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Mike Shinoda
Background information
Birth name	Michael Kenji Shinoda
Born	February 11, 1977 (1977-02-11) (age 32)[1]
Origin	Agoura Hills, California, U.S.
Genres	Nu metal, alternative rock, alternative hip hop, rap rock, rap
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter, lyricist, composer, rapper, vocalist, guitarist, pianist, producer, graphic designer, visual artist
Instruments	Vocals, rapping, guitar, keyboard, piano
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Machine Shop/Warner Bros.
Associated acts	Linkin Park, Fort Minor
Website	MikeShinoda.com

Michael Kenji "Mike" Shinoda (born February 11, 1977^[1][2]) is an American musician, record producer, and artist from Agoura Hills, California. He is best known as the rapper, songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of rock band Linkin Park, and as a solo rapper in his side-project, Fort Minor. He also provides artwork, production and mixing for both groups.

Biography

Early life

Shinoda was born and raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Agoura Hills.^[1] His father, Leslie, is Japanese American. He has a younger brother named Jason. Shinoda attended Parkman Elementary and Lindero Canyon High School.

As per his mother's wishes, Shinoda began his classical piano training with lessons around the age of six, his enthusiasm eventually growing. At the age of thirteen, he expressed the desire to move towards playing jazz, blues, and even hip-hop.^[3] During his middle school and high school years, he added the guitar and, eventually, rap-style vocals to his repertoire.

After his teens, Mike Shinoda's rap interests found a source of encouragement in Brad Delson, with whom he started to write and record songs in a makeshift studio set up in his bedroom. Shinoda attended Agoura High School with Linkin Park bandmates Brad Delson and Rob Bourdon as well as with members of the band Hoobastank. By the end of high school, Bourdon had become involved in their musical ventures. The trio formed the band Xero, and began to make a more serious attempt to pursue a career in the music industry. Chester Bennington came along a few years later.

After high school, Shinoda enrolled in the Art Center College of Design to study graphic design and illustration.^[4] It was here that he made the acquaintance of DJ and turntablist Joseph Hahn, who, along with Delson's college-mate Dave "Phoenix" Farrell, was soon added to Xero's line-up. At only 21 years old, Shinoda eventually graduated from college with a degree in illustration, securing himself a job as a graphic designer right after graduation.^[1] With his background as a graphic artist, Shinoda has taken it upon himself in designing all of Linkin Park's artwork with Hahn, and has even designed the album cover for Styles of Beyond's debut album, 2000 Fold. In later years he would go on to showcase his art skills; he had his debut art showcase (Diamonds Spades Hearts & Clubs) at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles in the time leading up to Linkin Park's album Minutes to Midnight.

Linkin Park

Mike Shinoda playing guitar at Sonisphere Festival in Kirjurinluoto, Pori, Finland.

Shinoda's band (at this point called Linkin Park; used to be called Hybrid Theory before a legal issue with another band) brought in second vocalist Chester Bennington, replacing Mark Wakefield. From the onset, Shinoda was closely involved in the technical aspects of the band's recordings, and over the subsequent releases that role continued to expand. Shinoda, with guitarist Brad Delson, engineered and produced the band's Hybrid Theory EP, and performed similar roles in the recording of the Hybrid Theory album. Mike executively organized and oversaw the band's remix album Reanimation (2002), contributing his own production remixes that he made in his home studio for "Crawling" and "Pushing Me Away." In his spare time, he produced and performed on a song by The X-Ecutioners entitled "It's Goin' Down."

On the second Linkin Park Warner Bros. studio release Meteora (2003) Shinoda continued to expand upon his duties as a musician and studio technician/engineer. Additionally, for the backbone of the album artwork, Shinoda collaborated with graffiti artist DELTA, graphic designer Frank Maddocks, and band-mate Joe Hahn.

By the release of the Linkin Park and Jay-Z 'mash-up' album Collision Course in 2004, Shinoda's involvement in the creation of the albums continued to grow. He produced and mixed the album, which won a Grammy Award for "best rap / sung collaboration" later that year.^[5]

The band released their latest album, Minutes to Midnight, on May 15, 2007. On this album, Shinoda shared a production credit with producer Rick Rubin, overseeing the musical evolution of the band's sound. This album was also the first time that Shinoda, best known for his rapping, sang a featured vocal. Mike sang in the songs "In Between" and the b-side song, "No Roads Left," as well as rapping and singing in the song "Hands Held High." Despite the uncommonness of Shinoda-fronted singing tracks, Hit Parader ranked Mike at number 72 of the Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time.^[6]

Fort Minor

Shinoda formed a side project named "Fort Minor" between 2003 and 2004 because he couldn't demonstrate as much of his hip-hop background in Linkin Park. He explained the name of his project in an interview:^[7]

The debut album from Fort Minor, titled The Rising Tied, was released on November 13, 2005, and includes guest appearances from Styles of Beyond, Lupe Fiasco, Common, Black Thought of The Roots, John Legend, Holly Brook, Jonah Matranga, Celph Titled, and features Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) as an executive producer.

