Mike Shinoda
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/ Getty Images

Mike Shinoda can trace his roots as an artist back to age 3.

"When my parents would take me to dinner, they would give me a napkin and pen when I was done eating so I wasn't squirming around," the Linkin Park/ Fort Minor MC recalled, citing a popular parenting technique. "It began as something to keep me quiet and occupied and turned into something I love to do."

Now, approximately 25 years later, Shinoda is hosting the first exhibition of his visual art, Diamonds Spades Hearts Clubs, Sunday at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles. (Click here to see some of Shinoda's paintings.)

"It's influenced by street art, Japanese art and there's a lot of gambling imagery in this series," Shinoda said of his collection. "I actually don't love to gamble, but I think what artists do in music is a gamble and a lot of things in my life are a gamble, and that's how those things started working their way in there. And I just thought it'd be fun to unify the pieces with a common thread."

Before Linkin Park broke big, Shinoda graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, with a degree in illustration, a medium he's focused on since he was a fourth grader obsessed with drawing Garfield. He was so consumed with sketching the cartoon cat, creator Jim Davis complimented his work once after Shinoda sent it in.

"My style was more rendered, realistic," Shinoda said of his early creations, "and as time went by, it turned into this two-dimensional thing — partially a product of always loving cartoons and animation and partially because I live a really fast-paced life and the band takes up a ton of my time, so I don't have time to render out all my ideas. It sounds funny to say I'm busy, so I paint faster, but that's reality."

Shinoda, along with Linkin Park DJ and Art Center classmate Joe Hahn, has designed LP's artwork in the past, and the art for his Fort Minor album is based on a series of 10 paintings he's showing for the first time Sunday.

Five other artists will also be featured in the exhibit: Craola, Dalek, Gary Baseman, Seen and Hahn. "His stuff is very rendered and photo-realistic, but really comic booky and dark," Shinoda said of his bandmate's work. "[He painted] a decapitated head with no jaw and a 12-inch tongue hanging out of its mouth, so I had to work with that."

Shinoda compared collaborating in the visual art realm to writing songs with Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington. "You just have to be respectful of what the other person's doing and do what's right for the song, or in this case, the painting," he said.

In general, the MC said he considers painting and making music to be quite similar. "You have to incorporate your subconscious visceral emotion mixed with a cool, collected, logical side," he explained. "In order for it to work, you have to use both."

Speaking of music, Linkin Park are making significant progress on their next album, and have whittled 100 songs down to 20 with the help of producer Rick Rubin (see "Mike Shinoda Says Linkin Park Halfway Done With New Album). "I'm having the most fun I've ever had working on a record, so hopefully that translates," Shinoda said. "Rick and I were talking yesterday, reviewing some of the lyrics, and out of nowhere he was like, 'I love this record.' That's such a good feeling. To get him excited makes me feel like we're doing something interesting."

Shinoda is also executive producing the next album from Los Angeles hip-hop group Styles of Beyond for LP's Machine Shop imprint. "They're doing so many things they've never done before and not relying on someone else to do it for them, either," Shinoda said. "If there's one thing to look for, they just have the most unique sense of humor and it totally comes through on their record."

• Diamonds Spades Hearts Clubs: Mike Shinoda's Paintings

• Mike Shinoda
• Linkin Park
• Fort Minor

Fall Out Boy and Shakira hang together on the VMA red carpet
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — When it comes to fashion, New York City and the VMAs go together like Dolce & Gabbana.

The Big Apple is, after all, a fashion capital of the world. And the VMAs, known for eye-catching, eyebrow-raising red-carpet wares, always generate a lot of buzz. But unlike 2005's Miami madness, where wild style met wilder weather, at the historic Radio City Music Hall this year, stars' styles were definitely more subdued.

(See Shakira, Beyonce, 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy and more styling on the red carpet.)

For one thing, celebs didn't go overboard with the bling. Even heavy hitters like Ludacris, who sported a fresh buzz-cut and a classy white dinner jacket, opted for just one key piece of jewelry to accentuate his look. Pharrell took the prize for the biggest, and certainly the heaviest, chain — a diamond replica of the illustration from his latest LP, In My Mind, designed by Jacob the Jeweler. Other guys who rocked the rocks included Chris Brown, who ran with a bedazzled Chicago White Sox cap, and Lil Jon, whose necklace spoke for itself: "Crunk Is Not Dead."

As for the ladies, Ciara sported the evening's monster piece: a 100-carat necklace of yellow heart-shaped diamonds worth $1 million, while Paris Hilton accessorized her Julien MacDonald with a little help from Chanel.

Speaking of dresses, form-fitting gowns were all the rage on this year's carpet. Christina Aguilera's silver Versace number was the perfect throwback to old Hollywood glamour and a welcome respite from the more outrageous outfits she's worn in previous years (remember her pink peacock feathers?). Shakira's black gown showed off those famous hips and Beyoncé was a siren in a glitter-tastic Cavalli dress. Jessica Simpson may have taken the look a little far with her skin-tight black mini-dress, though.

For the most part, the men on the red carpet went the traditional route with well-tailored suits and tuxes. Justin Timberlake best demonstrated the elegance of the three-piece gray suit, not only making his arrival in it, but also gyrating and sweating in it during his opening performance.

Emo-rockers put a twist on the classic look, however: Panic! at the Disco and Fall Out Boy went for a more Victorian vibe, incorporating scarves, frilly handkerchiefs and even a cloak (Pete Wentz's was designed by Dolce & Gabbana). It all felt very Sherlock Holmes, but the look worked, and surrounded Fergie's preshow performance of "London Bridge" with a little English flavor. Clad in a Dsquared customized shirt, a half-tie, Burberry short-shorts and knee-high boots, Fergie (who later changed to a Max Azria Atelier designed especially for her) showcased the kind of fashion sense that would make fellow Black Eyed Pea Will.I.Am proud.

As usual, a handful of stars went the low-key route. Nick Lachey's jacket didn't do much for the V-neck T-shirt he wore underneath, while Ringtone of the Year winner Mike Shinoda of Fort Minor simply wore a True Love & False Idols hoodie. Lil Wayne sported the low-maintenance "just out of bed" look.

