History
Fort Minor: A Hip-Hop Side Project
Fort Minor is the hip-hop side project of Mike Shinoda, known primarily as the vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the alternative rock band Linkin Park. While technically a solo endeavor for Shinoda, the members of Styles Of Beyond were integral to Fort Minor's debut album, The Rising Tied, and frequently appeared alongside Shinoda in live performances and promotional activities.
Key Releases and Notable Tracks
The project gained significant recognition with its 2006 singles, "Where'd You Go," featuring Holly Brook and Jonah Matranga, and the anthemic "Remember the Name." To date, Fort Minor has officially released one studio album, The Rising Tied (2005), and a mixtape, FMInvasion - We Major, which included DJ Green Lantern. The project also maintains a fan club, Fort Minor Militia, mirroring the structure of Linkin Park Underground.
The Rising Tied, released in 2005, comprises 16 tracks, with the Limited Edition including three bonus songs. Many of the album's lyrics reflect the personal experiences of Shinoda and his collaborators. For instance, "Remember the Name" articulates the group's perspective on their journey as rappers, while "Kenji" delves into the historical experiences of Shinoda's family during the Japanese American internment in World War II. Other tracks, such as "Slip Out the Back" featuring Joe Hahn of Linkin Park, explore more universal lyrical themes. In "Get Me Gone," Shinoda recounts an early career experience where a Warner Bros. Records executive suggested he focus solely on keyboards, questioning the need for an MC in Linkin Park. Shinoda details how, with the band's support, he released the album as intended, ultimately silencing critics.
Accolades and Hiatus
Fort Minor received the Ringtone of the Year award at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards for their single "Where'd You Go." In August 2006, the project performed at the Summer Sonic festival alongside Linkin Park and other artists. A music video for "Remember the Name," featuring a montage of impressive achievements, was released in November 2006, which Shinoda viewed as a fitting conclusion to the initial phase of Fort Minor. Also in November 2006, Shinoda announced that Fort Minor would be placed on hiatus to allow him to focus on his commitments with Linkin Park.
As of August 19, 2006, The Rising Tied had sold 400,000 copies. In 2006, Holly Brook released a radio-exclusive version of "Where'd You Go?" performed solely by herself. After Shinoda teased new material on social media in 2015, the standalone single "Welcome" was released on June 21 of that year.
