New Artist: Mike Posner and the Brain Trust
A friend introduced me to the musical stylings of Mike Posner and the Brain Trust a few months ago, through a YouTube video link.  (For those of you who are curious, here is the particular video: “Cooler Than Me.”)  I was immediately impressed with the progressively softer hip-hop vibe that his song “Cooler Than Me” exudes.
Wildly curious about this new artist, I did a little research. The brain-child behind the “trust” is Duke University junior, Mike Posner. He originally hails from the Dirty D. (And when I say Detroit, I really mean West Bloomfield.)
Later I discovered that Posner has a mix-tape available for free on iTunes. The entire album follows a mellow hip-hop and pop feel, created by softer bass beats and Posner’s raspy vocals.  In many of the songs, Posner collaborates with fresh faces like Big Sean (Island Def Jam/G.O.O.D. Music) and fellow Duke University student Eric Holljes. Posner first met Big Sean, a rapper already established on the Detroit hip-hop scene, through interning at the Detroit radio station 102.7 FM. I was surprised to find that Posner has already been producing for several years before branching out on his own. He is even accredited with masterminding some of the work behind Big Sean’s recently released album, Finally Famous.
Also on Posner’s new mixtape, are a few remixed covers of songs such as Beyonce’s, Halo. Â While I’m normally not that much of a fan of artists who sing other people’s songs, Posner can easily be an exception. Â His cover of Halo is a perfect example of Posner’s mixing and producing abilities.
What I love the most about Posner’s artistry is that he’s willing to push the envelope of what defines a certain music genre. It is obvious from his music that The Brain Trust is a pop band, but Posner’s ability to mix beats gives a genuinely hip-hop vibe. It will be great to see this amazing new artist grow as his fresh sound spreads around college campuses and the national music scene.
You can catch Mike Posner and the Brain Trust, along with Big Sean and Wiz Khalifa, at Clutch Cargos in Pontiac, Michigan on Friday, June 12th at 8 PM.
Images via last.fm, djbooth.net
- Megan Staake (Stylehop Correspondent)
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