The release of Mike Posner’s sophomore mixtape One Foot out the Door has sparked pop culture buzz from the music world with the mixtape already the number one download on iTunesU after being released just two weeks ago.
Since the release of his debut mixtape A Matter of Time last March, the Groves Class of 2006 graduate has been hard at work touring the country, recording both his upcoming 2010 album, and finalizing this mixtape.
With the amount of hype his first mixtape generated this past spring, Posner soon found himself in a heated bidding war with many of the major record labels. In the early summer he signed with J Records, which boasts other artists like Alicia Keyes and Gavin DeGraw.
His new mixtape features artists such as Kid Cudi, 3OH!3, Big Sean, Bun B, and XV. It also includes covers of John Mayer’s “I Don’t Trust Myself”, 3OH!3’s “Don’t Trust Me”, and Souja Boy’s “Kiss Me Thru The Phone”.
The music itself follows the same style of a fresh pop sound that features many synthesizers, explosive percussion, and Posner’s unique and original whisper-like vocals.
Lyrically, the songs contain catchy and playful lines, yet instill a personal worth to the music with songs like “Speed of Sound” that speak about Posner’s struggle as a rising artist, and the effects it has had on him. As with the first mixtape, several of the songs feature Detroit native Big Sean, who Posner has quoted as his “partner in crime,” and is on the G.O.O.D. music label with Kanye West.
The duo does much of their touring and performing together, and has for the most part been following a similar timeline on their rise to fame.
Although the songs are all very distinctive and edgy in the realm of production, it was disappointing to see a lack of creative content with over half of the songs being covers or remixes.
Currently, Posner is juggling his time with being a senior at Duke University, touring on the weekends, and recording his new album.
Both A Matter of Time and One Foot Out the Door can be downloaded via iTunesU under the Duke section for free, and be sure to look out for his new album set to release early next year.
J Records, 38:40 min