Other stars looked to sweeten up their styles with smart accessorizing. Enter the hat: the instant solution to a bad hair day (Ashley Parker Angel, Johnny Knoxville, we're looking in your direction). Fortunately, nobody needed a rain hat — despite nearly a week of poor weather, the skies stayed clear for VMA night — or suffered from a face-full of drippy eyeliner. This year, makeup emergencies were almost as much of a concern for the guys as the girls, as My Chemical Romance, 30 Seconds to Mars, Panic! and Fall Out Boy all broke out the black eyeliner.

Not that anyone was complaining, though. At the VMAs, anything goes — even the Killers' mustaches.

The show might be over but the action isn't! Check out all the backstage, uncensored action right here.

Check out all the latest news and pictures from the big show, and reports from previous VMAs, at our VMA news archive.

• VMA Red Carpet On The Rock

• Nick Lachey, Shakira, 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy, More Arrive At The 2006 VMAs
• Jack Black, Lil' Kim, OK Go, Paris Hilton And More Highlight The Big Show
• VMA Backstage Pass: See Nick Lachey, Pink, Snoop, More Behind The Scenes

• Beyoncé
• Ludacris
• Pharrell Williams
• Chris Brown
• Lil Jon

Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda
Photo: Stephen Shugerman/ Getty Images

Remember back in May, when Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda told MTV News that his band was well on the way to being finished with its new album, and that the LP would definitely hit stores this year?

Well, it looks like he may have gotten a bit ahead of himself (see "Mike Shinoda Says Linkin Park Halfway Done With New Album"), because Shinoda is now telling fans that there will definitely not be a new Linkin Park album in 2006.

"We're still working on it. We've narrowed it down to about 30-50 songs," Shinoda informed LP fan club members last week. "Originally, we thought we'd have an album out by the end of this year, but at this point we don't see that happening. We're doing really well, but we just need a little more time."

Shinoda went on to say that the new album, which he is co-producing with famed (and epically bearded) knob twiddler Rick Rubin (see "Linkin Park Say They're Going To 'Break Outside The Box' With Rick Rubin"), sounds "older, but not vintage," includes a few songs recorded without samples and boasts a variety of up- and down-tempo numbers. He said there are no plans to collaborate with any outside artists on the project, unlike 2004's Grammy-winning "mash-up" project with Jay-Z, Collision Course.

Shinoda also added that neither he nor Rubin have any idea just how many of those songs will make the final cut. Which is part of the fun, apparently.

"This is the most fun I have ever had recording an LP album," Shinoda said. "Rick Rubin is a great coach — he just keeps us pointed in the right direction, and we push as hard as we can. Our music tastes are so eclectic, it's fun to work together. The styles we're mixing right now are all over the place. We've really been pushing things outside the box. But like my Fort Minor album — it's a hip-hop album, but a lot of the stuff isn't conventional — the LP album has its own unique sound that still sounds like LP, just different."

Linkin Park may have already premiered one track from the new album — a barkingly loud number they've tentatively dubbed "QWERTY" — at Japan's massive Summer Sonic festival earlier this month. And despite the fact that footage of the performance is already making its way around YouTube, Shinoda won't budge on whether or not the song will be included on the album.

"We thought we'd play the new song live to give you a little insight into how things are going," he said. "But 'QWERTY' is actually still in progress. We [wrote] those lyrics on the plane on the way to Japan! I'm not sure if it'll make the album, but we liked the song enough to play it!"

• Linkin Park
• Fort Minor
• Jay-Z

DMX
Photo: Jason Campbell

DMX posted $25,000 bail and left the Westchester County jail in White Plains, New York, Friday (June 30), The Associated Press reports. X (real name Earl Simmons) was sent to jail Thursday by a judge who had issued an arrest warrant Wednesday after X did not appear in court to face charges of speeding, failure to wear a seatbelt and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; the charges stem from a June 2 incident. X's lawyer said he didn't appear in court because he was ill, according to The Boston Globe. But the judge, who had earlier granted two postponements, was not moved and ordered X to be led off to jail in handcuffs. ...

Bo Bice has been added to NBC's "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular," which was already set to feature performances by Nick Lachey and Lionel Richie. The "Idol" finalist will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the show, which airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ... Meanwhile, Aerosmith are hooking up with conductor Keith Lockhart for the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular," which CBS will broadcast at 10 p.m. Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw are hosting. ...

Stay in school, work hard and Dashboard Confessional will thank you kindly. The band is making its new release, Dusk and Summer, available for $6.99 to any student from elementary school through grad school with a valid student ID. The deal's available at Best Buy and is a nod to Dashboard main man Chris Carrabba. "All the albums I grew up listening to always had labels on them saying 'Pay No More Than ...' and it was always a pretty reasonable price," Carrabba said of the promotion. ...

Fort Minor are inviting fans to make their own video for "Where'd You Go." Clips submitted by Wednesday will be reviewed by Mike Shinoda, who will pick his three favorites. Viewers can then vote on MTV Overdrive from July 24 to 30, and a winner will be named August 1. ... Bow Wow is going back on comments he made recently that his next album might be his last. "What I meant was I'm going to devote a lot more time to movies, and not only movies, but working with my artists on my label and do what I have to do to be a businessman and not just a musician and an actor," Bow said. ... Will.I.Am was questioned by police in Berlin on Thursday in connection with an early-morning fight at the 40 Seconds club. Police spokesperson Ronny Frank told AP the fight, in which a champagne bottle was used, was apparently between Black Eyed Peas' bodyguard and the doorman. There were contradictory reports as to Will's involvement, but no charges have been filed. ...

Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose is not happy about his treatment from Swedish authorities when he was arrested on Tuesday following a brawl with security guards in a Stockholm hotel. According to a statement from Rose's manager, Merck Mercuriadis, even though Swedish authorities were aware the band is in the middle of a tour, they "continually threatened us over a 12-hour period with between five days' and three weeks' incarceration without bail if Axl did not 'cooperate.' " Mercuriadis said fans should not take the police report — which had Rose arguing with a woman and hitting and biting a security guard who tried to break it up — at face value. He said Rose was basically "held for ransom" after being "accosted" by the security guard at the hotel and manhandled by the arresting officer, who caused him to lose a valuable bracelet. Mercuriadis also said Rose was held down by five police officers while in custody as a doctor tried to take blood to administer a drug test three separate times. ...

