Michael Kenji "Mike" Shinoda is an American musician, record producer, and artist. He co-founded Linkin Park in 1996 and is the band's rhythm guitarist, songwriter, keyboardist, and co-vocalist. Shinoda later created a hip hop-driven side project, Fort Minor, in 2003. He ser...
Musician, Record producer, Rapper, Songwriter, Keyboard Player, Singer, Guitarist, Graphic Designer, Actor, Visual Artist
Education
Agoura High School, Art Center College of Design
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Anna Shinoda (m. 2003)
Children
Otis Akio Shinoda
Nicknames
Michael Kenji Shinoda , Shinoda, Michael Kenji , Shinoda, Mike , Shinizzle , Shinnizle , Mikey , Michael Kenji "Mike" Shinoda , Spike Minoda , Mike the spike
Awards
American Music Awards, Grammy Awards, World Music Awards
Music Groups
Linkin Park (Since 1996), Fort Minor
Star Sign
Aquarius
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Quote
1
"I just don't want to bring out an album under my name, because then everybody would say, "Oh its that guy from 'Linkin Park'". Besides, I attach great importance to my privacy. If there were my name everywhere I would be scared. I'm not keen on being a star and I'm not fancy that paparazzi will follow me" [About why he chose to use the moniker "Fort Minor"].
2
"I just helped score this year's MTV VMA's. Those beats, and the fact that people are starting to hear Fort Minor music, has gotten me a lot of calls to produce songs for people. I did a track on Lupe Fiasco's upcoming album, songs for Styles of Beyond, and worked with Chad from The Neptunes on a song for Kenna. On the rock side, I'm about to get started on a remix of U2 and hopefully a song with Sting. I don't know what will all pan out, but I just go where the path takes me" [About his recent collaborations].
3
I feel like hip-hop right now is a lot of keyboard and minimalist stuff, and something I personally wanted to do is bring some of that organic feel back to it, that '90s hip-hop, maybe the Boogie Down Productions or that Native Tongues type of thing or Wu-Tang Clan. So it's a lot of live instrumentation, but it still bangs like a sample. [about the uniqueness of the hiphop music he makes, like on the Fort Minor album]
4
"We didn't get any new rhymes from Jay, and I will say this about it: I respect his retirement" [When asked if Jay Z is making an appearance in the debut album of Fort Minor].
5
I do my best to try and just do interviews via email because I've had so many experiences where people have kind of minced my words. I just want an accountability on the other person's end for taking down what I'm saying accurately. I'm careful with my words and to kind of assume that I meant something similar to what I said isn't really fair.
6
Tariq Trotter, Kenna and Common were some of the first artists that I got in contact with about Fort Minor. I remember when I asked Common about doing a song on the record: I started playing for him what I had done so far and, after every song, he said, 'I want to be on that one!'
7
My bandmates in LP were very excited for me to be able to show the fans what I do individually. I wouldn't have done this without their complete support. In fact, I picked our guitarist Brad Delson as my A&R guy!
8
Fort' is something that's heavy and militant. 'Minor' is taken one of two ways: either meaning small or meaning ... between the two basic chords in music theory, you've got major or minor, and minor is described as the darker, sadder chord. The album is about the dynamic when you put all those things together. You've got that spectrum.
9
I am playing every instrument on there, but it's not really about me. I'm featuring a lot of great MCs that are friends of mine. I want to work with people that I'm friends with, that I get along with. I'm not just going to go out there and grab whoever's hot at the moment. I want to connect with people I see eye-to-eye with, and make great music. Like I said, it's not really about me. [about his hiphop sideproject, Fort Minor]
10
Most of us met a long time ago. Brad and I met in junior high and we met Rob in high school, we met Joe in college.
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Fact
1
Putting the finishing touches on a solo album featuring various underground artists. [July 2005]
2
Lives in Beverly Hills, California.
3
Wife, Anna Shinoda is an Author for kids books'. She get's inspired by kids' everyday, and being able to tour with Mike help's as well. She has her own site annashinoda.com for her writing skill's
4
Created Fort Minor- a side project which he did with friends. The album is called 'The Rising Tied'.
$23 Million
