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127 of 137 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not an Linkin Park Fan, December 12, 2005
Let's get this one out the way immediately, Mike Shinoda is not the greatest rapper out. His personality does not come through in his raps like with, say, a Young Jeezy or Juelz Santana or even Jay-Z whose raps are so "them" that one would almost be able to recognise them even if somebody else was spitting them (think "Still D.R.E."). His raps are delivered in a straight forward manner similar to Guru (without the voice) without emphasising certain words or including any adlibs. His voice is not distinct, except for the fact that you can tell he is white. His rhymes sometimes sound forced (see "Kenji") when he's relating a story. At times he trips over himself when he tries to be too clever as on "Get Me Gone" when he flips his "inferred" rhymes.
With that said I'm not here to bury Mike Shinoda but to praise Fort Minor's The Rising Tied.
Mike may not be a great MC but at least he's got something to say ("Cigarettes", "Right Now", "In Stereo" etc.). And I'll take an average rapper with something to say (Kanye West) before a MC killer with nothing to say (Canibus) anyday. His voice is so clear you don't miss anything because of local slang or local accent. Plus dude can ride a beat. He varies the subject matter in his raps which is where alot of "better" MC's trip up. He is at his best when he just lets the lyrics flow as on "In Stereo" without trying too hard to fit his lyrics to a story. But he shows he can flip it on "Cigarettes" and "Remember the Name" where on both tracks he sticks to the script driving the concepts home.
Mike Shinoda is not blind to his weaknesses as a rapper and takes a page out of Dr Dre's "Chronic" & "Dre 2001", letting the more able MC's get their shine. The big names do not dissapoint as Black Thought does enough to elevate the buzz for the next roots project. Common's verse on "Back Home" will leave you in no doubt that he is hungry/ gunning for MC of the year status. Arguably the best contributors though is from the underdogs, Styles Of Beyond, playing the role of Snoop and Hittman in the Dre classics. Ryu and Tak kill the 1st (and arguably best) two tracks on the ablum leaving you salivating at the prospect of their 2006 Machine Shop debut.
Admittedly the beats are the highlight of the album. Mike is at home behind the boards and shows his experience by putting together a sound that Jay-Z describes as "BIG" and that is true. Alot of indy rap albums employ minimalist beats aimed at allowing the MC to shine but this album is meant to kill you with the beats and the MC'ing. The beats are hip-hop in the same way that RJD2 beats are hip-hop, the rock influence is heavy. Mike's choice of instruments show off his Linkin Park roots. Similarly the sung choruses on the album would also be at home on any of the LP albums. Even John Legend pitches in with a chorus that couldn't be further from the Soul/ Gospel/ R&B he is famous for. Mike's beats are reminiscent of Eminem's (Remember the Name, Cigarettes) dark and moody but without the monotony. Mike's beats are more musical and show a lot more depth.
The album is great and it's unfortunate that a lot of hip-hop lovers will probably never hear it. It was made by a talented artisit who really loves hip-hop. This release will not challenge the 2005 classics like Late Registration, The Mouse & The Mask, The Documentary, Thug Motivation and Be, but it is no less important.
I might be checking out some LP albums after hearing this
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mike Shinoda hard at work for your listening pleasure!!, November 24, 2005
This is one of the best rap albums I have ever heard. Each track is different, tells a story, and gets a point across which is something that a lot of rap albums have a problem doing consistently. Mike Shinoda is a hard worker whether it be in Linkin Park or not. This album screams of high production values, awesome beats, hooks, and talent. Enough with the praising of the production, are the rhymes any good? In a word, YES!!!
The introduction is a great lead-in like the opening of Reanimation and really sets the mood. Remember The Name has a slick hook and a great introduction the crew that will be here for the duration of the album. Styles Of Beyond are really talented and keep up with Mike really well, though they never eclipse him. Right Now is a track about different perspectives in the world today that hits the nail on the head so to speak. Now I love The Roots and Black Thought has an awesome flow around him, but he honestly has the weakest verse in this really awesome song, though it isn't bad. I just expected more from him.
Petrified is the first single, and is Shinoda at his best on this track. A really catchy hook with his lyrical style that is unmistakable. Feel Like Home is a good track, though a tad weak in comparison the rest of the stellar album. Where'd You Go is just mind-blowin. It is seriouly moving and Holly Brook has a bright future ahead if she can keep it up. A definate highlight of the album (even Jay-Z says it's hot at the end). In Stereo is the track you want to blast from your stereo. A hot beat and rough lyrics. Back home with Common is awesome, but what do you expect from Common. Cigarettes is another song that is easily relatable and convincing. Mike is seriously talking from his soul as he does in Where'd You Go. Believe Me is like Petrified in terms of beat, but the rhymes are sick and extrememly different. Get Me Gone is cool in the fact that he talks about the issues he and the rest of Linkin Park had after they dropped their first album. High Road is like a continuation of that bit of anger just in a full on track that flows together really well. John Legend is a huge shining star on this track and keeps up with Shinoda really well.