Dave Matthews Band have donated money to build enough renewable-energy generators to offset all the carbon-dioxide emissions they've produced on tour since 1991. The band is working with NativeEnergy (NativeEnergy.com) and Clean Air-Cool Planet. ... British director Paul Fraser has released a short film inspired by the Arctic Monkeys song "When the Sun Goes Down." The movie, "Scummy Man," is available on DVD or online at DominoRecordCo.us/scummyman. ... Mastodon, Converge and the Bronx will join forces for a heavier-than-tungsten tour scheduled to kick off in September. Specific dates and cities aren't available just yet but should be announced in the next few weeks. ...

Pretty Ricky are asking fans to name their second album, due this fall. Ideas can be submitted via the band's Web site, PrettyRicky.com, and the winner will receive a personal call from the group and a credit on the CD. ... A special 10-year anniversary re-release of Sublime's classic 1996 album is due August 15. Sublime - Deluxe Edition will include 15 bonus tracks, eight of them previously unreleased, including the original version of "Doin' Time." ... Kinky will release Reina September 5. Colin Hay of Men at Work guests on the Latin electronic rockers' third album. ...

On September 26, Tori Amos will release A Piano: The Collection, a five-disc box set featuring her greatest hits, B-sides and unreleased songs. Included in the collection's 86 tracks are an extended version of Amos' 1992 debut, Little Earthquakes, remixes of songs from her Boys for Pele album and an entire disc of career-spanning flipsides. The set also comes with extensive liner notes penned by Amos herself. ... The Crystal Method have partnered with Nike to record music specifically for jogging. The 45-minute album, Drive: Nike + Original Run, is available through iTunes' new Sport Music section. ...

The influential and acerbic '80s trio Big Black will saddle up again for indie label Touch and Go's 25th anniversary celebration. Led by iconoclastic producer Steve Albini (Nirvana's In Utero, Pixies' Surfer Rosa), the group's "old school" lineup — also featuring guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati — will perform together for the first time in nearly 20 years during the celebration, which will take place at the Hideout in Chicago from September 8-10. The shows will feature more than 25 other T&G bands past and present, including Albini's Shellac, Arcwelder, the Ex, Pegboy, Quasi, Seam, !!!, Calexico and the original lineups of the Didjits, Girls Against Boys, Killdozer, Scratch Acid, Man ... or Astroman? and others. ...

06.29.2006

Lindsay Lohan turns 20 on Sunday, but if you're looking to celebrate with the birthday girl, good luck tracking down her party. "I'm going to go away, out of the country," she told Harper's Bazaar in the magazine's July cover story. "Do something fun and different. They won't find me." Lohan said the Caribbean is her preferred spot to dodge photographers. "No one can get a picture of you on Turks and Caicos [Islands]. I go there with my family, and it's the perfect place to go with a guy." ...

Michael Jackson was acquitted of child-molestation charges last year, but some still believe he's guilty — including three people chosen to serve on the jury for a lawsuit filed against the singer by former business associate F. Marc Schaffel. The Associated Press reports that Jackson's molestation charges came up during Wednesday's jury-selection proceedings, at which time four potential jurors revealed that they thought he was guilty. "I have lots of opinions about this man," said one woman who was accepted on the panel. "How can you not? I read so much and I have tons of opinions." Schaffel seeks a sum of $3.8 million, claiming the singer owes him for unpaid loans, expenses, salary and proceeds from two TV programs aimed at repairing Jackson's public image. Jackson's attorney denies the allegations and maintains that Schaffel owes Jackson money. ...

Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger was arrested for drunk driving last week, Canada's national wire service, Canadian Press, confirms. The rocker was pulled over in British Columbia after police officers became suspicious of his driving. He was caught going over the speed limit as well. Charges have yet to be filed, but Canadian Press reports that authorities will be charging Kroeger with drunk driving. ... Rob Schneider wound up in a hospital this week after collapsing from exhaustion and food poisoning, AP reports. The actor was shooting the upcoming flick "Big Stan" at a women's prison in Northern California when he fell, but now he's back on the set. ...

Will Smith wants world leaders to keep the promises they made regarding international debt relief in the wake of the landmark Live 8 concerts last year, which he participated in. Speaking on behalf of the ONE Campaign, Smith is asking people to contact their leaders as July 4 approaches and reminds us that, "Every three seconds, someone dies of poverty-related disease." ... Downloading Madonna's "Hung Up" is going to cost Virgin France more than $750,000. The Paris Tribunal of Commerce ruled that the company disregarded an exclusive deal between Warner Music France, France Telecom and Orange when it downloaded the song and then sold the track on its VirginMega.fr site, BBC News reports. The song, which was supposed to be exclusively available for one week on France Telecom and Orange Web sites and mobile phones, was repackaged and posted on the VirginMega site. Virgin France argued that Warner Music's exclusive deal prohibited consumers from gaining access to the music, but the tribunal ordered damages paid to Warner Music France and the two telecom companies. ...

Incubus, Garbage's Shirley Manson, Iggy Pop and the Kings of Leon will pay tribute to the Pretenders on the newest episode of VH1's "Decades Rock Live." The show — taping August 11 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey — will feature performances by all of the above and is due to air in the fall. ... Despite soaking camera lenses with blood, appearing in British courthouses and checking into — and out of — various rehab facilities, Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty has found time to pen tons of songs. So many, in fact, that Rough Trade is preparing to release an expanded version of the 'Shambles' Down in Albion with nine extra tracks. Starting August 1, the songs — all B-sides from various singles not available in the States — will be included, at no extra cost, on the iTunes version of Albion. ...

Nicolas Cage has pledged $2 million to Amnesty International in an effort to help ex-child soldiers, AP reports. The donation will be used for shelters and rehabilitation services. ... The second defendant in Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's stolen-wedding-video case pleaded guilty Thursday (June 29) to attempted grand larceny, according to AP. Steven Wortman, a retired postal worker, admitted that he and Tito Moses, who pleaded guilty earlier this month, had indeed asked the couple for ransom money. Wortman faces three years of probation in New Jersey. ....

