, and electronic elements, with credits appearing on albums from 2011 onward. His production work includes handling instrumentation and beats, while co-writing contributions frequently involve crafting hooks and lyrics that have charted highly. Notable examples include co-writing and producing "Boyfriend" for Justin Bieber's 2012 album Believe, which reached number one on the and earned six-times platinum certification from the RIAA. He co-wrote "Sugar" for Maroon 5's 2014 album , peaking at number two on the Hot 100 and certified diamond by the RIAA in January 2022. For , Posner co-wrote and produced "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" on the 2011 album Finally Famous, which debuted at number three on the . He also contributed guitar and background vocals to "Bad Decisions" by , , and in 2022, which peaked at number ten on the Hot 100. The following table summarizes select production and co-writing credits for other artists, focusing on verified contributions with commercial impact:
ArtistSongAlbum/Release (Year)Role(s)
"Boyfriend"Believe (2012)Writer, Producer
"Sugar"V (2014)Writer
"Don't Tell Me You Love Me"Finally Famous (2011)Writer, Producer
, , "Bad Decisions"Single (2022)Writer
"Numb" (feat. )Nick Jonas (2014)Writer, Producer
Labrinth (feat. )""Electronic Earth (2012)Writer, Producer
(feat. Mike Posner)"In Town"Based on a T.R.U. Story (2012)Writer, Producer
(feat. Mike Posner)"Flash"Glory (EP, 2014)Writer, Producer
"Sunset Jesus"Stories (2015)Writer
These selections highlight collaborations yielding chart success; Posner maintains additional credits for emerging acts like blackbear and Jxdn, often involving production on mixtapes and EPs.

Personal life and worldview

Relationships and family dynamics

Mike Posner was born to Roberta Henrion, a of Catholic background, and Jon Posner, a Jewish criminal defense attorney, in . He has one , an older named Emily Henrion Posner, who is six years his senior and works as a criminal defense attorney based in New Orleans. The family emphasized Jewish ethical principles and personal responsibility, shaping Posner's values amid a mixed religious household. Posner's father, , died of brain cancer on January 11, 2017, an event that profoundly influenced his emotional processing and creative output. He dedicated his 2019 album The Renaissance of to his father and has publicly reflected on lessons from his life, including cherishing family and pursuing meaningful actions without delay. Posner attended his sister's wedding to Jennifer Vitry in New Orleans in May 2019, interrupting a personal cross-country walk to participate, underscoring ongoing family ties despite his father's absence. In romantic relationships, Posner experienced a significant around mid-2023, which triggered intertwined with unresolved emotions from his father's death and other losses. By early 2025, he reported having addressed personal patterns through coaching and self-work, leading to what he described as his healthiest relationship to date with partner Alli Schaper, who featured in his January 2025 music video for "Is It Just Me?". Posner has expressed aspirations for and family, viewing them as integral to long-term fulfillment after overcoming prior fears of intimacy. No children or prior marriages are documented in public records.

Physical and mental health journey

In the mid-2010s, Posner grappled with challenges exacerbated by fame and substance use, as detailed in his 2015 "I Took a Pill in ," where he described taking drugs to impress peers like and the subsequent emotional toll of , feeling "10 years older" afterward. By 2024, he reported achieving greater happiness at age 36 through , prioritizing relationships with and friends over fame-driven pursuits, and addressing underlying that had persisted despite commercial success. Posner's physical health journey intensified in 2019 when he undertook a 2,851-mile walk across America from , to , , averaging up to 30 miles per day as a deliberate act of self-imposed challenge amid personal dissatisfaction. During this trek on August 11, 2019, he suffered a bite in eastern Colorado, requiring an evacuation, treatment, and weeks of hospitalization that left him relearning to walk; he shared videos of his gradual recovery, emphasizing resilience. In June 2025, Posner returned to the bite site, framing the near-fatal incident—coupled with prior climbs like in 2021—as pivotal for fostering endurance and perspective, raising over $250,000 for charity in the process. These ordeals intertwined with mental recovery, as Posner integrated practices during subsequent walks, including a second cross-country effort starting in 2025, to manage foot pain, blisters, and emotional lows, viewing physical strain as a tool for mental clarity and breaking industry stigma around vulnerability. By 2024, he adopted data-driven monitoring via wearables to optimize fitness, crediting such routines for sustained post-crisis.

