Collision Course is a collaborative rap rock CD/DVD set from American rapper Jay-Z and nu metal band Linkin Park, released on November 30, 2004 by Roc-A-Fella, Machine Shop, Warner Bros. and Def Jam records. Before the album, Jay-Z had released collaborations with The Roots and R. Kelly, and Linkin Park had collaborated with various artists on their remix album Reanimation.
Mash-ups -- two songs stuck together that were never meant to be stuck together -- have their roots in the bedrooms and basements of computer-savvy music geeks who spend countless hours sticking Christina Aguilera's vocals over the Strokes' chugging backbeat or Missy Elliott's raps over George Michael, Joy Division, the Cure, and about a thousand others. MP3s were the medium of choice, white-label 12"s a distant second. It seemed like it was time to put a fork in the pranky genre when collections like The Best Bootlegs in the World Ever and Soulwax's As Heard on Radio Soulwax series exposed the mash-up to a wider audience, but then Danger Mouse came along.
His headline-making Grey Album -- Jay-Z's Black Album vs. the Beatles' White Album -- inspired a ton of spirited imitations, and most likely the MTV-spawned, artists-involved Collision Course. The fact that the artists are involved with the project totally goes against the mash-up philosophy, but luckily Linkin Park -- who are revealed through the DVD as the main architects of the EP -- have that pop-loving prankster spirit and don't let their high-profile, well-funded life ruin it. The liner notes talk of a "once-in-a-lifetime performance" and "music history," but Collision Course is just plain old fun and all the better because of it. Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" sits nicely on top of Linkin Park's "Lying from You" on the CD's studio version, but it's the fist-pumping live version on the DVD that really justifies Collision Course's existence. The Z-man -- who's "retired" from the rap game while being busier than ever -- has had his excellent "99 Problems" rocked up before, so the version here with Linkin Park's "Points of Authority" and "One Step Closer" isn't so much the revelation the liner-note hyperbole makes it out to be, but it's got an awesome beat and you can still dance to it.
If the CD were released on its own, the collection wouldn't be as exciting. Linkin Park's genuine excitement about the project on the "behind the scenes" segment of the DVD is infectious, and watching the furious and fast teaming of "Jigga What/Faint" teeter on the edge of falling apart is gripping. Check the DVD first, and then throw the CD in the car for when you feel half-mack, half-punk. It's doubtful mash-ups will survive corporate handling this well again, and to paraphrase a post-show Linkin Parker, Collision Course is awesomely fun.
CD version
1. Dirt Off Your Shoulders / Lying From You (4:04)
2. Big Pimpin' / Papercut (2:36)
3. Jigga What / Faint (3:31)
4. Numb / Encore (3:25)
5. Izzo / In The End (2:44)
6. Points Of Authority / 99 Problems / One Step Closer (4:55)
DVD version
1. Dirt Off Your Shoulders / Lying From You (4:28)
2. Big Pimpin' / Papercut (2:36)
3. Jigga What / Faint (4:08)
4. Numb / Encore (3:29)
5. Izzo / In The End (2:40)
6. Points Of Authority / 99 Problems / One Step Closer (7:47)
CD contains STUDIO RECORDINGS. Also includes Links to Bonus Contents, Photos and more.
DVD contains LIVE PERFORMANCES. Also contains special features: MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups (originally aired November 2004) & Photo Gallery.
Linkin Park
Released: November 30, 2004
Recorded: July 16–19, 2004
Genre: Hip Hop, Rock
Style: Nu Metal
Length: 19:95 (CD) / 45:01 (DVD)
Label - Warner Bros. / Roc-A-Fella Records / Def Jam Recordings
His headline-making Grey Album -- Jay-Z's Black Album vs. the Beatles' White Album -- inspired a ton of spirited imitations, and most likely the MTV-spawned, artists-involved Collision Course. The fact that the artists are involved with the project totally goes against the mash-up philosophy, but luckily Linkin Park -- who are revealed through the DVD as the main architects of the EP -- have that pop-loving prankster spirit and don't let their high-profile, well-funded life ruin it. The liner notes talk of a "once-in-a-lifetime performance" and "music history," but Collision Course is just plain old fun and all the better because of it. Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" sits nicely on top of Linkin Park's "Lying from You" on the CD's studio version, but it's the fist-pumping live version on the DVD that really justifies Collision Course's existence. The Z-man -- who's "retired" from the rap game while being busier than ever -- has had his excellent "99 Problems" rocked up before, so the version here with Linkin Park's "Points of Authority" and "One Step Closer" isn't so much the revelation the liner-note hyperbole makes it out to be, but it's got an awesome beat and you can still dance to it.
If the CD were released on its own, the collection wouldn't be as exciting. Linkin Park's genuine excitement about the project on the "behind the scenes" segment of the DVD is infectious, and watching the furious and fast teaming of "Jigga What/Faint" teeter on the edge of falling apart is gripping. Check the DVD first, and then throw the CD in the car for when you feel half-mack, half-punk. It's doubtful mash-ups will survive corporate handling this well again, and to paraphrase a post-show Linkin Parker, Collision Course is awesomely fun.
CD version
1. Dirt Off Your Shoulders / Lying From You (4:04)
2. Big Pimpin' / Papercut (2:36)
3. Jigga What / Faint (3:31)
4. Numb / Encore (3:25)
5. Izzo / In The End (2:44)
6. Points Of Authority / 99 Problems / One Step Closer (4:55)
DVD version
1. Dirt Off Your Shoulders / Lying From You (4:28)
2. Big Pimpin' / Papercut (2:36)
3. Jigga What / Faint (4:08)
4. Numb / Encore (3:29)
5. Izzo / In The End (2:40)
6. Points Of Authority / 99 Problems / One Step Closer (7:47)
CD contains STUDIO RECORDINGS. Also includes Links to Bonus Contents, Photos and more.
DVD contains LIVE PERFORMANCES. Also contains special features: MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups (originally aired November 2004) & Photo Gallery.
- Chester Bennington – vocals
- Rob Bourdon – drums
- Brad Delson – lead guitar (on tracks 1, 3, 4 and 6)
- Joseph Hahn – turntables, sampling, programming
- Dave Farrell – bass
- Mike Shinoda – vocals; rhythm guitar (on track 3), keyboard, piano (on track 4)
- Jay-Z
- Shawn Carter – vocals
- Production
- Produced and mixed by Mike Shinoda
- Arranged by Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda
- Engineered by Mike Shinoda, John Ewing and Mark Kiczula
- Mastered by Brain "Big Bass" Gardner at Bernie Grundman Mastering
- Executive producers: Shawn Carter and Linkin Park
- A&R: Tom Whalley
- A&R coordination for Warner Bros. Records: Marny Cameron
- Marketing director: Peter Standish
- A&R coordinator: Michael "Stick" Stefrin
- Production coordinator: Ryan DeMarti
- Sample clearance: Eric Weissman for Sample Clearance Limited
- Executive producers: Rob McDermott and John Meneilly
- Creative direction for Warner Bros. Records: Ellen Wakayama
- Project art direction: THE FLEM and Mike Shinoda
- Cover art direction and design: THE FLEM
- Cover and all interior line art illustrations: David Choe
- Digipak and booklet art direction and design: Lawrence Azerrad for LAD
- Photography: Greg Watermann
Released: November 30, 2004
Recorded: July 16–19, 2004
Genre: Hip Hop, Rock
Style: Nu Metal
Length: 19:95 (CD) / 45:01 (DVD)
Label - Warner Bros. / Roc-A-Fella Records / Def Jam Recordings
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