In other Lopez developments, the singer/actress' lawyer alleges in court documents obtained by AP that if Ojani Noa isn't stopped from publishing a book, he'll spill intimate details about Lopez's private life. A judge issued Lopez a temporary restraining order against Noa in April, and Noa's lawyer filed a response denying Lopez's allegations last week. Lopez is seeking an injunction barring publication of Noa's book, an alleged tell-all about their 11-month marriage. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday. ... An amendment that would keep high-speed Internet providers from discriminating against content or services was shot down by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, Reuters reports. The Net neutrality proposal — which was rejected by the House of Representatives last week — aimed to prevent telecommunication companies from charging Web site providers to have content sent faster. Lawmakers attempted to add Net neutrality language to a larger communications bill, but it failed in an 11-11 tie panel vote. ...

Common, the Wailers, the Buzzcocks, the Duke Spirit, former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and "You Hear It First" grime artist Sway are among the performers who will take the stage in London's Finsbury Park on July 8 as part of the annual Rise: London United festival, a free concert aimed at fighting racism and celebrating cultural diversity. The event will also feature a comedy tent, a poetry slam and a DJ stage. ... Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has settled a defamation lawsuit filed in 2005 by a former girlfriend, AP reports. Georgeann Walsh Ward alleged that Simmons portrayed her as a "sex-addicted nymphomaniac" in the VH1 documentary "When Kiss Ruled the World." According to the settlement, released Wednesday, Ward received no payment from Simmons as part of the suit's "amicable resolution." ...

Former Sunny Day Real Estate singer Jeremy Enigk will release his second solo album, World Waits, October 17. The 10-track effort is the sorta-follow-up to Enigk's heavily orchestrated Return of the Frog Queen LP, and he'll celebrate its release with a North American tour set to kick off July 31 at Denver's Bluebird Theatre. Enigk can also be heard singing — albeit in a throaty baritone — on Brother, Sister, the upcoming album from Philadelphia's Mewithoutyou. ... Guitarist Johnny Jenkins, who played with Otis Redding and influenced Jimi Hendrix, died Monday night, according to AP. He passed away in Macon, Georgia, at age 67.

• DMX
• Bo Bice
• Dashboard Confessional
• Fort Minor
• Bow Wow

Holly Brook
Photo: Warner Bros.

Mike Shinoda is a hip-hop head who makes his money in a metal band, but when his manager slipped him a demo of singer/songwriter Holly Brook, he was hooked.

"Her style of music is really rooted in the songwriting," Shinoda said. "You don't need all the frills and the production. You can put her on a $50 mic in a room and she sounds just like the record because the talent is really there. A lot of artists rely on tricks to make their stuff sound a certain way, but we all appreciate the rawness of what she does."

"We" meaning the rest of Linkin Park, who immediately signed Brook to their Machine Shop Recordings imprint. Shinoda then turned to Brook's angelic voice while he was recording his Fort Minor side project to sing the hook on his multiformat smash "Where'd You Go."

With Brook's debut, Like Blood Like Honey, due Tuesday (June 6), rapper/producer/multi-instrumentalist Shinoda showcased another skill — interviewing — for an exclusive one-on-one with his protégé for MTV News.

Shinoda: You've been singing for a long time. Did you always know you wanted to be a singer?

Brook: I didn't really have a choice in the matter, because I came from a very musical family, so it was just in my blood.

Shinoda: How long have you been performing?

Brook: Well, I started performing when I was 6 with my mom, and we sang folk songs and kid songs. And we made three independent albums together. We had some interesting song titles, like "We Are the Colors of the Rainbow" [both laugh] and "Grandma Slid Down the Mountain" and, what else? Oh, they're all crazy, like "Hurricane Mom."

Shinoda: I know you play piano and guitar. Are there any other instruments you play?

Brook: I also play an instrument called the dulcimer.

Shinoda: Enlighten the kids.

Brook: OK. A dulcimer you play in your lap — well, there's two kinds of dulcimers, but the kind I play, you play in your lap — and it's got four strings and you strum it. And I picked it up because my mom had one around the house when I was growing up, and there's not really that much to do in Wisconsin so I was bored.

Shinoda: And there are some artists that you like that played dulcimer, right?

Brook: Joni Mitchell, she was a big influence of mine growing up.

Shinoda: Who were some of your other musical influences growing up?

Brook: Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Sarah McLachlan and a newer band that I really like is Death Cab for Cutie, which you actually turned me on to.

Shinoda: So a lot of people are surprised that you're signed to my band's record label, Machine Shop. I'm sure that was a little bit surprising to you when you first got offered the deal. What was going on through your mind at that point?

Brook: Yeah, it was a little bit of a surprise that somebody like you guys would sign somebody like me.

Shinoda: How did your part in "Where'd You Go" come about?

Brook: Well, you already had the song written and you had your voice on it and wanted a female touch I guess, and so since I was already on the label and you wanted to keep it in the family ... you just asked me to sing it, and then I went to the studio and sang for about a half-hour and left.

Shinoda: As you know, the song "Where'd You Go," I wrote it for my wife, Anna, who you know. A lot of people do songs about being on the road, and I wanted to do this song about the opposite perspective: the people who are at home, your family, your friends, your loved ones who are at home. Have you done a lot of touring? Do you have people at home that miss you?

Brook: I haven't done that much touring, but I can definitely relate in the sense that I made a big move from Wisconsin to L.A. and left all my family and friends there. So I can definitely relate in that way.

Shinoda: The video for "Where'd You Go," that was the first video you've ever done. What was that like?

Brook: Well, it was fun, but there was a lot less shooting time than I thought there would be. I thought it would be a full day of being on camera, but most of the time was actually getting my makeup and hair done.

Shinoda: So you've got an album coming out [Like Blood Like Honey]. Tell us a little about that.

Brook: I'm very excited about it. It's quite a bit different than the stuff that you'd hear right now, because we kept it really organic. We actually recorded a lot of the songs live in the studio with live musicians on analog tape.

Shinoda: And for a lot of people who don't know that much about recording, a lot of studios and even places that manufacture analog equipment are going under — like analog is outdated, it's harder to find, harder to do. So is there a reason why you wanted to do that?

Brook: Well, it gives everything a much warmer sound, kind of like older records, like some of my favorites. So I wanted to capture that. So it's pretty organic and stripped down, and it lets the songs speak for themselves.

Shinoda: Well thanks very much, Holly. Good to see you again.