For the NBA 2006-2007 season, "Remember the Name", the second single from The Rising Tied, became the soundtrack for NBA Overtime on TNT. It was an NBA remix version, and remains the staple song for NBA on TNT to this day. Furthermore the Big East used "Remember the Name" as its theme song for the Big East Basketball Tournament in 2006.

He also scored a Top 10 smash with the surprise hit single "Where'd You Go", which peaked at #4 on Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[8]

After the release of the album, Shinoda also contributed to the iTunes Store by creating his own celebrity playlist.

Fort Minor won an MTV VMA for "Best Ringtone" in 2006, and was featured in the following films and TV programs (2005-2006): Entourage, Boston Legal, Gridiron Gang, Freedom Writers, Friday Night Lights (TV), and Numbers.

Shinoda has also continued his Fort Minor musical style in an executive producer role on the upcoming Styles Of Beyond album, "Reseda Beach" He is contributing music and vocals to the album, which is slated for release sometime in 2009.

Art and painting

Mike was the youngest of his graduating class from Art Center College of Design of Pasadena in 1998, with a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration. He has had a hand in most artistic facets of Linkin Park's imagery, including album artwork, band merchandise, web design, and on-stage production art.

During time off in 2003, he did a collaborative "remix" shoe for DC Shoes, remixing the "Clientele." He reworked the colors and materials for the shoe, and additionally designed all the packaging and print advertisements.^[9] The following year, he also designed a customizable Kid Robot "Munny" doll for a charity auction.^[10]

In 2004, Shinoda created a series of ten paintings which became the basis of the Fort Minor album The Rising Tied. That series became the backbone for the packaging of the album, and was featured in Shinoda's first public art show "Diamonds Spades Hearts & Clubs."^{[11 ]} In addition to the ten Fort Minor pieces, the show also featured thirteen more original works and five collaborative pieces. “Diamonds Spades Hearts & Clubs” opened at Gallery 1988 on Sunday, November 19, 2006.

Additionally in 2004, Shinoda started a college scholarship at Art Center College of Design to benefit future illustration and graphic design students. Named the Michael K. Shinoda Endowed Scholarship, it is awarded based on financial need and merit. The scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2006. ^[12] The scholarship fund is made possible through the sale of his original artwork on his website (mikeshinoda.com), art shows and his DC Shoes projects.^{[11 ][13 ]}

2009 has proved to be a busy year thus far artistically for Mike. On July 11, Shinoda’s second public art show “Glorious Excess (BORN)” premiered at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. The show included nine new pieces, with an exclusive signing on opening night. The show served as part one of the “Glorious Excess” two-part series, with the second installment “Glorious Excess (DIES)” due at JANM in January 2010.^[14]

Concerning the inspiration behind the Glorious Excess series, Mike stated that it:

"Got to a point where the pervasiveness of “celebrity news” concerned me. It seemed like it has jumped out of its niche into places where it doesn’t belong. I would be watching the news, and thinking, “of all the things going on in the world right now, why are they covering so-and-so’s breakup?” It didn’t make sense to me. Add to that the fact that I’m supposed to somehow “belong” to that celebrity group—and I really don’t feel like I do in a lot of ways—and you can see how the topic started to become really interesting to me. The Glorious Excess (BORN) show was my way of diving into those topics, trying to find answers. It follows a central “celebrity” character, who is filthy rich, slightly violent, and famous without any particular skill or talent."

Also in 2008, Mike partnered up with DC Shoes again on a second DC Remix Series project. The project would feature a "great juxtaposition of Mike's unique influences: accomplished artist versus recording-breaking musician, American upbringing versus Japanese heritage."^[15] The MS/DC limited edition remix has two different versions - Xander and Pride. Roughly 2000 pairs of the limited edition shoes were made available for purchase when the sneaker was released on August 1, 2008.

