The return of Mansionz. There were many people waiting for this to happen, and to say I haven’t been jumping out of my skin with excitement would be lying. Mansionz is the powerful combination of Mike Ponser and Blackbear. They first joined forces in 2017 for the release of the self-titled Mansionz. It was a dark album. It was a confident album. It represented a lot of things that people loved, and some things that people hated.
M2 picks up in a similar tone to where the last one left off. So, if you are looking for a familiar sound from the duo, you will find it on this album. But, you will also find some things that you may not be familiar with. They may even offend your ears. And that is the point. You are supposed to be tested and potentially not like it. This was made very clear from the initial rollout of the album.
I talked a lot about how Posner chooses to market his music in my previous piece, “Mike Posner and the Art of Duality.” As any good artist should, Posner devotes his entirety to each release. He deletes all the remnants of the old him from social media. Which allows for an unadulterated perspective on the art. The fans don’t like this and make it known. As the rollout for M2 began, the top comments were almost always the same for each post. “What the fuck is this? Bring back the old Mike! You sold your soul for the industry!” So on and so forth. This time around, the hyper aware Posner doubled down on this tactic, stating he expected to lose over 100,000 followers over the M2 creative direction.
Announcing their marriage, wearing a dress, rocking the signature green wigs courtside at the Lakers game, Posner and Bear made it apparent that Mansionz 2 would be shocking to say the least. Well, maybe only shocking for the fans that don’t accept the full humanity encompassed within a person. Shocking for the fans that never want an artist to change. Shocking for the fans that hide from their shadows and lie to themselves. But, for the people who love Mike Posner and Bear full heartedly, there will be no shock.
Mansionz is everything Mike Poisner is not. Mansionz is everything that Mike Posner is. Mansionz is everything Blackbear is. Mansionz is everything Blackbear is not. Mansionz is duality embodied. It’s emotion untamed. It’s a performance that is somehow self-aware and unconscious at the same time.
The album begins with “The Green Spanglad Banner,” an aggressive intro that leans into the shock value warranted by this project. Posner layers the words “ We’re gonna wrap our musical cocks in sandpaper and shove ’em so far up inside you, you won’t know which way is up.” It then brings on an earth shattering drop where Bear releases some of the angst and anger represented within the project. Themes of confidence, recklessness and partying litter much of the first half of the album. Sonically, much of the first half is aggressive and in your face. There was clear inspiration taken from other genres like punk and heavy metal. The songs that fall into this category include “Options,” “FYSU,” “Bloodbath and “Annihlate.” They are fun and interesting in their own sense, but it honestly just feels too much like performance. Those songs sound like what we all think having fun and being happy is about. The girls, the cars and the money replace real substance in the music. I imagine they will be fun to see live and there is a definitely a place in creativity for that type of energy. But, I think other artists may capture that aggressive energy in a more authentic way.
However, where M2 really begins to shine is the vulnerability. The final four songs, “Mt. Everest,” “Stay Alive,” “Journey of one / omw” and “My Invincible Smile,” are amazing examples of honesty and vulnerability in music. The ability for these songs to connect with the humanity within us all is prolific. Bear opens up about his struggles with sobriety and being a father. Posner leans into the mistakes of his past and revels in the depth of his character. And the two of them each come together to paint the beautiful painting of life. With it’s highs and it’s lows, God is present in every moment, and continues to speak through beautiful vessel of humanity. Mansionz is Mike Posner. Mansionz is Blackbear. Mansionz is you. Mansionz is me. Mansionz is GOD!
Introspection Section 
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