Numb/Encore

Background

Before Mike Shinoda formed Linkin Park in 1996, he was an experimental musician who enjoyed combining songs by Jay-Z with tracks recorded by the Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, and others. A couple of years later, Jay-Z had a similar idea after hearing similar mash-ups by Danger Mouse and Cheap Cologne. He contacted Shinoda and the other members of Linkin Park, suggesting that they would work on some material together. Linkin Park's first two albums – Hybrid Theory and Meteora – had both been worldwide successes, and Jay-Z felt he could work with the band. Shinoda produced three mash-ups based on Jay-Z's The Black Album before responding by email.

Shinoda and Jay-Z continued to correspond by email but eventually met in person to discuss plans. Initially the idea was to create several mash-ups for a new show premiering on MTV called MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups in 2004. However, instead of simply reconfiguring the tracks, the two artists decided to enter the studio and re-record the raps on top of Shinoda's songs. Some of the musical elements were also altered to create an alternative sound. Both Linkin Park and Jay-Z found the session so rewarding that they believed the international audience deserved to hear the results. The songs were performed at Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood in July 2004.

"Numb/Encore" was released as a single in November that year. The song – one of six collaborations on the EP – combined the Jay-Z song "Encore" (taken from his 2003 album The Black Album) and the Linkin Park song "Numb" (taken from their 2003 album Meteora). The released version also contained background vocals from Kanye West that were recorded for the original release.

The official music video was directed by Kimo Proudfoot. It features a mix of Linkin Park and Jay-Z's performance of the song at The Roxy and behind the scenes footage, which was in black and white. The performance and most of the scenes can be found on the Collision Course DVD. However, the music video is not entirely available on the DVD.

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Numb/Encore" peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, where "Numb" had charted higher at number 11. However, "Numb/Encore" did not manage to have as much airplay on modern rock stations as “Numb” did. As of June 2014, the song has sold 2.078 million copies in the US.

In the United Kingdom, "Numb/Encore" achieved the record for the longest stay in the top 20 without ever reaching the top 10. Despite only peaking at number 14 – the same peak that "Numb" had achieved 15 months earlier – the song has managed to spend 45The Official Charts Company states that the single has spent 45 weeks in the top 75. weeks in the top 100, 13 of them in the top 20.The former record has been beaten by Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours", which spent 60 weeks in the top 100. It has since sold over 1,800,000 copies and been certified 3× platinum.

"Numb/Encore" won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the Grammy Awards of 2006. The show featured a performance of the song, during which Paul McCartney made a surprise appearance and came onto the stage to perform a duet with Chester Bennington of the Beatles' song "Yesterday". "Yesterday" replaced "Numb" after the first rap verse of the mash-up.

Track listing

Charts

Weekly

Year-end charts

Certifications

Notes

References

References

1. (June 10, 2024). "Linkin Park + Jay-Z's "Numb/Encore" hits exclusive territory of one BILLION Spotify streams". New Fury Media.
2. Wiederhorn, John. (October 28, 2004). "Jay-Z and Linkin Park show Danger Mouse how it's done". [[MTV Networks]].
3. Jones, Steve. (November 4, 2004). "The show goes on for Jay-Z". Gannet Co. Inc.
4. Trust, Gary. (June 24, 2014). "Ask Billboard: With Nico & Vinz, Norway Continues U.S. Chart Invasion". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
5. "numb/encore - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
6. "numb - full Official Chart History".
7. (February 11, 2005). "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30".
8. (February 12, 2005). "Hits of the World – Eurocharts".
9. "UK Year-End Chart 2004". [[Official Charts Company]].
10. "2005 Annual ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association.
11. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2005".
12. "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop.
13. "Rapports Annuels 2005". Ultratop.
14. (April 3, 2018). "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2005". [[Crowley Broadcast Analysis]].
15. "Top de l'année Top Singles 2005". SNEP.
16. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2005". GfK Entertainment.
17. "2005 Irish Singles Chart". IRMA.
18. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2005". Dutch Top 40.
19. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2005". MegaCharts.
20. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 2005". [[Romanian Top 100]].
21. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2005". [[TopHit]].
22. "Årslista Singlar – År 2005". Sverigetopplistan.
23. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien.
24. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company.
25. "Billboard Top 100 – 2005".
26. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2006". Official Charts Company.
27. "UK Year-End Charts 2007". [[ChartsPlus]].
28. "2008 Year-End UK Charts". Official Charts Company.
29. Smith, Carl. (September 13, 2024). "Linkin Park's Official biggest songs in the UK". [[Official Charts Company]].