• Mike Shinoda
• Holly Brook
• Fort Minor

Mike Shinoda
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

Mike Shinoda occupies the upper echelons of the "TRL" countdown thanks to "Where'd You Go," his somber duet with Holly Brook, recorded under the alias Fort Minor.

Thanks to the song's success, Fort Minor's album, The Rising Tied, has leapt 96 spots up the Billboard albums chart. And over the next few months, Shinoda will release Brook's debut, Like Blood, Like Honey, on his Machine Shop Recordings, as well as serve as the executive producer on the upcoming record by Southern California hip-hop collective Styles of the Beyond.

The question begs to be asked: Why would Shinoda turn his attention back to Linkin Park, who have been largely inactive and battling their label since last May (see "Linkin Park Can Get Back To Making Music After Settling Label Dispute")?

"Going back to Linkin Park is like going back home," Shinoda said. "I always joke that I came into hip-hop through the back door, because people know me from Linkin Park, first and foremost. And so when they hear my album, they go, 'Oh, there's the Linkin Park guy.' When I was putting together the Fort Minor record, it probably would've been easier to put my name on the front of it or to make songs that sounded like Linkin Park. But it's all about making something that's honest."

And since early this year, Shinoda and the rest of Linkin Park have been gathering in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin to begin work on a new album, their first since 2003's Meteora (see "Linkin Park Say They're Going To 'Break Outside The Box' With Rick Rubin"). So far, the sessions have yielded something in the neighborhood of 60 songs, Shinoda said.

"When we were making Meteora, we wrote 70 to 90 songs to come up with the 12 tracks that are on the album," he said. "For this one, we're going to write more than that. We're about halfway into it. But it'll be out this year. And I can already tell that the record is going to sound a little different than our previous ones.

"Rick and I are going to be producing it together, and that's something different too," Shinoda continued. "We've always based who we are on the fact that we all listen to different kinds of music, and we try to mix all those different styles as seamlessly as we can. And Rick's done everything from Beastie Boys and Run-DMC to Dixie Chicks and Justin Timberlake and Slayer. At the core of his being, Rick understands so much. He doesn't have to work for it. So in the studio, there's no thought, there's just feeling."

Shinoda said Linkin Park are close to determining just where they'll record the new album. He said Rubin's Laurel Canyon mansion — which has played host to sessions for everyone from Slipknot to the Red Hot Chili Peppers (see "Peppers Say Return To Sex Scene Yielded Different Magik") — is definitely the early front-runner.

"We're starting to get a feel for what the songs are sounding like, and we're going to determine where we want to work based on them," Shinoda said. "It's early, but from what we've already heard, we can't wait to get into a studio. We're completely excited to start work."

• Fort Minor Perform On "TRL," 05.01.06

• Mike Shinoda
• Linkin Park
• Fort Minor

T.I.
Photo: Jason Campbell

It looks like there just weren't enough fresh albums to inspire many trips to the record store last week.

Not a single new release will crack the top 40 on the next Billboard albums chart. Nine newcomers debut within the chart's top 200, but the rundown of the nation's biggest sellers remains largely unchanged from the previous list, with country trio Rascal Flatts spending a third straight week at #1 thanks to sales of their Me & My Gang coming in at just over 143,000.

According to the latest SoundScan totals, the Dresden Dolls put up the week's highest opening performance. The band's sophomore disc, Yes, Virginia ..., bows at #42 with 19,000 scans. Wolves in Wolves' Clothing, the latest offering from veteran punks NOFX, debuts at #46 with sales nearing 18,000. The Drive-By Truckers' new one, A Blessing and a Curse, comes in at #50 after selling close to 17,000 copies.

Southern hip-hop duo Da Backwudz's Wood Work opens at #94 with over 9,000 sales, and rapper Pastor Troy's Stay Tru debuts at #150 with 6,000 scans. Singer/songwriter Mat Kearney's Nothing Left to Lose makes its mark in the #161 spot, after selling close to 6,000 copies, while gospel singer Anthony Burger's Best of Anthony Burger comes in at #188 with sales of 5,000 and change. Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs' collaborative Under the Covers, Vol. 1 pops up at #192 with close to 5,000 copies sold. Blood in Blood Out, by rappers Amb, just makes the cut, selling just shy of 5,000 to claim #199.

In all, the top 200 releases racked up close to 3.1 million in total sales — a drop of nearly 2 million from the previous week. Only a handful of albums scored sales increases — Rod Stewart's 2005 release, Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Vol. IV, is among them, returning to the chart at #58 thanks to a 253 percent sales boost and close to 15,000 copies sold. The legendary singer's appearance last week on "American Idol" also helped sales of his 2004 album, Stardust ... The Great American Songbook, Vol. III, which reappears following a long Billboard lull. That album occupies the #113 spot, selling more than 8,000 copies — a 226 percent increase in retail movement.

Sales of Fort Minor's The Rising Tide jumped up by 45 percent, ending the week with nearly 9,000 scans, which sent the disc soaring 89 chart positions to #104. The band recently released its latest single, "Where'd You Go," to rock radio and video outlets.

All of the albums that make up the top 10 suffered a sales slip from the previous week. While the Flatts LP holds the #1 slot, retail interest waned 58 percent during its third week in stores. The 21st installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series — featuring hit singles from Mariah Carey, Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson and Fall Out Boy — climbs one spot to #2 despite a 56 percent sales lag, racking up 130,000 scans. The soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical" moves from #4 to #3, with 116,000 copies sold, while Toby Keith's White Trash With Money follows at #4 with week-two sales of 109,000.

T.I.'s King hangs tough at #5 with 86,000 copies sold, just in front of Tim McGraw's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: Reflected, which netted another 59,000 scans. James Blunt's Back to Bedlam follows at #7, with sales nearing 54,000, while Shakira's Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 claims the #8 spot after moving 52,000 copies. Canadian songwriter Daniel Powter's self-titled debut holds at #9, selling 47,000 discs its second week in stores. Pink rounds out the top 10 with 42,000 copies of I'm Not Dead sold.

