Before he releases his second album next year, Mike Posner is readying “The Layover,” a mixtape to give his fans something to chew on while they wait.
The 20-track album, which includes collaborations with rappers Big Sean, Twista, Slim Thug, Machine Gun Kelly and more, will be released as a free download Nov. 21. (Date typo. It WILL be available on 11/20.)
“This is me getting back to my roots,” said the Southfield-bred Duke University alum, while on the phone Thursday from a tour stop in New Haven, Conn. The mixtape includes covers of Oasis’ “Wonderwall” (featuring Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T.), Elton John’s “Rocket Man” (featuring Houston legend Bun B), Coldplay’s “The Scientist” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” as well as original songs.
Posner produced all the tracks on “The Layover,” just like he did on his first two mixtapes, “A Matter of Time” and “One Foot Out the Door.” The collaboration-heavy project is also slated to contain appearances from Rusko, Bei Maejor, Elzhi, Cyhi da Prynce, RJD2 and Michael Franti.
Meanwhile, Posner is set to release “Looks Like Sex,” the first single from his second album, “Sky High,” later this month. “It’s really hip-hop, but also really big sounding,” the 23-year-old says of the new single. “It’s a party record. It’s a fun record. I want people to be happy when they hear my music.”
“Sky High” is due in late February or early March, Posner said. It is the follow up to 2010’s “31 Minutes to Takeoff,” which debuted at No. 8 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart and spawned the Top 10 single “Cooler Than Me.” “31 Minutes” has sold 159,000 copies to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
While he juggles the mixtape and the album, Posner’s long-gestating mixtape collaboration with Detroit rapper Big Sean is on hold. Posner said his and Sean’s solo careers are currently their priorities, but they still plan to do the project together. “It will happen one day,” he said.
