“There are some people who are so focused on becoming famous or becoming rich. And of course a very small percentage succeed at accomplishing that, and if that’s the motivation it would seem to me at least that they wouldn’t actually enjoy the process of creating the music, or the books, or the art, or whatever it is that they choose as a medium.”
In March of 2005, Linkin Park emcee Mike Shinoda announced that he was working on a solo hip-hop album. The project would go by the name of Fort Minor, and to this day, it is one of my favourite hip-hop projects in existence. Shinoda stated that he would play every instrument on the album, and serve as its producer. There would also be a range of guests performing on various tracks, including Styles of Beyond, and his LP bandmate, DJ Joseph Hahn.
That album was The Rising Tied, released on Shinoda’s label, Machine Shop. “Remember the Name” was released as the debut single, alongside the street promo “Petrified.” Some consider it a double A-side, others think of the latter as being just promo material. I think both tracks are worthy of exploration, so here goes.
“Remember the Name” was Fort Minor’s breakout hit. A music video was directed by Kimo Proudfoot, who had previously directed the concert film for Linkin Park’s Live in Texas. Initially, it didn’t make much of an impact on the charts, but “Remember the Name” was used extensively in the media. It was played in stadiums and arenas across the United States, even college arenas. The NBA used it as the theme for the 2006 and 2007 playoffs, and it appeared in various MMA and wrestling events. It was used in an episode of the CBS series Numb3rs, as well as several promotional trailers for film and television shows.
By 2018, “Remember the Name” was certified 4x platinum in the U.S. I think it’s safe to say it’s the most enduring track from The Rising Tied. And just as well; its lyrics of persistence, skill, and determination, appeal not only to athletes and film execs, but anyone undertaking any creative pursuit, I think.
“This is ten percent luck
Twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure
Fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name.”
Shinoda and the members of Styles of Beyond trade lyrics on the hustle and grind behind success, with a message that emphasises hard work and consistency. These matter more than money and fame, something that seems lost on the hustlebro culture of today. This is not a track glorifying celebrity status; it’s all about earning respect through one’s craft. Sales, awards, honours, houses and cars, none of that matters at the end of the day. What matters is the product. And the substance of this track, whether individually or part of the album as a whole, is what gave “Remember the Name” longevity after the album’s cycle.
Fort Minor is remembered, not because Shinoda is awesome or talented, but because of the work he put in. He could have picked from the most popular artists of the day to work with, but he wanted to make music with friends, artists he knew and respected. When you hear those verses from Shinoda, or the guys from Styles of Beyond, you can hear their lyrical skill, and the passion in their voices. That’s what resonates with me, and countless other listeners. Not whose name was on the credits, or chart positions, or anything of that nature.
The track also got me into Styles of Beyond, whom I think were a really talented, underrated group. Megadef is a solid album, and “Bleach” still gets played on my walks to this day.
And then there was “Petrified.” It doesn’t enjoy the status of its stadium-sized counterpart, but it did generate some interest in The Rising Tied as a street promo. Its tone is darker and more aggressive, with Shinoda displaying swagger and force over heavy synth and booming drums. It’s all about confidence, making for a nice introduction to Shinoda and Fort Minor as a project.
“You are not ready
Like children and a building you can’t stand steady
It must be the beat so heavy
Causin’ panic attacks like a crack in the levy.”
It’s a warning to all the haterz out there; Shinoda is ready. Critics, naysayers, bad faith actors, et cetera. The track was accompanied by a moody, high-contrast video that matches the intensity of the lyrics.
What Shinoda did with these tracks calls to mind a quote from American music analyst and critic Bob Lefsetz:
“The entertainment business believes in hype,” he says. “Maybe that’s because its products are so often close to worthless. You get every media outlet known to man to write about your project, and then you launch it and in most cases nobody cares. Want to grow a project? Only care about the insiders, those who are paying attention. If what you have is good, they’ll spread the word, they’ll make your career.”
Hustlebros, pay attention. It was like this not only for Fort Minor, but Linkin Park in their early days, and their boots-on-the-ground approach to cultivating their fanbase.
It also makes me think of what Marcus Aurelius once said, “Be a boxer, not a gladiator, in the way you act on your principles. The gladiator takes up his sword only to put it down again, but the boxer is never without his fist and has only to clench it.”
In short, priorities.
Here, the Roman emperor emphasised the importance of consistent action and dedication to one’s principles. The gladiator may only take up his sword when needed. It is a tool to get the job done, in the arena. Whatever principles guide his blade are entirely situational, and the gladiator fights for his glory, or the glory of his master (most likely the latter). With boxing, your fists are something you can always take with you. The boxer is always at the ready, and no matter the situation, his principles are not shared twice. They are consistent, dedicated.
I tend to think of Shinoda as a kind of boxer. Hit singles can be put down like a sword in the arena, but Shinoda’s creativity is something he can always take with him. Again, to me, he’s the kind of creator who emphasises his love of the art, as opposed to just the material gains and everything that comes with the lifestyle.
That’s what puts Shinoda ahead of the pack for me, and it’s why he’s probably my favourite emcee of all time.
All the more reason to remember the name.
Lawrence Deveney 