• T.I.
• P!nk
• Shakira
• Rascal Flatts
• The Dresden Dolls

Britney Spears' <i>B In the Mix, The Remixes</i>
Photo: Jive

Sure, Mix a Lot: If you're getting all your Britney news from her Web site, you're probably in the dark about her undercover B in the Mix, the Remixes disc, which has 11 tracks retouched by Junkie XL, Justice and other mixmasters. But oddly enough, indie rock has the most club-ready action this week. Death From Above 1979's Black Sabbath-sounding Romance Bloody Romance is also doctored by Justice, plus Josh Homme, whose Queens of the Stone Age have a CD+DVD concert compendium out this week (Over the Years and Through the Woods). Also, Interpol take matters into their own hands with a four-track EP, although it also came with Antics: The Special Edition. (A snazzy vinyl version of Interpol Remix is due December 6).

All Systems Go: Bookending a year that included a #1 album (Mezmerize) and a mind-bending tour with the Mars Volta, System of a Down continue their spiral-twisting ways with Hypnotize, the Ashley to Mezmerize's Mary-Kate. The new album's packaging interlocks with that of its predecessor, bringing the artwork of Vartan Malakian — father of guitarist Daron — to full splendor. There's also a DualDisc run with enhanced-stereo tracks and a film by Armenian auteur Gariné Torossian.

Mayer vs. Metal: John Mayer loves playing with the grown-ups, and he's giving you a taste of what it sounds like with Try! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert, also featuring veteran bassist Pino Palladino (the Who) and drummer Steve Jordan (Bruce Springsteen). At a theoretical festival, though, those smooth sounds would be out-blasted by the likes of Cradle of Filth, Papa Roach and the this summer's Ozzfest lineup — all of whom have live DVDs of their own this week.

Minor Adjustments: Mike Shinoda's Fort Minor project only has one album so far — The Rising Tied — so, to keep things interesting, he's putting out three versions of it. The standard clean pressing has 16 slices; an enhanced-'n'-explicit edition boasts three bonuses ("Be Somebody," "There They Go" and "Hard Way") and a third, limited version houses those extras plus a DVD and alternate artwork. Juelz Santana, in the meantime, is doing his limited What the Game's Been Missing bonus DVD up right with an interview, two making-of clips, a pair of videos (one featuring Young Jeezy) and more.

Southern Comfort: Big Boi answers his own question with Big Boi Presents ... Got Purp? Vol. II, and, in the process, tides fans over in the wake of Outkast's "Idlewild" film and soundtrack postponements. The usual Southern suspects — Cee-Lo, Goodie Mob, Killer Mike and Bubba Sparxxx — aid and abet Big Boi over the course of 23 tracks, including a "Dungeon Family Dedication" and a provocatively titled interlude, "Mayonnaise Mouth." In the meantime, Nelly reps St. Louis with Sweatsuit, which combines the highlights from Sweat and Suit along with three new tracks.

DualDiscs, Coast to Coast: Death Row's looked back on its watershed moments — Dr. Dre's The Chronic, Snoop's Doggystyle and The Very Best of Death Row — and decided they need some sprucing up, digipak-DualDisc style. But rival label Koch isn't backing down from the competition: They're also putting video content on the flipside of one of 2Pac's two All Eyez on Me CDs.

Sweet Relief: Just in time for FEMA's cutbacks, more artists are stepping up to the plate with hurricane benefit releases. And it's no coincidence that most of them spring from what is arguably the city's greatest cultural contribution: jazz. Jazz at the Lincoln Center Presents: Higher Ground - Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert lines up Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Art and Aaron Neville, and the red-hot Dianne Reeves, although the two-CD Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now outdoes that roster with Kanye West, Coldplay, R. Kelly, Dave Matthews Band and tons more. All of Come Together Now's proceeds go toward hurricane relief, as do those from Dr. John's (admittedly more modest) Sippiana Hericane EP. (A "Come Together Now" charity single featuring Game, members of the Backstreet Boys, Ruben Studdard, Jesse McCartney and Wyclef Jean drops next week.) Speaking of being modest, archival releases Essential Louisiana Rhythm and Blues and The Greatest Mardi Gras Concert Ever! are also coming out this week, but only $1 from each copy sold goes to the American Red Cross' Katrina relief fund.

Song Title of the Week:
"30,000,000,000,000,000 People" (Part Chimp's I Am Come)


New Releases:

• Alex Is on Fire/ Moneen - Split EP (Vagrant)
• Bouncing Souls - Bouncing Souls Live (Chunksaah)
  Buy Now: Bouncing Souls Live (Chunksaah)
  
• Michael Bublé - Caught in the Act (live; Reprise)
• Chamillionaire - The Sound of Revenge (limited edition with bonus disc also available; Universal)
• Sylvain Chauveau & Ensemble Nocturne - Down to the Bone: An Acoustic Tribute to Depeche Mode (DSA)
• Cruna - A Hustler's Love Story (Warner Bros.)
• Dave's True Story - Simple Twist of Fate - DTS Does Dylan (Bepop)
• Ray Davies - Thanksgiving Day (EP, V2)
• Death From Above 1979 - Romance Bloody Romance (remix album; Vice)
  Buy Now: Romance Bloody Romance (remix album; Vice)
  Read: "Death From Above 1979 Draw More Crowd-Surfers Than NIN, Write Four-Hour Album"
• DJ Morpheus - I Can't Live Without My Radio (Tigersushi)
• Dr. John - Sippiana Hericane (EP, Blue Note)
• Enya - Amarantine (Reprise)
  Buy Now: Amarantine (Reprise)
• Fort Minor - The Rising Tied (limited-edition and enhanced versions also available; Warner Bros.)
  