Spiritual evolution, faith, and endurance challenges

Posner's spiritual evolution began prominently after a period of personal crisis in the mid-2010s, marked by the death of a close friend and dissatisfaction with fame's superficiality, leading him to embrace as a guiding force. In interviews, he has described surrendering control to a , stating that faith in transformed his priorities from material success to and purpose. This shift involved regular practices like reading, , and affirmations of divine attributes such as love and joy, which he credits with redirecting his life away from ego-driven pursuits. Central to his faith journey are endurance challenges undertaken as acts of spiritual discipline and self-transcendence. In March 2019, Posner embarked on a solo, 3,000-mile walk from , , to , completed in October 2019 after traversing 13 states and averaging 25-30 miles daily. He framed the endeavor not as a but as a quest for , resilience, and connection to the unknown, confronting physical hardships like blisters, weather extremes, and isolation to cultivate amid . Following this, in 2021, he pursued summiting as an extension of this path, viewing high-altitude adversity as a for overcoming internal "demons" through reliance on spiritual strength, though the attempt highlighted the limits of human endurance. These challenges underscore Posner's belief that thrives in discomfort, where logical fears must yield to divine guidance. He has publicly affirmed that living by involves actions defying conventional reason, such as prolonged exposure to nature's rigors, which reinforce his conviction in a purposeful beyond self-will. By , Posner reported that while personal struggles persist, provides the framework for viewing them as growth opportunities rather than defeats.

Live performances and tours

Major concert tours

Posner's inaugural major headlining tour, the Up in the Air Tour, supported his debut studio album 31 Minutes to Takeoff and ran from September 13 to October 16, 2010, encompassing approximately 22 club dates across the and . Venues included prominent spots like the in , The in and , and the Mod Club Theatre in , with performances emphasizing tracks such as "" and "." The tour followed his stint on the Vans Warped Tour and marked his transition to solo headline billing amid rising popularity from the album's singles. Following a period of mixtape releases and promotional appearances, Posner launched the Layover Tour from October 2 to November 11, 2011, coinciding with the drop of his The Layover mixtape on November 20. The outing featured U.S. stops at diverse venues, including the Tulsa State Fair, Ohio University, and the Grand Theatre in Reno, blending new material like "Rocket Man" (featuring Bun B) with earlier hits. Extending into 2012 in select markets, it reflected Posner's return to grassroots performances amid a career pivot toward independent releases after his major-label debut. Posner's most extensive post-breakthrough headlining effort came with the Legendary Mike Posner Band Tour, spanning 2015 to 2017 and capitalizing on the global success of "I Took a Pill in " from At Night, Alone. Early legs included intimate "" and unplugged shows in 2015, evolving into larger 2016-2017 dates such as the spring North American run starting April 2, 2017, in , with stops at venues like St. Andrew's Hall in . The tour showcased full-band arrangements of acoustic-driven material, drawing crowds through hits and newer tracks, before Posner shifted focus to personal endurance projects like his 2019 cross-country walk. Subsequent activity has emphasized appearances and one-off events rather than extended headlining runs.

Notable live appearances and events

Posner made his early television appearances promoting his debut single, performing "Cooler Than Me" on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on August 5, 2010. He followed with a performance of the same song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on September 16, 2010, and later debuted "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" on the same program on April 19, 2011. In 2011, Posner appeared at major UK events, including the Capital FM at on June 11, where he performed for a large audience. He also took the stage at in on July 1. Returning to amid the success of At Night, Alone., Posner performed "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" on Starring on March 18, 2016, accompanied by , marking a significant promotional moment for the track's remix. Later that year, on September 6, he delivered an acoustic rendition of "Be As You Are" on the same show. Posner headlined the Capital FM again on June 11, 2016, at , setlist including "I Took a Pill in " and "" before 80,000 attendees. In a departure from traditional venues, Posner participated in the "Park Sessions" series in 2023, performing acoustic sets in U.S. national parks, such as on June 7, to highlight environmental awareness through music.

Discography

Studio albums

Mike Posner's debut studio album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff, was released on August 10, 2010, through . The album debuted at number eight on the chart and featured the single "," which reached number six on the Hot 100. His second studio album, At Night, Alone., arrived on May 6, 2016, via . It also peaked at number eight on the , driven by the global hit "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," which topped charts in multiple countries including the and reached number four on the US Hot 100. Posner's third studio album, A Real Good Kid, was issued on January 18, 2019, by . The project reflected on his father's influence and included singles like "Song About You" and "Stuck in the Middle," though it achieved modest commercial performance compared to prior releases. His fourth studio album, , was released on February 21, 2025, through in partnership with Monster Mountain, LLC. The 13-track set explores themes of personal evolution and life's beauty, with "February 9, 2025" introducing introspective spoken elements.
TitleRelease dateLabel(s)US Billboard 200 peak
31 Minutes to TakeoffAugust 10, 20108
At Night, Alone.May 6, 20168
A Real Good KidJanuary 18, 2019—
The BeginningFebruary 21, 2025, Monster Mountain, LLC—

