Mike Posner, Look What I’ve Become | Track Review

Grammy-nominated, ‘genre-bending’ artist Mike Posner taps Ty Dolla $ign for the reflective, hip-hop tinged pop single, “Look What I’ve Become.”

Mike Posner is a perfect example of a versatile musician – huge understatement. Honestly, he’s quite hard to categorize or pinpoint stylistically.  His most recent album, the excellent though painfully underrated A Real Good Kid, falls somewhere between alternative and pop.  Going backwards in his catalogue, as recently as Mansionz (2017), alongside compadre blackbear, he was more of a hip-hop/R&B there. Single “Look What I’ve Become” seems to come out of nowhere, but, it’s not uncharacteristic of Posner who has been all over the map musically.  Assisted by Ty Dolla $ign, he dips back into hip-hop… we guess.

Other than tapping Ty Dolla $ign for a feature, the other signal that Mike Posner isn’t thinking ‘alternatively’ this go-round is the production.  The sound is very sleek, with an urban sensibility.  Dwilly handles the boards, and the results are successful ultimately.  Posner references his Walk Across America at the onset, singing, “Walked across Ohio, took me 50 days / I talked to the stars, they were happy that I came…” Essentially, Posner is in full-on introspective, reflective mode, thinking about the beauty of life.  This is best exemplified on the refrain:

“Yeah, I took a little time right now just to count my blessings
Count my blessings, count, count, count
Took a little time right now just to count my blessings
Count my blessings, okay.”

Fair enough.  On the second verse, Posner goes on to say:

“If I think ‘bout paradise, I’d imagine this
No drugs or no alcohol ‘cause I’m high as it is
Yeah, I don’t want your money, I am simply done
I just walked away, huh, look what I’ve become.”

Naturally, the repetitive, but self-explanatory chorus follows, before Ty Dolla $ign closes things out on the third verse, speaking about what he’s become in regard to his success (“God don’t make no accidents, look what I’ve become”).

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, “Look What I’ve Become” is quite an interesting record.  Is it a hit for Mike Posner? Maybe… maybe not.  Does he really care if it’s a hit or not? Probably not at this point.  Regardless, it’s unique, continues the reflective nature of his songwriting post-A Real Good Kid, and shows off his continued versatility.

Mike Posner • Look What I’ve Become (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign) [Single] • Island • Release: 7.12.19

Photo Credit: Island