Mike Shinoda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Shinoda
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Shinoda in 2024
|
|
| Born |
Michael Kenji Shinoda
February 11, 1977 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | ArtCenter College of Design (B.A.) |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Anna Hillinger
(m. 2003) |
| Children | 3 |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Agoura Hills, California, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Labels |
|
| Signature | |
 |
|
Michael Kenji Shinoda, born on February 11, 1977, is an American artist. He is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He also works as a graphic designer. He helped start the rock band Linkin Park in 1996. In the band, he is a lead singer, plays guitar and keyboards. He also writes many of their songs and helps produce their music.
Later, in 2004, Shinoda started a hip-hop music project called Fort Minor. He has also produced songs and albums for other artists. Shinoda also helped create Machine Shop Records, a music company in California. Outside of music, Shinoda is an artist. He has created many artworks. Some of his art has been shown in the Japanese American National Museum. In 2018, Shinoda released his first solo album, Post Traumatic. This album has 18 songs about his feelings after his Linkin Park bandmate, Chester Bennington, passed away.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Kenji Shinoda was born on February 11, 1977. He grew up in Agoura Hills, California. His father is Japanese-American. Mike has a younger brother named Jason. When he was six, his mother encouraged him to take piano lessons. By age 13, he wanted to play jazz, blues, and hip hop music. In middle school and high school, he also learned guitar and rap vocals.
Shinoda went to Agoura High School. There, he met future Linkin Park bandmates Brad Delson and Rob Bourdon. The three formed a band called Xero. After high school, Shinoda went to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He studied graphic design and illustration. He also took classes with DJ Joe Hahn. Shinoda graduated in 1998 with a degree in Illustration. He then got a job as a graphic designer.
Music Career
Starting Linkin Park
Shinoda founded Linkin Park with Rob Bourdon and Brad Delson in 1996. They later added DJ Joe Hahn, bassist Dave Farrell, and singer Mark Wakefield. Their first band name was Xero. They recorded music in Shinoda's bedroom. This led to a four-song demo tape in 1997. When they couldn't find a record deal, Wakefield and Farrell left. Farrell later returned to the band. The band then found Chester Bennington and signed with Warner Bros Records. Linkin Park's first album, Hybrid Theory, became a huge success. It helped the band become famous worldwide.
Shinoda's Role in Linkin Park
Shinoda is very involved in making Linkin Park's music. He helped produce their early recordings. He also helped write the music and lyrics for most of their songs. While Chester Bennington was the main singer, Shinoda often shared vocals. Bennington had a high, emotional singing style. Shinoda had a deeper, hip-hop style.
Shinoda organized the band's first remix album, Reanimation, in 2002. He made his own remixes for some songs. He also worked on the artwork for Reanimation and their second album, Meteora. Shinoda also produced Meteora, which was his first time producing an album.
In 2004, Shinoda produced and mixed the album Collision Course. This album was a mashup with Jay-Z. It won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2006.
The band released Minutes to Midnight in 2007. Shinoda shared production credit with Rick Rubin. On this album, Shinoda sang lead vocals on some songs for the first time. He sang in "In Between" and "No Roads Left." He also rapped and sang in "Bleed It Out" and "Hands Held High."
Shinoda and Rubin produced Linkin Park's fourth album, A Thousand Suns, released in 2010. This album featured more of Shinoda's singing. He rapped in "When They Come for Me," "Wretches and Kings," and "Waiting for the End." He sang on many other songs.
Linkin Park's fifth album, Living Things, came out in 2012. Shinoda said this album had more rap music. He also used his experience with electronic dance music to remix songs for the album Recharged in 2013.
In 2014, Shinoda and Delson produced the band's sixth album, The Hunting Party. This album featured other artists like Rakim and Tom Morello.
In 2017, Shinoda again worked with Delson to produce One More Light. This album featured more singing from Shinoda. After Chester Bennington's passing, the band stopped touring. In September 2024, Linkin Park announced a new singer, Emily Armstrong, and drummer, Colin Brittain. They also announced a new album, From Zero.
Fort Minor Project
In 2004, Shinoda started a side project called Fort Minor. This allowed him to explore his hip-hop music more. He explained that "Fort" meant the aggressive side of the music. "Minor" meant a darker, musical key. He wanted people to focus on the music, not just his name.
Fort Minor's first album, The Rising Tied, was released in November 2005. It featured many other artists. Jay-Z helped produce the album. Shinoda played all the instruments and wrote all the lyrics for the album. The Rising Tied was well-received by critics. The song "Where'd You Go" became very popular. Other songs like "Petrified" and "Remember the Name" were used in NBA TV shows. The song "Kenji" tells the story of a Japanese-American family during Japanese American internment in World War II.
"Where'd You Go" won Ringtone of the Year at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. In November 2006, Shinoda said Fort Minor would take a break. This was so he could focus on Linkin Park.
On June 21, 2015, Shinoda announced Fort Minor's return. He released a new song called "Welcome." Fort Minor also performed on the TV show Conan.
Solo Music
On January 25, 2018, Shinoda released the Post Traumatic EP. It had three songs about his feelings after Chester Bennington's passing. He released this EP under his own name.