Singles and EPs

Posner's debut single, , was released in April 2010 as the lead track from his album 31 Minutes to Takeoff, reaching number six on the US Hot 100. Follow-up singles from the same album, (October 2010) and (2011), peaked at numbers 16 and 30, respectively, on the Hot 100. These tracks established Posner's early commercial presence in pop and electro-pop genres. After a period of lower-profile releases, Posner achieved his greatest chart success with "I Took a Pill in Ibiza", initially released in its acoustic form on April 14, 2015. A Seeb remix propelled the song to number four on the Hot 100 in 2016, contributing to over 1.7 billion views for the remix video. Subsequent singles from At Night, Alone. (2016), such as "Song About You" (September 2016), received moderate airplay but did not replicate the prior peaks. Later releases included "Be As You Are (Real Magic)" in 2017, tied to Posner's spiritual themes, and tracks from A Real Good Kid (2019) like "Stuck Up". In 2022, "I'm Not Dead Yet" was issued as a single reflecting personal resilience. More recent output features "Is It Just Me?" on January 24, 2025, emphasizing introspective pop elements.
TitleRelease YearAlbum/EPUS Hot 100 Peak
Cooler Than Me201031 Minutes to Takeoff6
Please Don't Go201031 Minutes to Takeoff16
Bow Chicka Wow Wow201131 Minutes to Takeoff30
I Took a Pill in Ibiza2015 (orig.); 2016 (remix)The Truth EP / At Night, Alone.4
Posner released one notable EP, The Truth, on June 22, 2015, comprising four tracks that previewed material from his later album, including the original version of "I Took a Pill in Ibiza". The EP marked his return after a hiatus and was distributed via Island Records. Subsequent remix packs, such as for "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" (June 2025), function as extended plays but primarily serve promotional purposes rather than original content.

Reception and impact

Commercial success

Mike Posner's breakthrough single "Cooler Than Me," released in 2010, peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and achieved septuple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for over seven million units sold in the United States. Follow-up single "Please Don't Go" reached the top 20 on the Hot 100 and earned triple platinum RIAA certification. After a period of lower visibility, Posner's 2016 remix of "I Took a Pill in " by marked his major comeback, peaking at number four on the , topping the UK Singles Chart, and receiving quadruple platinum . The track amassed over three billion global streams, contributing to its commercial dominance. Subsequent releases like the 2019 single "Song of Heartbreak" from his album A Real Good Kid achieved moderate chart success but did not replicate prior peaks, with Posner's overall catalog emphasizing streaming-era metrics over traditional album sales. His songwriting credits, including co-writing Maroon 5's diamond-certified "" (peaking at number two on the Hot 100), have bolstered his industry earnings, though primary commercial metrics stem from his own vocal performances.

Critical assessments and public perception

Mike Posner's music has elicited mixed critical responses, often praised for its introspective lyricism and melodic catchiness but critiqued for lacking depth or originality in production. His debut album 31 Minutes to Takeoff (2010) drew a 2.5 out of 5 rating from , which described his B-boy-influenced sound as "derivative as hell" yet positioned it as a potential DIY breakthrough. Rolling Stone noted the album's "serviceably swank" production and Posner's "thin but insinuating" rasp, though it highlighted simplistic themes in tracks like "Cheated." The New York Times characterized Posner as a "vocal and emotional naïf" with an ease for "harmless melodies," but deemed the record overall "flat" with "odd" stylistic choices. Subsequent releases continued this pattern of tempered acclaim. At Night, Alone. (2016) was labeled "syrupy, twinkly balladeering" by , disappointing listeners expecting the upbeat energy of remixed hits like "I Took a Pill in ." viewed The Truth (2013, re-released 2016) more favorably, crediting Posner's "straight-forward and truthful" approach for its eventual resonance, particularly after the Ibiza track's remix success. For A Real Good Kid (2019), Yahoo Entertainment observed a "melancholy edge" to Posner's optimism, supported by his "light soulful rasp" and gentle grooves. However, rated Operation: Wake Up (2020) at 2.5 stars, framing it as a revealing the "depressed songwriter for hire" underbelly of pop, though it lacked broader impact. Public perception has positioned Posner as a resilient pop figure, often typecast early as a following "Cooler Than Me" (2010) but redeemed by the raw honesty of "I Took a Pill in ," which fans and some outlets lauded for emotional vulnerability amid substance themes. His behind-the-scenes songwriting credits, including Maroon 5's "," have bolstered views of him as a skilled craftsman whose solo output benefits from personal reinvention, such as post-hiatus reflections emphasizing authenticity over commercial chase. Critics like those in the Observer have dismissed early singles as emblematic of "terrible" songcraft, reflecting a segment of opinion seeing his work as lightweight party fare. Recent singles, including "Is It Just Me?" (2025), have garnered niche positivity for expressive themes, yet broader discourse frames Posner as an whose endurance—tied to life challenges—elevates his narrative beyond middling reviews.

Awards, nominations, and recognitions

Posner and co-writer Holljes received the ASCAP Award for Most Performed Songs for "" at the 28th Annual ASCAP Awards on April 27, 2011. His single "I Took a Pill in " earned a for of the Year at the on February 12, 2017, marking his sole Grammy to date. Posner has received additional nominations from organizations including the , , and , primarily tied to the success of "I Took a Pill in Ibiza."

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