Former Duke baseball pitcher-turned-rapper
mike. first garnered viral fame with his 2010 single "College Humor." While the song was delivered with a bit of tongue-in-cheek hip-hop irony, it belied
mike.'s (then known as
Mike Stud) laid-back skills as both an MC and would-be R&B crooner. It was a style that drew favorable comparisons to artists like
Mike Posner,
Hoodie Allen, and
Mac Miller, and one which helped his 2014 album
Closer reach number 13 on the Billboard 200. With 2021's
the highs.,
mike. continues to develop his sound, embracing a sophisticated, singer-songwriter-influenced sound. There's an earnestness to much of the highs that feels as if
mike. has been through a tough break-up, or is thinking back on failures of past romances. Certainly, his swagger remains, but it's turned inwards and wrapped in arpeggiated acoustic guitars, dusky chords, and melodies that linger. ~ Matt Collar