Mike Posner & the Brain Trust

Mike Posner's room doesn't exactly scream hip-hop superstar. His makeshift studio, consisting of two keyboards, a microphone and hundreds of dollars worth of other recording equipment, crowds the room, leaving little space to live.

But don't be fooled by appearances. Somehow, Mike Posner & the Brain Trust have used this cluttered tangle of wires to create some of Duke's most innovative music.

"People always ask me, 'Where do you record?'" Posner said. "And people can't believe when I say, 'In my room.' The sound quality doesn't sound like it's coming from a dorm room."

The duo features Posner, a junior, and senior Eric Holljes. Each brings to the table a varied musical background, with Posner more hip-hop and Holljes more rock 'n' roll. The end result is a sound that features both acoustic and hip-hop influences.

Although Posner is the group's lead singer, he began delving into music primarily as a producer, composing hip-hop tracks for other artists. His major collaboration is with Detroit rapper Big Sean, who was recently signed by Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label.

For Holljes, the Brain Trust is something completely out of his comfort zone. After singing with now-defunct campus band Running Lights until his junior year, the California native has had to adjust to Posner's laidback lyrics and hip-hop focus.

"I've never performed music like this, where people can really get into it and have a good time listening to it. A lot of the music I write on my own and with my brother is more introspective so this is more colorful and fun," Holljes said. "It's a huge departure for me, but I like that it's light because I think it's more fun to listen to and play, and people can latch on easier."

After playing together for a small campus event last spring, the two musicians decided to work together on a few acoustic hip-hop tracks, with Posner rapping and Holljes singing the chorus. Eventually, the two recorded a set, including their best-known track, "Cooler Than Me." The song, which spotlights Posner's husky voice and Holljes' more conventional pop vocalizing, drew immediate attention on the group's MySpace page. In only two weeks, the track had more than 12,000 plays.

Unlike most campus bands that gain exposure by playing at school events or at nearby venues, Mike Posner & the Brain Trust have relied on grassroots measures like word of mouth and online exposure to create a fan base. As a result, the group has only performed together twice.

"What's special for us is we're kind of using the hip-hop formula to come out, even though we're really not a hip-hop band. We've been on OKPlayer.com, which is one of the most prestigious and ruthless hip-hop blogs," Posner said. "And we're working on a mix tape. Pop groups just don't have mix tapes, but we're going to be the first one."

Mike Posner & the Brain Trust will perform at the Small Town Records show, "The Best of Duke Music" at Broad Street Cafe tonight at 10 p.m. Tickets are $3.

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