The group's first video, "Petrified," directed by Robert Hales (Jet, The Donnas), isn't a Cristal-sipping, in-the-club clip. Shot in a crisp, black and white aesthetic, the video features Shinoda and friends Styles of Beyond performing in various locations with cars and trains against the pitch black of night. "Fort Minor is a fresh new project for me, so I wanted the visuals to be as striking and different as the music," Shinoda explains.

As for the stunning visuals--including scenes with whirling flares--it wasn't as easy as it looks. "When the flares burnt holes in everything, people weren't ecstatic," he says with a laugh. "We had burn holes in our shirts, arms and necks…it's hard to concentrate on doing a performance when it feels like someone's flicking cigarette ash on you!"

All in all, Shinoda's psyched for his new musical venture, and he's got some surprises in store. "'Petrified' shows people how different Fort Minor is from Linkin Park," he says. "Keep in mind that there are a lot more sides to Fort Minor, but this is one of them."