Fort Minor - Believe Me Video

Fort Minor
'The Rising Tied' coming November 21st

Jay-Z, Common and John Legend contribute to side project from Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda

Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda has enrolled a host of hip-hop's most talented artists for his eagerly anticipated solo project Fort Minor. Fort Minor will issue their debut album, entitled 'The Rising Tied', on November 21st on Linkin Park's Warner Bros. imprint Machine Shop Records.
Although entirely produced by Shinoda, the Linkin Park MC/producer enlisted the assistance of Jay-Z as executive producer for the creation of the album. The duo had previously worked together on the mash-up release 'Collision Course'.
"We have such a great working relationship, having his opinion has been invaluable for me throughout the process," states Shinoda. "Jay's got a great way of making suggestions whilst letting the artist keep their creative control and momentum."
'Rising Tied' also features Black Thought (on 'Right Now'), Common, John Legend and Shinoda's long-term friends Styles of Beyond (who appear on 'Remember The Name').
"Their producer helped me buy my first sampler", recalls Shinoda of Styles of Beyond. "I've known these guys for ever, and for me to be able to come back and put them on Machine Shop Records, it's a good feeling."
"'Right Now' is a cross section of everyday life as each person sees it," he explains. "And Black Thought's verse is one of the best I've ever heard him do. It's beautiful. And it made the song just perfect to me."
"I wanted to make sure this album has a unique identity", says Shinoda. "Part of that identity is an organic sound; less keyboard, more instruments." To that end, Shinoda wrote and played virtually every note on the album.
Having worked on the album for almost a year, Shinoda is eager to unleash the results. "My band-mates have encouraged me to share this music with the world. And now that the record is almost finished, I can't wait."
Fort Minor impressed with their debut UK performance supporting The Roots and followed that with a sensational slot at the Reading Festival. Fort Minor also played their first UK headline show at London's Mean Fiddler.