In an interview with Sneaker Freaker Magazine, Shinoda had this to say about the latest DC Shoe project:

"This remix is a little slimmer than most of DC’s skate shoes; the Xander feels almost like the skate shoes I grew up wearing in the late 80s. But the art brings it up to date—my work is laser-etched into the panels on the side of the shoe, and the sole is a clear gum sole with a koi fish pattern, and four-color artwork beneath. That way, when you’re walking, and your foot lifts up, it’s a little surprise under there. We also took the time to add extra padding and a satin inner lining to make it as comfortable as possible. They come with three pairs of lightly waxed laces instead of two, because I like to flip up the look sometimes. Each pair also comes with a booklet of my art." ^[16]

Production

Shinoda produced The Rising Tied, the debut album by his side-project Fort Minor. He has also produced tracks for albums by Lupe Fiasco and Styles of Beyond, as well as producing or co-producing all of Linkin Park's non-studio albums, including Reanimation, Hybrid Theory EP, the collaborative EP with Jay-Z, Collision Course, and for the first time producing a studio album in 2007, the group's third studio release Minutes to Midnight. In 2004 Shinoda, with drumming assistance by his Linkin Park band mate Rob Bourdon, remixed "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode. Shinoda and Bourdon also worked together to create an instrumental piece entitled "Lockjaw" while previewing Digidesign's Pro Tools 8 software. Some other notable production credits include:

• Styles of Beyond - "Marco Polo" (from the album 2000 Fold)
• The X-Ecutioners - "It's Goin' Down" (from the album Built from Scratch)
• Depeche Mode - "Enjoy the Silence 04" (remixed and produced)
• Lupe Fiasco - "The Instrumental" (from the album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor)
• Styles of Beyond featuring Celph Titled - "You Cannot Fuck With This" (from the Razor Tag mixtape)
• Styles of Beyond - "Hard [MS Remix]" (from the Razor Tag mixtape)
• Styles of Beyond - "Second To None" (from the upcoming album Reseda Beach)
• "My December" - Linkin Park
• "High Voltage" - Linkin Park
• "What I've Done (Distorted Remix)" - Linkin Park
• Scored the 2005 MTV VMAs (contributed all original music)
• "Fort Minor: We Major" Mixtape - including S.C.O.M., Bloc Party, Dolla, 100 Degrees, Spraypaint & Inkpens (feat. Lupe Fiasco and Ghostface Killah)
• Busta Rhymes feat. Linkin Park - "We Made It" (co-produced with Cool & Dre)
• "L.O.A.T.R." (M. Shinoda Remix) - Linkin Park
• "Lockjaw" - Linkin Park
• "Death to Analog" (Mike Shinoda Remix) - Julien-K (from the album Death To Digital)
• "New Divide" - Linkin Park
• "Gold Guns Girls" (Mike Shinoda remix) - Metric
• "Shoot First" - Apathy

Other musical activities

• In 2005, Mike hosted the Rock Phenomenon Mixtape CD with DJ Vlad and Roc Raida. The CD is the first (and to date, only) in DJ Vlad's Rock Phenomenon series (which itself is a spin-off of Vlad's Rap Phenomenon Mixtape series), and features a Mash-Up of Linkin Park's Papercut, and David Banner's Like a Pimp (Remix). The Mixtape was re-released on July 10, 2007, with new artwork.
• In October 2008 Mike and Mark Wakefield recorded and released the song "Barack Your World", presumably as an endorsement of Barack Obama's presidential bid, under the name White Pegacorn. It can be heard on YouTube and at BarackYourWorld.org.

Influences

Shinoda's musical influences and favourites include U2, The Police, Boogie Down Productions, Depeche Mode, Led Zeppelin, Nine Inch Nails, Bloc Party and Dr. Dre.^[17] As a visual artist his influences include Mark Ryden, Corey Sandelius,^[17] and Banksy^[18]

Personal life

Mike Shinoda is married to Anna Hillinger since May 10, 2003. She is now a children's author. According to Shinoda, the song "Where'd You Go" was written for her.^[19] In 2004 he found his way on an episode of Punk'd in which a fire hydrant was placed next to his Acura SUV during a pretend fire. In 2005 he was interviewed by Ike Barinholtz & Bobby Lee of MADtv at the 2005 Billboard Music Awards which later aired on the series. In an interview, he revealed that his father was born during the Second World War, when talking about his song "Kenji" from the Rising Tied album. Shinoda is a third generation Japanese American. His father was born in the United States and was interned during World War II.^[20][21] Shinoda also had a small appearance in an episode of Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory.

