Mike Posner

Michael Robert Henrion Posner is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, poet, and record producer born on February 12, 1988, in Detroit. He was raised in Southfield, Michigan, by his mother, Roberta Henrion, and his father, Jon Posner, who was a criminal defense attorney. He attended Bingham Farms Elementary School, Berkshire Middle School, and Groves High School, where he ran varsity track and cross-country. Posner later attended Duke University, joining the Sigma Nu fraternity and graduating with a bachelor's degree in sociology. In January 2024, Posner announced that he was Christian.

Posner began his music career as a record producer working with his hometown friend Big Sean. While attending Duke, he recorded his 2009 mixtape A Matter of Time, which reached number one on the iTunes U chart. In July 2009, he signed a deal with J Records and recorded his debut studio album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff, released in August 2010. The album reached number 12 on the Billboard 200 and featured the septuple-platinum single "Cooler Than Me," which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a 2011 ASCAP Award. The album also produced the top-20 single "Please Don't Go" and the top-30 single "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" featuring Lil Wayne.

Following the disbandment of J Records, Posner transferred to RCA Records before signing with Island Records in 2014. During this period, he struggled with depression and discomfort with the spotlight, leading him to take a break from releasing his own music to write and produce for other artists. His songwriting and production work includes co-writing Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" and Maroon 5's "Sugar," along with projects for Big Sean, Iggy Azalea, Nick Jonas, and Labrinth. In 2015, he released the single "I Took a Pill in Ibiza." An EDM remix of the track by Norwegian duo SeeB reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, leading to the release of his second album, At Night, Alone, in 2016.

Expanding his creative endeavors, Posner formed the alternative hip-hop duo Mansionz with rapper blackbear, releasing a self-titled debut album in 2017. That same year, he published his first book of poetry, Tear Drops & Balloons, which was followed by a poetry album in 2018. Posner subsequently released his third studio album, A Real Good Kid, in 2019, the mixtape Keep Going in 2019, and his fourth studio album, a rap opera titled Operation: Wake Up, in 2020.

Posner released his fifth studio album, The Beginning, on February 21, 2025. The 13-track album explores themes of spiritual growth and resilience, featuring singles such as "I'm Not Dead Yet," "Beautiful Day," and "Is It Just Me?". In March 2026, he released the single "I Went Back To Ibiza" as a reflective follow-up to his 2015 hit.

In addition to his music career, Posner has completed notable physical challenges. Between April and October 2019, he completed a walk across the United States covering over 2,800 miles. On June 1, 2021, he summited Mount Everest alongside guide Jon Kedrowski and two Sherpas, using the ascent to raise $250,000 for the Detroit Justice Center. In July 2025, Posner began hiking the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail.