Fort Minor

“The Rising Tied” (Warner Brothers)

Compare to: Linkin Park, Jay-Z, Kanye West

If you ever wanted Linkin Park without the singing, this album is for you. Mike Shinoda, the hip-hop half of rock/hip-hop phenomenon Fort Minor is out with a new solo album, produced by recent collaborator Jay-Z. The guest ticket is also as impressive with a cameo by soul star John Legend.

Please try to look past the cheesy play on words in the album title because the substance of the record is anything but. With the classic, light and poppy loops of Jay-Z and Shinoda’s ability to sample the most eclectic of sources, “Rising Tied” is true to the old-school rap roots.

The beats are simple but poignant, the lyrics are straightforward but powerful – the complete sound is one of the easiest albums to move to in recent years. Shinoda proves himself a true hip-hop artist as he streams a melody of words that could make some veteran performers trip over their seamless rants.

His song “Petrified” is already getting some impressive airtime on MTV; however there are some much better tracks on the album. Specifically well-crafted is “Slip Out The Back,” seemingly inspired by an underground rap battle. The song’s commanding composition will show skeptics that Shinoda is the real thing and not some singer trying to hop-scotch over genres.

This album will blast his career into even higher stratospheres when it hits the mainstream market. And it will also show there is genius after Jay-Z’s retirement from performance hip-hop. He has just found his new creative outlet.

“Buy it”