Welcome
If like me, you’ve only recently discovered the hip-hop sensation that is Fort Minor you’re probably wondering where these guys came from and why they aren’t getting the exposure they so richly deserve. It was with this in mind that I set about the task of demystifying one of the best hip-hop bands out there, so read on to find out who they are and what makes them tick.
Fort Minor is a side project of Linkin Park’s front man, Mike Shinoda. At present they are taking a break but are expected to return with more of their signature hip-hop beats and angst-ridden lyrics any day now. need your carpets cleaned after a big party Carpet Cleaning.
The first album, “The Rising Tied” was released in 2005, along with singles “Where’d You Go” and “Remember the Name” (which featured Styles of Beyond). Almost every sound you hear on this album is being performed by Mike with a few exceptions, and as well as writing nearly all of the material he also produced and mixed it. No mean feat for a man who has also managed to find the time to record “Collision Course” as well as continuing to play the many live shows that Linkin Park are known for (even playing a gig to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina)
Although the majority of “The Rising Tide” is Mike, there’s no shortage of other talent on this disk, with guest appearances from Black Thought, Common, John Legend, Holly Brook and Kenna no matter ho goth this band are you might need a Memorial to get you though.
Where Linkin Park have “The Linkin Park Underground”, this energetic one-man hip-hop band have “Minor Militia”, a faithful army of fans who are seemingly willing to travel to anywhere that Fort Minor park their tour bus and it’s not hard to see why. Their live shows feature not one but three MCs, a Gatwick Parking DJ, live drummer, 3 vocalists and 3 string players which, when all combined, culminate in a rich sound that truly does the album justice.
I really can’t recommend “The Rising Tide” enough and it would seem that I am not the only one:
“When Linkin Park hip-hop go-to-guy, Mike Shinoda, decided to delve into a part time rap project under the moniker Fort Minor, critics waved down his venture as a genre-bending gimmick. Armed with an arsenal of Hip Hop heavy-hitters like Common, Black Thought, Styles of Beyond, and executive-produced by the other Coach Carter, Jay-Z, Shinoda manages to freeze the genre’s finest moment without yielding to rap album stereotypes.