Linkin Park News

(6/24/02, 12 p.m. ET) -- Alternative rock/hip-hop band Linkin Park solicited a number of respected underground MC and turntablists to contribute to the group's remix album, Reanimation, due out on July 30 on Warner Bros. Records.

The Roots member Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, Jurassic 5's Chali 2na, Aceyalone, Planet Asia, and Rasco are among the MCs who add rap verses to new versions of songs from Linkin Park's 2000 eight-times-platinum debut, Hybrid Theory. Guest producers and DJs include the likes of Kutmasta Kurt, Alchemist, X-Ecutioners, and Dilated Peoples members Evidence and DJ Babu. Additionally, Korn's Jonathan Davis guests on "1stp Klosr," Deftones member Stephen Carpenter plays guitar on "By_Myslf," and Orgy's Jay Gordon is featured on "Pts.Of.Athrty."

The group developed alternate spellings of the song titles to keep with the tradition of the remix album.

While some hip-hop/rock projects have been dismissed by the rap community, Chali 2na, who is featured on an interlude and the song "Frgt/10," told LAUNCH that he felt good about being involved with this project. "When me and Mike was vibing at his crib, man, on that song, I really got a full-fledged appreciation for how he sees hip-hop, man. You know what I'm saying? Just looking at the structure, how it's made. The rappers that he thought to use. I mean, I thought that, it took, it took balls man. And it took knowledge of what's actually going on with some good music," he said.

Linkin Park DJ Joseph Hahn told LAUNCH he did not anticipate such a positive reaction from the hip-hop community. "I was surprised that all of these people would be so down. I think the key thing that we have in common with them is like they see everything as music. Even though sonically, everything sounds different from what they usually do. It's not that different from what they usually do, you know? They're dropping how they usually do and, you know, every song, like everyone comes out hard, you know. They're like at the top of their game with like what they're doing. I think like they're really enthusiastic, and really had fun with it. Which is the key, you know? If you're not having fun, then it's not, it's not worth it," he said.

The album's first single is "Enth E Nd," which was remixed by Kutmasta Kurt and features Motion Man.

The following is the album track listing: "Opening"; "Pts.Of.Athrty," reinterpreted by Jay Gordon of Orgy; "Enth E Nd," reinterpreted by Kutmasta Kurt featuring Motion Man; "[Chali]"; "Frgt/10," reinterpreted by Alchemist featuring Chali 2na of Jurassic 5; "P5hng Me A*way," reinterpreted by Mike Shinoda featuring Stephen Richards of Taproot; "Plc.4 Mie Haed," reinterpreted by Amp Live featuring Zion; "X-Ecutioner Style," reinterpreted by X-Ecutioners featuring Black Thought of the Roots; "H! VLtg3," reinterpreted by Evidence of Dilated Peoples featuring Pharoahe Monch and scratching from DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples; "[Riff Raff]"; "With>You," reinterpreted by Chairman Hahn featuring Aceyalone; "Ntr\Mssion"; "Ppr:Kut," reinterpreted by Cheapshot and Jubacca featuring Rasco and Planet Asia; "Rnw@y," reinterpreted by Backyard Bangers featuring Phoenix Orion; "MyMickey P and Mike Shinoda; "[Stef]"; "By_Myslf," reinterpreted by Josh Abraham and Mike Shinoda featuring Stephen Carpenter of the Deftones on guitar; "Kyur4 Th Ich," reinterpreted by Chairman Hahn; "1stp Klosr," reinterpreted by the Humble Brothers featuring Jonathan Davis; and "Krwling, reinterpreted by Mike Shinoda featuring Aaron Lewis.

-- Billy Johnson Jr., Los Angeles

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