  Read: "Linkin Park MC Gets Director With Flair For Video With Flares"
• Fra Lippo Lippi - Songs (Rune Arkiv Norway)
• Fully Down - Don't Get Lost in a Movement (Fearless)
• Interpol - Interpol Remix (EP, Matador)
• Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions (Hollywood)
• Talib Kweli - Right About Now: The Official Sucka Free Mix CD (Koch)
• Jens Lekman - Oh You're So Silent Jens (Secretly Canadian)
• Lil' Tweety - Confessing a Feeling (enhanced version also available; Thump)
  Buy Now: Confessing a Feeling (enhanced version also available; Thump)
  
• Samara Lubelski - Spectacular of Passages (The Social Registry)
• John Mayer Trio - Try! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert (Columbia)
  Buy Now: Try! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert (Columbia)
  Read: "John Mayer Trio Geek Out With Live Album, Rolling Stones Jokes"
• Reba McEntire - #1's (MCA Nashville)
• The Mendoza Line - Full of Light and Full of Fire (Misra)
• The Never Enders - Air Raid Romance (Indianola)
  
  
• Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy Appendix (EP, Jagjaguwar)
  Buy Now: Black Sheep Boy Appendix (EP, Jagjaguwar)
• Part Chimp - I Am Come (Monitor)
• Paulson - All at Once (One Day Savior)
  Buy Now: All at Once (One Day Savior)
• Queens of the Stone Age - Over the Years and Through the Woods (live, with DVD; Interscope)
  Buy Now: Over the Years and Through the Woods (live, with DVD; Interscope)
  
• Rich Boyz - Young Ballers: The Hood Been Good to Us (Gutter)
• Juelz Santana - What the Game's Been Missing! (Def Jam)
  Buy Now: What the Game's Been Missing! (Def Jam)
  Read: "Dip Set Poised To Conquer: New LPs From Cam'ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana On Tap"
• Ray Scott - My Kind of Music (Warner Bros.)
  Buy Now: My Kind of Music (Warner Bros.)
• Britney Spears - B in the Mix, the Remixes (Jive)
  Buy Now: B in the Mix, the Remixes (Jive)
  Read: "Surprise: Britney's Releasing An Album In Just Two Weeks"
• Rebecca St. James - If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something (Forefront)
  
• Scott Stapp - The Great Divide (Wind-Up)
  Buy Now: The Great Divide (Wind-Up)
  Read: "Scott Stapp Admits To Drastic Failings, Looks To The Past For Solo LP"
• Static - Re: Talking About Memories (City Centre Offices)
• System of a Down - Hypnotize (DualDisc also available; Columbia)
  Buy Now: Hypnotize (DualDisc also available; Columbia)
  Read: "System Of A Down Album Preview: Hypnotize Even Wilder Than Mezmerize"
• Tarantella - Tarantella de la Morte (Alternative Tentacles)
• Tristeza - A Colores (Better Looking)
• Warmachine - The Beginning of the End (Nightmare)
• Mike West - A Westside Story, Chapter 1 (Integrated Label Group)
• Various artists - Big Boi Presents ... Got Purp? Vol. II (Virgin)
  Read: "Big Boi Busts Out New Label, Divulges Details About Outkast Film"
• Various artists - Jazz at the Lincoln Center Presents: Higher Ground - Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert (Blue Note)
• Various artists - Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now (two CDs; Concord)
• Various artists - Just Like Paradise: A Tribute to Diamond David Lee Roth (Versailles)
• Various artists - Yo Gotti Presents: The Blackout Squad, Volume 2 (Inevitable)
• Various artists - "Four Dead Batteries" soundtrack (Hightone)
• Various artists - "In the Mix" soundtrack (J)
• Various artists - "Memoirs of a Geisha" soundtrack (Sony Classical)
• Various artists - "The Producers" soundtrack (Sony Classical)
• Various artists - "Stargate: Atlantis" soundtrack (Varèse)

Reissues and Archival Material:

• 16 Horsepower - Hoarse and Olden (Alternative Tentacles)
• 2Pac - All Eyez on Me (two CDs, including one DualDisc; Koch)
  Buy Now: All Eyez on Me (two CDs, including one DualDisc; Koch)
• Akon - Trouble (with bonus CD; Universal)
  Buy Now: Trouble (with bonus CD; Universal)
• Bee Gees - Love Songs (Polydor/UME)
• Cocteau Twins - Lullabies to Violaine: Singles and Extended Plays (limited-edition box set; 4AD)
• Dr. Dre - The Chronic (enhanced DualDisc; Death Row)
  Buy Now: The Chronic (enhanced DualDisc; Death Row)
• Billy Joel - My Lives (box set with four CDs and one DVD; Columbia/Legacy)
• Patti LaBelle - Gold (Universal)
• John Lennon - Walls and Bridges and Sometime in New York City/ Live Jam (with bonus tracks; Capitol)
• Nelly - Sweatsuit (Universal)
  Buy Now: Sweatsuit (Universal)
• The Neville Brothers - Gold (two CDs; Hip-O)
• Nightranger - Hits, Acoustic & Rarities (IRock Entertainment)
• Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine (Rykodisc)
  Buy Now: Pretty Hate Machine (Rykodisc)
  
• Queen - A Night at the Opera (30th anniversary collector's edition with DVD; Hollywood)
• The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang - Special Edition (with bonus tracks) and Rarities 1971-2003 (Virgin)
• Frank Sinatra - Duets and Duets II - 90th Birthday Limited Collector's Edition (Capitol)
• Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggystyle (enhanced DualDisc; Death Row)
  Buy Now: Doggystyle (enhanced DualDisc; Death Row)
  
• Joss Stone - Mind, Body & Soul - Special Edition (with three new songs and a bonus DVD; S-Curve)
  Buy Now: Mind, Body & Soul - Special Edition (with three new songs and a bonus DVD; S-Curve)
  
• Speedy West - Guitar Spectacular (Sundazed)
• Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe (with DVD; Geffen)
  Buy Now: Hellbilly Deluxe (with DVD; Geffen)
• Various artists - Drive-Thru Records Greatest Hits (Drive-Thru)
• Various artists - Essential Louisiana Rhythm and Blues (Fuel 2000)
• Various artists - The Greatest Mardi Gras Concert Ever! (Fuel 2000)
• Various artists - The Very Best of Death Row (enhanced DualDisc; Death Row)
• Various artists - "The Muppet Christmas Carol: Special Anniversary Edition" soundtrack (Disney)

DVDs:

