Mike Posner - Operation: Wake Up (2020)

Mike Posner has released a surprise album, Operation: Wake Up. The 36-minute rap opera details mental breaking points and experiences with depression. Posner recorded the album while he stayed in his parent’s basement during his father’s battle against a brain tumor, his father eventually succumbing to the cancer.

The album follows the character of Mike Posner, the first track, “Introduction” seeing Posner request that listeners listen through the album upon first listen, with Posner emphasizing that the characters are fictional and that those suffering from schizophrenia, depression or other mental disorders should not listen to the album.

“Shave It All Off” marks the true beginning of the album, with Posner narrating that his character is sitting alone in a mansion that he rented, requesting his barber to shave off all his hair. He sets up the downward spiral in mental health that his character is set to experience over the course of each song, detailing conversations spoken between each of the character’s around him where they either gossip about Posner or express their worries about him.

“Weaponry” stands as the most theatric song on the album, Jessie J joining Posner with her sultry voice over the deep piano tones and heavy energy. “Don’t do me dirty/Show me some mercy/Please put down your weaponry,” she pleads as Posner quietly sings the backing vocals. His own verse stands as a plea for help, his soft voice describing his downward spiral.

The album continues as Posner’s mental health declines, him grabbing dinner with his best friend, Blackbear, who attempts to cheer him up. Others close to Posner try to cheer him up, saying that they’re worried about him. Posner details how he feels everyone around him is fake, and he eventually finds out that Blackbear had been sleeping with his ex girlfriend. This triggers Posner’s absolute decline, with him grabbing a gun before promptly blacking out, eventually waking the next morning and shooting himself.