On March 8, 2018, Shinoda announced he was working on a new solo album. He released two new songs, "Crossing a Line" and "Nothing Makes Sense Anymore." These songs were from his album Post Traumatic, which came out on June 15, 2018. He also released "About You" and "Running From My Shadow."
In March 2020, Shinoda started sharing new music from his home studio. He called these songs CoronaJams. He later released these songs on three albums called Dropped Frames, Vol. 1, Dropped Frames, Vol. 2, and Dropped Frames, Vol. 3.
On February 19, 2021, Shinoda released "Happy Endings." He also remixed the Deftones song "Passenger." This remix won him a Grammy Award in 2022. On March 10, 2023, Shinoda released "In My Head" for the movie Scream VI. He also produced and co-wrote "Still Alive" for the same film. On October 6, 2023, Shinoda released "Already Over." Later, The Crimson Chapter EP was released. It had remixes of "Already Over," "In My Head," and "Fine."
Art and Design
.jpg)
Shinoda has been involved in most of Linkin Park's artwork. This includes album covers, band merchandise, and web design. He also designed album covers for other artists.
In 2003, he designed a special shoe for DC Shoes. He changed the colors and materials. He also designed the packaging and ads. In 2008, Shinoda worked with DC Shoes again. He created two new shoe designs.
In 2004, Shinoda created ten paintings. These paintings became the basis for the Fort Minor album, The Rising Tied. This art was also shown in his first public art show, "Diamonds Spades Hearts & Clubs." Later, Shinoda started a scholarship at the Art Center College of Design. It helps students studying illustration and graphic design. The scholarship is funded by sales of his artwork and shoe projects.
On July 11, 2008, Shinoda's second art show, "Glorious Excess (BORN)," opened. It was at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. The show included nine new artworks. Shinoda said the show was inspired by how much "celebrity news" was everywhere. He wondered why it was so important. He felt he didn't truly belong to that celebrity group. The show explored these ideas.
In November 2014, Shinoda and Joe Hahn painted artwork on the Berlin Wall.
Other Music Work
Shinoda has also produced music for other artists. In 2002, he and Joe Hahn worked with the X-Ecutioners on their song "It's Goin' Down." Later in 2002, Shinoda and Brad Delson started their own record label, Machine Shop Records. He helped produce Lupe Fiasco's album Food & Liquor in 2006. He also worked with Styles of Beyond to produce their album Reseda Beach.
Shinoda also created music for the MTV VMA's in 2005. He worked on the music for the video game Medal of Honor: Warfighter. In 2011, he helped compose the music for the movie The Raid: Redemption.
In 2004, he released a remixed song and animated music video for the Depeche Mode song "Enjoy the Silence." In 2005, Shinoda hosted a remix CD called Rock Phenomenon. For the 2006 Grammy awards, Shinoda and Brad Delson created a mashup song. It combined Linkin Park's "Numb/Encore" with "Yesterday" by the Beatles. This was performed live by Jay-Z, Linkin Park, and Paul McCartney.
Shinoda also contributed music to the CNN TV series This Is Life with Lisa Ling. He created the theme song for the TV series Into the Badlands.
Other Projects
Machine Shop Records
As Linkin Park became very successful, Warner Music Group gave Shinoda his own record label in 1999. It was first called The Shinoda Imprint. In 2004, he and bandmate Brad Delson worked on the label together. They renamed it Machine Shop Records. The label signed several artists.
Helping Others
Music for Relief is a charity organization. It helps people affected by natural disasters. It also works to prevent disasters through environmental programs. Linkin Park started Music for Relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Since 2005, Music for Relief has raised over $8 million. This money has helped victims of many natural disasters around the world.
Music Style and Inspirations
Shinoda was inspired by both rock and hip-hop music when he was young. He listened to groups like Public Enemy and N.W.A. He also liked Nine Inch Nails and Deftones. Other artists he enjoys include Led Zeppelin, Run-DMC, and the Beatles.
Shinoda has said that Linkin Park wants to make music that is "cutting edge and really different." He wants to focus on the depth and details of their sound.
Some critics have compared Shinoda's rapping style to Eminem. Reviewers have noted that his vocals flow similarly.
Personal Life
Shinoda is a third-generation Japanese American. His grandfather and aunt were held in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II.
Shinoda married author Anna Hillinger in 2003. They have three children together.
In 2006, Shinoda received an Award of Excellence from the Japanese American National Museum. In 2009, he received an honorary degree from the Art Center College of Design.
Music Albums
Solo Albums
- Post Traumatic (2018)
- Dropped Frames (2020)
As Fort Minor
- The Rising Tied (2005)
With Linkin Park
- Hybrid Theory (2000)
- Meteora (2003)
- Minutes to Midnight (2007)
- A Thousand Suns (2010)
- Living Things (2012)
- The Hunting Party (2014)
- One More Light (2017)
- From Zero (2024)
Awards and Nominations
As Mike Shinoda
| Year | Award | Nomination | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Best Remixed Recording | "Passenger" (Mike Shinoda remix) | Won |
As Fort Minor
| Year | Award | Nomination | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Ringtone of the Year | "Where'd You Go" (featuring Holly Brook) | Won |
With Linkin Park
See also
In Spanish: Mike Shinoda para niños
