Fort Minor

Fort Minor is the solo/side project of Mike Shinoda, best known as a rapper, producer and vocalist for Linkin Park. Stepping outside his main band's rock-heavy sound, Shinoda used Fort Minor to explore hip-hop more directly, drawing on collaborators and guest voices to build a distinct rap-oriented project.

The project's debut and only studio album, «The Rising Tied», was released in November 2005 and became a commercial and critical success, eventually selling over a million copies. It spawned several hit singles, including «Petrified», «Where'd You Go» and «Believe Me», but its biggest breakout was «Remember the Name», which became an enduring hip-hop anthem thanks to its aggressive delivery and memorable hook.

Fort Minor's sound blends rap, pop and electronic production, showcasing Shinoda's skill as both a lyricist and a beatmaker outside the context of Linkin Park. Tracks like «Kenji» tackled personal and historical subject matter, including his family's experience during Japanese American internment, adding emotional depth to the project's catalog. Though Fort Minor has released relatively little new material since its debut, «The Rising Tied» remains a landmark solo statement from one of rock and hip-hop's most versatile artists.