References

External links

• Mike Shinoda's official website
• Shinoda's official LPN page from LinkinPark.com
• Shinoda's Twitter Account
• Fort Minor's MySpace
• Mike Shinoda is interviewed by SUBvert magazine about his successful career

From Wikiquote

Michael Kenji Shinoda (born February 11, 1977), American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, designer and painter. He is best known for being Linkin Park's MC, Keyboard player, Second guitarist and Producer

Sourced

• im not russian! just wanted to drop in and say hi. also, i wanted to clear up the fact that i'm not half russian. i don't know where people get their facts (probably on the internet, where rumor might as well be fact, hahaha). but i'm half japanese and half...american, i guess. my mom's family is a mix of a ton of different things. a lot of it is european, and there's a little native american in there. but that side of my family has been in the US forever, so i just call it american to keep it simple.
  • Fort Minor MySpace Blog, 4/17/2006

• global warming. every day i leave my house and think, "was it this hot last year?" the heat this summer here in LA and in most of the US has been unbearable. i can't remember another time when it was 105 degrees fahrenheit out here (40.5 celsius), and that's the kind of weather we've been having pretty much every day.
  • LP/FM MB 2006

• i just realized that i hadn't posted about the film "An Inconvenient Truth." for those of you who don't know, this movie talks about global warming. i went into the movie a little skeptical, wondering if i was going to be preached at by al gore, the narrator and spokesperson for the film. it's a documentary, too, so i wasn't expecting anything too exciting. as it turns out, this movie is a must-see. it's not about al gore, tree-hugging hippies, george clooney, julia roberts, george bush, or U.S. issues. this film and the movement surrounding it is about being aware of the nasty turn our world and weather seems to be taking, and what we can do to turn it around before we ruin the only pace we have to live. the information in this film is shocking. parts of our planet that i assumed were covered in ice are now melting, and the photos of these places, seen in the movie, make me nervous. the links from this past year's natural disasters to the overall direction of global warming is an issue that is worth looking at. the ten hottest years ever measured were in the last 14 years. the hottest was last year, but it doesn't take a genius to tell that this year is hotter.
  • LP/FM MB 2006

• sometimes when i do an interview, the journalist asks about political and social issues. i rarely answer those types of questions because i would rather a fan or reader get their information from the actual source, not from me. global warming is not a political issue--it's a moral issue. do we care that, according to overwhelming information, we are doing some careless, powerfully bad things to the environment? figure it out yourself: Climate Changethanks for listening. -m
  • LP/FM MB 2006

• i heard some folks saying, "i heard that warm temperatures like this happen every few years--it's normal." i also know that a lot of people are afraid to ask what it is and what causes it... here are some answers and links: Scientific opinion on climate change
  • LP/FM MB 2006

• Mike Shinoda Art Show. for those of you in L.A. -- my first art show, at gallery 1988, is open to the public THIS SUNDAY at 7-10pm. i will be there hanging out. come by to get something signed and take a look at the art. for more info and location, go to gallery1988.com. for those who are not in L.A., some things will be available online after the show. i think the link will be Mike Shinoda.com. see you there. -m
  • LP/FM MB 2006

• from mike: art show success! the show last night was amazing! thanks to everyone that showed up. we had a line around the block the entire time, and i think some people couldn't get in (i wouldn't know, i was inside signing things for 3+ hours). a lot of people said a lot of really nice things about the work -- glad you got to see it in person.
  • LP/FM MB 2006

• i'm donating proceeds from the show to my college scholarship at art center. i had programs, skate decks, prints, and originals for sale, and you guys too home a lot of everything. your support will help a talented young person get through school--thank you'.
  • LP/FM MB 2006

• for those who are interested in buying something and continuting to support the scholarship, i will have an online store open this week featuring whatever is still for sale--but remember that quantities are very limited. -m Mike Shinoda.com
  • LP/FM MB 2006

• I really enjoy it -- it's like a videogame on wheels. The GPS touch screen is one of the most entertaining things I've ever seen in a car. I still have a Range Rover that I don't drive much anymore, because I started feeling bad about it.
  • On his hybrid (Variety Interviw, 7/16/2007)

• It was a fun show. At one point the barricade in front of the stage gave way, which scared the concert promoters because they thought people were going to get hurt. So we had to stop the show for a while. That was funny... Although I guess only funny because no one got hurt.
  • On Live Earth (Variety Interview, 7/16/2007)

• Oh, happy Perthday!
  • At a Perth M&G, wishing a fan happy birthday.

Unsourced

• Mike: It's official. You're the shit! Chester: It's true. So let's have a fucking party! Mike: Why are we celebrating? What the fuck! We'll just have a party in your honor. This party is to celebrate Boston! Chester: Fuck yeah!! Mike: (laughs) and Brad's hair! Boston and Brad's hair, that's all it's about tonight!
  • Projekt Revolution 2007 in Mansfield Massachusetts August 24 before Bleed It Out in Linkin Park's encore
• When we started the band, it was because we were waiting for a sound that never happened. We got tired of waiting, and we decided to just do it ourselves
• It's magic. They got magic. Chester:They brought the magic sauce with them tonight. Mike: (chuckles) Some of them drank the magic sauce. Chester: Some of them drank the magic sauce, yes. Mike: And some of them just sing really fucking loud. Let's go!
  • Before performing Numb in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 18, 2008.

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