Collision Course (EP)

Overview

Due to its short running time at 21:18, with six tracks in total included on the disc, the release has been identified as an EP. All of the tracks included are mashups combining songs by both artists.

The DVD contains behind-the-scenes new footage of the making of the album, as well as the second take of all of the Collision Course songs at The Roxy Theatre on July 18, 2004. Also included are the five scenes from the concert shown on MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups and a picture gallery.

The first single released from the EP, "Numb/Encore", achieved significant airplay on the charts, and stayed on six months after its release. "Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer" was also released to the radio in the US, but was never featured on the Billboard Charts – the videos for both that track and "Jigga What/Faint" were also seen on Kerrang! in the UK. "Izzo/In the End" was also heavily promoted on the official Linkin Park websites.

Background and production

Mike Shinoda revealed that he would be mashing up with Jay-Z for a record under MTV's Mash Ups show.

The network allowed Jay-Z to choose a group or artist for the mash-up. Jay contacted Shinoda, who began experimenting with mixing the tracks before sending some examples to him. As a result, Jay-Z began working with Shinoda through email. The two decided that instead of combining the existing tracks for the live performance on MTV, they wanted to re-work and re-record parts of the songs to make them fit better. Shinoda explains, "Jay and I realized it's better to re-perform the rap vocals if you're gonna do it to a new beat because the vibe changes and you have to deliver your verse a little differently." Shinoda asked his bandmates to re-record instrumental and vocal tracks as well, and ultimately both parties decided they wanted to release the studio tracks. The entire album was put together within four days.

Sometimes, behind-the-scenes audio can be heard within the album, such as Jay-Z saying "You're wasting your talent, Randy!" before "Big Pimpin'/Papercut", or Shinoda saying "This is fun" before "Izzo/In the End".

Collision Course was the first album of Linkin Park that contained a Parental Advisory sticker, since most of Jay-Z's verses contain profanity (although Shinoda and Chester Bennington are also heard using vulgar language on the album). This album was also made in an edited/censored version. However, the clean version of the album left the words "bitch", "ass", and "hoes" uncensored, which means that "Izzo/In the End" is the same on the clean and explicit versions.

A year after the release of Collision Course, Jay-Z was the executive producer on Mike Shinoda's solo effort Fort Minor's The Rising Tied. Also, the song "High Road" from the same record talks about how some critics negatively received Collision Course.

Critical reception

Collision Course received generally mixed reviews from music critics. David Jeffries of AllMusic praised the album, calling it "awesomely fun". Steve Juon of RapReviews called the album "an experiment which bodes well since for the most part these two artists each other."

Meanwhile, Raymond Fiore of Entertainment Weekly, gave a negative review of the album, saying that the pairing of Linkin Park and Jay-Z "comes off like a sanitized nonevent." "Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer" was listed in the 2011 book 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die.

Commercial performance

Collision Course debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 368,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen Soundscan. This became Jay-Z eighth US number one album and Linkin Park's second. It also became the second EP ever to top the chart, preceded by Alice in Chains' Jar of Flies in 1994. In its second week, the EP dropped to number nine on the chart, selling an additional 186,000 copies. In its third week, the EP dropped to number ten on the chart, selling 236,000 more copies. In its fourth week, the EP climbed to number eight on the chart, selling 283,000 more copies. As of August 2009, the EP has sold 1,934,000 copies in the US. On August 15, 2017, the EP was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over two million units in the United States.

Track listing

• Linkin Park
• Shawn Carter
• Timothy Mosley
• Linkin Park
• Carter
• Mosley
• J. Capeless
• K. Joshua
• Linkin Park
• Carter
• Mosley
• Jonathan Burks
• Linkin Park
• Carter
• Kanye West
• Linkin Park
• Carter
• West
• Berry Gordy
• Alphonzo Mizell
• Freddie Perren
• Deke Richards
• Linkin Park
• Carter
• Rick Rubin
• Tracy Marrow
• Bernard Freeman
• Alphonso Henderson
• Leslie Weinstein
• Norman Landsberg
• Felix Pappalardi
• Norman Smart
• John Ventura
• William Squier
• Kenneth Gamble
• Leon Huff

Enhanced content on CD

1. "Links to Bonus Content"
2. "Photos"

DVD track listing

1. Intro
2. In the Studio
3. Jay-Z Arrives
4. Rehearsal
5. Sound Check
6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder/Lying from You (Live)
7. Big Pimpin'/Papercut (Live)
8. Jigga What/Faint (Live)
9. Numb/Encore (Live)
10. Izzo/In the End (Live)
11. Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer (Live)
12. End Credits

Special Features

1. "MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups"

• It's Goin' Down
• Dirt Off You Shoulder/Lying from You
• Jigga What/Faint
• Numb/Encore
• Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer

1. "Photo Gallery"
2. "5.1 Surround Sound"

Personnel

Linkin Park

• Chester Bennington – vocals ("Dirt off Your Shoulder / Lying from You", "Jigga What / Faint", & "Points of Authority / 99 Problems / One Step Closer"), backing vocals ("Big Pimpin' / Papercut" & "Izzo / In the End"), lead vocals ("Numb / Encore")
• Rob Bourdon – drums
• Brad Delson – guitar
• Dave "Phoenix" Farrell – bass guitar
• Joe Hahn – turntables, sampling, programming
• Mike Shinoda – vocals ("Dirt off Your Shoulder / Lying from You", "Jigga What / Faint", & "Numb / Encore"), lead vocals ("Big Pimpin' / Papercut", "Izzo / In the End", & "Points of Authority / 99 Problems / One Step Closer"), additional guitar ("Jigga What / Faint"), keyboard, piano (4)

Jay-Z

• Shawn Carter – lead 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

DVD

• Director: Kimo Proudfoot
• Producer: Matt Caltabiano
• Editor: Kevin McCullough
• Live audio engineer: Guy Charbonneau
• Live audio mix: Mike Shinoda
• Executive producer: Janet Haase
• Head of production: Joby Barnhart
• Post production supervisor: Jason Cohon
• For Sunset Editorial: Nazeli Kodjoian, Sin Halina Sy
• Additional footage produced by Lenny Santiago
• 5.1 mixed of Roxy Performance
• DVD post producer: David May
• Associate producer: Raena Winscott
• Menu design: Sean Donelly
• 5.1 mix producer: David May
• 5.1 mix engineer: Ted Hall
• Assistant engineer: Bruce Balestier
• Audio mix: Mix Magic
• Colorist: Dave Hussey
• Title graphics: Carlos
• Authoring: Cinram
• Live performance filmed July 18, 2004 at The Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, CA
• Original concept by Michele Megan Dix and Jesse Ignjatovic

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

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