Fort Minor
Fort Minor is an alternative hip-hop project by Mike Shinoda.
Mike Shinoda at a performance
History
The Rising Tied and Time Out (2004-2014).
In 2005, Shinoda released the mixtape We Major, containing mostly B-sides and remix versions, as a free download to promote the debut album The Rising Tied. The name is based on Kanye West's song of the same name, which is in turn sampled on two tracks from the mixtape.
On The Rising Tied, the Linkin Park MC was joined by Jay-Z (co-producer), Styles of Beyond, Common, John Legend, Skylar Grey, Kenna and his Linkin Park bandmate Joe Hahn, among others. Mike Shinoda does most of the singing himself, but many songs also feature Ryan Maginn (Ryu) and Takbir Bashir (Tak), backed by Colton Fisher (DJ Cheapshot). Mike Shinoda produced, mixed and wrote all the songs on the first album himself. He also plays most of the instruments featured.
Since August 2006, there have been no further appearances, as Shinoda has now refocused on his main project Linkin Park, which released its third studio album Minutes to Midnight in 2007.
In 2012, Mike Shinoda said that after Linkin Park's sixth studio album, a continuation of Fort Minor was conceivable. On October 25, 2013, Linkin Park's remix album Recharged released the track Skin to Bone (Nick Catchdubs Remix feat. Cody B. Ware & Ryu), in which Ryu of Styles of Beyond raps the following:
"Fort Minor: We Major; let's take it to phase II / The mission isn't finished yet / I've been on the internet / Hearin' fans talk and maybe we should consider it."
"Fort Minor: We Major; let's take it to the second part / The mission is not accomplished yet / I was on the internet / [I] heard fans talking and maybe we should consider it."
- Ryu
Comeback (2015)
In June 2015, the first signs of Fort Minor's return appeared on various social media platforms. As a result, a new homepage was introduced.
Finally, Fort Minor made its comeback with the single Welcome, which is the first 360° music video available on YouTube.
Mike Shinoda announced a one-man show in Los Angeles for June 29, 2015, Fort Minor's first live show in nine years.
Additionally concerts in Copenhagen, Berlin and Düsseldorf followed in August and September.
Successes
Mike Shinoda won a Moonman at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards for the song Where'd You Go in the Ringtone of the Year category.