• Harry Chapin - "Remember When: The Anthology" (MPI)
• Harry Connick Jr. & Branford Marsalis - "A Duo Occasion" (Universal)
• Fates Warning - "Live in Athens" (SPV)
• Cradle of Filth - "Peace Through Superior Firepower" (Roadrunner)
• Peter Gabriel - "Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped" (two DVDs; Rhino)
• Hellogoodbye- "OMG HGB DVD ROTFL" (Drive-Thru)
• The Hives - "Tussles in Brussels" (Island)
  Read: "Hives Weren't Rash When Assembling First DVD"
• Jack Johnson - "A Weekend at the Greek/ Live in Japan" (two DVDs; Brushfire)
• Keane - "Strangers" (two DVDs; Interscope)
• Killswitch Engage - "(Set This) World Ablaze" (Roadrunner)
• Lifehouse - "Everything" (Geffen)
• Nailbomb - "Live at Dynamo" (Roadrunner)
• Papa Roach - "Live and Murderous in Chicago" (Geffen)
• Radiohead - "The Astoria London Live" (Capitol)
• Rush - "R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour" (also available as deluxe edition with CD; Rounder)
• Carly Simon - "A Moonight Serenade on the Queen Mary 2" (Columbia)
• Barbra Streisand - "The Television Specials" (five DVDs; Rhino)
• Tanya Tucker - "Live at Billy Bob's Texas" (Image)
• Various artists - "The Best of 'American Idol' Seasons 1-4," "The Worst of 'American Idol' Seasons 1-4" and "The Best & Worst of 'American Idol' Seasons 1-4: Limited Collector's Edition" (RCA)
• Various artists - "Drive Thru and Rushmore Records, Vol. 3" (Drive-Thru)
• Various artists - "Ozzfest 10th Anniversary" (with CD; Clear Channel Entertainment)

Coming Attractions:

November 29:

• Master P - Living Legend: Certified D-Boy (Gutter)
• Dave Matthews Band - Weekend on the Rocks (two CDs with DVD; RCA)
• Shakira - Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (Columbia)

• Eminem - Curtain Call: The Hits (Aftermath)
  Read: "Slim Shady's Phattest, Brightest Compiled For Eminem Hits LP"
• Korn - See You on the Other Side (Virgin)
  Read: "Korn On New LP: 'Sadness,' 'Anger,' 'Darkness' ... 'Kind Of Perverted' "
• Lindsay Lohan - A Little More Personal (Raw) (Casablanca)
  Read: "Lindsay Lohan Album Preview: It Really Is More Personal"

• Beck - Guerolito (remix album; Interscope)
  Read: "Beastie Boys, Dust Brothers Get Their Hands On Beck's Guero"
• Bo Bice - Real Thing (DualDisc; RCA)
  Read: "Bo Bice Working With Ben Moody, Members Of Nickelback, Bon Jovi, Skynyrd For LP"
• Pharrell - In My Mind (Interscope)
  Read: "Pharrell Had To Be Sneaky To Record His Solo Album"

• Britney Spears
• System of a Down
• John Mayer
• Fort Minor
• Juelz Santana

• Fort Minor

Mike Shinoda
Photo: MTV News

NORTH HOLLYWOOD — One word comes to Mike Shinoda's mind when describing "Petrified," the first single and video from his Fort Minor side project.

"Irresponsible!" the MC said with a chuckle. "We shot in an abandoned train and were shooting from 6 at night to 7 in the morning, the SOB guys" — as in the hip-hop duo Styles of Beyond, who appear on the track — "are drinking the entire time. It's not just that, though, we've got flare guns [going off] inside and outside the train, just totally irresponsible."

The black-and-white video, which just arrived at video outlets this week, was directed by Robert Hales, best known for Switchfoot's "Dare You to Move" and Jet's "Look What You've Done."

"The Jet video with the cartoons in the forest [is] one of my favorite videos of the last few years, it's just hilarious. So based on that, I know he sets up a good story," Shinoda said, sitting in the studio where he recorded most of the album.

Joseph Hahn, Linkin Park's DJ and resident video director, helped oversee, but Shinoda drew the line there.

"I wanted to make sure people know it's not a Linkin Park project, so instead of having Joe direct the videos, I went with different directors," Shinoda said.

And yes, that's directors, plural. Another Fort Minor video is also in the can, for "Believe Me," the first single overseas and the second in the States. Laurent Briet, whose résumé includes Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Fortune Faded" and Tori Amos' "Sleeps With Butterflies," helmed that one.

"He did a very different video for me," Shinoda said. "It's really clean and there's these crazy light effects. As you're shooting the video, it's like there's nothing there, so you had to imagine what's going to happen. I was very critical. I had to apologize many times for making him go back and change things a lot, but he was a good sport about it and we basically spent an extra two weeks on it. Basically from my face to the album artwork to crazy shapes that fly through the air, they're all transparent, three-dimensional light shapes that flow through the air and carry the song."

"Believe Me" also features Styles of Beyond, whom Shinoda knew even before Linkin Park and has since signed to his Machine Shop record label, as well as Latin percussionist Eric Bobo, who has played with the Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill.

Eventually, probably for the third single, Shinoda plans to bring in Hahn (the only other member of Linkin Park who guests on the album) as a director, the idea being that by then, Fort Minor will have its own identity.

"Because the Fort Minor record is coming out on Machine Shop, we have complete creative control," Shinoda explained. "That's really nice to say we're running the show and whatever we want to do, we do. And be at the point in our career where [Machine Shop's parent company, Warner Bros.,] respects that. So when I want to make a video and say this is how I want to do it, everyone's been cool."

"Petrified" and "Believe Me" are featured on Fort Minor's debut, The Rising Tied, due November 22.

"The Fort Minor record, in case people are confused by it, it's not coming under my name, but the group name Fort Minor, because I want there to be more of a focus on the music and not me," Shinoda said. "I know if I put my name on the CD, everyone will think Linkin Park, but I know it doesn't sound like Linkin Park. And it's The Rising Tied, because it's a tied group of people who are coming up together ... a lot of different people making a statement in hip-hop together."

Along with Styles of Beyond, The Rising Tied features Common, Black Thought and John Legend. Jay-Z executive produced, but Shinoda produced every track and plays most of the instruments (see "Mike Shinoda Respects Jay-Z's Retirement, Says Linkin Park Not On Hiatus").

"It's a hip-hop record, but it's a musician-based hip-hop record," Shinoda said.

• Fort Minor
• Mike Shinoda
• Linkin Park

Fort Minor Perform On "TRL," 05.01.06

• Fort Minor

MTV.com LIVE: Fort Minor Photos 11.22.2005

• Fort Minor

MTV.com Exclusive: Fort Minor Photos 11.22.2005

• Fort Minor

Photos From Fort Minor's "Petrified"

• Fort Minor