Historical Figure
Mike Shinoda
b. 1977
American musician (born 1977)
Talk to Mike Shinoda
Have a conversation with this historical figure through AI
Biography
Michael Kenji Shinoda is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He co-founded the rock band Linkin Park in 1996 as the band's co-lead vocalist, as well as rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, primary songwriter and producer. He also created the hip-hop-driven side project, Fort Minor, in 2004. He has also served as a producer for tracks and albums by artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Styles of Beyond, and the X-Ecutioners.
Timeline
The story of Mike Shinoda, told in moments.
Linkin Park releases Hybrid Theory. He co-wrote every song, produced it, raps on it, sings on it. The album sells over 30 million copies worldwide. It's the best-selling debut of the 21st century. He's 23.
Meteora drops and sells 800,000 copies in its first week. Linkin Park is now the biggest rock band in the world. Shinoda and Chester Bennington have built something that merges rap, metal, and electronic music into a sound nobody else can replicate.
Chester Bennington dies by suicide. Shinoda loses his creative partner and closest collaborator. He processes the grief publicly, releasing Post Traumatic in 2018, an album that's part eulogy, part survival journal. He keeps Linkin Park going.
More from the Late 20th Century
Explore what happened on the days that shaped Mike Shinoda's life. Today In History connects historical figures with the events, births, and deaths that defined their era. Browse all historical figures or explore today's events.