Kenji is an awesome song that needs to be listened to whether you like rap or not. It is moving and a great story about Mike's family after WWII. There is no hook, yet stories told by survivors of the ordeal fill in what should be the chorus and is a wise choice. A definate highlight of the album. Red To Black sounds like a Linkin Park track and is a welcomed addition on the album. The Battle is a quick freestyle which is pretty good, yet raw in the audio quality unlike the rest of the album which is top notch. Slip Out The Back is a great song and Mr. Hahn's presence is one of familiarity, yet a welcomed change at the same time. The 3 bonus tracks are all good tracks, yet they don't feature Shinoda as much as the rest of the album which was not a smart move. They are good tracks though.
After reading all of this if you are not convinced on the greatness of this album, then let me put it this way. If you like Reanimation, then you will love this album. If you like rap, you will love this album. If you even remotely like Mike Shinoda as an atrist, then you will love this album. Buy it. Worth every penny.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Solid Hip-Hop Album That Emphasizes Commercial Rappers' Incompetence, December 24, 2006
I've never been the type of person who has enjoyed categorizing artists and individuals by the colour of their skin (i.e. "white" & "black"), but in order for me to get my opinion straight on the next paragraph, I shall have to do so.
As many people know, "white" rappers have to work a lot harder to earn their stripes in the world of Hip-Hop for supposably self-explanatory reasons. On the high end of the musical food chain is Eminem, an exceptionally talented individual who, after years of hard work and personal struggle, has become an almost-revolutionary rapper, naturally combining humour with rage into devastatingly strong, occasionally smart music. Unfortunately, there are also gangsta-wannabes like Britney Spear's ex-husband, Kevin Federline, who, with the release of his absurdly pathetic debut album "Playing With Fire", brought down almost every existent trace of credibility in the "white Hip-Hop" community in one fell swoop.
Thankfully, Fort Minor -also known as Mike Shinoda, the rapper of Rock group Linkin' Park- is far more credible and skilled than K-Fed. Unlike most of today's rappers -"black" and "white" alike- Fort Minor is the type of lesser-appreciated rapper who opts for music that digs deeper than clubs, rims, misogyny, cash, etc. (though he admittedly does indulge in gangster-esque posturing on eerie lead single "Petrified" & the heavy-hitting club anthem "In Stereo"). His rhymes are intelligent and complex and his delivery is full of passion and honesty, reminiscent of Eminem & Kanye West but nowhere near as hilarious or blatantly hateful and boastful as either. Nonetheless, "The Rising Tied" is a remarkably solid album that allows Fort Minor to flex his abilities as a rapper, lyricist and producer (yes people, he produced and arranged the beats in their entirety to downright perfection).
While the album is heavy with guest appearances, Fort Minor remains to be the album's main focus - singers Holly Brook & Jonah Matranga harmonize well on the chorus of "Where'd You Go", a darkly intimate, emotional portrayal of an individual suffering from loneliness without his or her significant other; John Legend lends his soulful vocals to the piano-driven anti-haters anthem "High Road" ; The Root's Black Thought & Hip-Hop group Styles Of Beyond demonstrate their abilities as complex, vivid storytellers alongside Fort Minor on the depressing "Right Now ; Styles Of Beyond, along with singers Kenna & Jonah Matranga, contribute to the haunting Hip-Hop/Rock gem "Red To Black" ; hook singer Bobo & Styles Of Beyond (again) lend their services to "Believe Me" ; Hip-Hop intellectualist Common & Styles Of Beyond (again!) appear on "Back Home", an introspective slice of old-school-inflected Hip-Hop that highlights the negatives and struggles of their hometowns ; Styles Of Beyond (again!!) make contributions to the musically raw "Feel Like Home" & the violin-driven "Remember The Name" ; "Slip Out The Back", another eerie slice of lyrical genius, features a barely-relevant Mr. Hahn ; and Celph Titled inhabits the entirety of the short-lived "The Battle" with a freestyle diss.
Thankfully, Fort Minor also knows how to shine without help from a talented guest list. As a matter of fact, some of the album's strongest and most personal moments come when he remains unassisted - "Cigarettes", backed up by a dark, minimalist beat and ethereal background choir vocals in the chorus, is Mike Shinoda's brutally honest ode to the superficiality, materialism and misogyny of Hip-Hop music; the sinisterly dark album standout "Kenji" focuses on the Japanese-American internees of World War II (thanks AMG for making it easier for me to phrase out); and the introspective "Get Me Gone" shows Fort Minor talking about his struggles in the music industry prior to his success with Linkin Park.
Without a doubt, "The Rising Tied" was one of the finest Hip-Hop albums to be released in 2005. Some people may scoff at the heavy guest appearances (some of whom are signed artists of Fort Minor's Machine Shop Records) or the lack of lyrical depth in "Petrified" & "In Studio", but this album is essentially brilliant and a positive step forward when it comes to the progression of "white Hip-Hop". Hell, even the album art is cool and original, which is just one of many positive reasons to buy or download this album. 5 STARS!
N.B.:
Since I bought the special edition version of this album, there's a chance that the lyrics to most (if not all) of the album's songs might not be within the booklet.
5 Favourite Tracks (In No Order):
"Cigarettes"
"Kenji"
"Right Now (feat. Black Thought & Styles Of Beyond)"
"Where'd You Go (feat. Holly Brook & Jonah Matranga)"
"Back Home (feat. Common & Styles Of Beyond)"
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by Fort Minor 
