Since their debut album in 2000, Linkin Park has established themselves as one of the highest-selling acts in the music industry, achieving nearly 26 million album sales and over 31 million track sales, as reported by Nielsen Music.
The band has received numerous accolades, including Grammy Awards and MTV Video Music Awards, and their impact is underscored by 1.25 billion audio streams and nearly 6 million radio plays.
Their influence extends far beyond the music scene, as demonstrated by their innovative ventures with other industries. Notably, their collaboration with American DJ Steve Aoki on the gaming-inspired track “A Light That Never Comes,” in partnership with gaming powerhouse Kuuluu Interactive Entertainment AG, highlights their versatility.
Despite being a rock band, Linkin Park has consistently defied genre boundaries, partnering with artists across rap, R&B, and pop, cementing their reputation as one of the most accomplished collaborators in the music world.
On September 5, 2024, Linkin Park unveiled plans for a comeback album and tour, introducing Dead Sara’s Emily Armstrong as their new co-vocalist.
This marked the beginning of a transformative era for the band, whose legacy is defined by a sound that shaped a generation. The synergy between Chester Bennington’s emotive vocals and Mike Shinoda’s dynamic rap verses became their signature, while the instrumental brilliance of their lineup captured the essence of their time.
The “From Zero World Tour” represents the band’s first major tour in seven years, taking place without Chester Bennington. It commenced on September 11, 2024, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, with sold-out performances across the United States, Brazil, South Korea, England, Germany, and other countries. The tour’s initial leg concluded in Saudi Arabia on December 12, 2024, at Riyadh’s Banban, following two packed shows in São Paulo, Brazil, with Linkin Park tickets selling out for all their shows.
The 2025 segment of the “From Zero World Tour” is set to begin on January 31, 2025, at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City. The band is expected to travel across continents, including Europe and America.
Ahead of the tour’s highly anticipated kickoff, we reflect on some of Linkin Park’s most remarkable collaborations over the years.
Linkin Park ft. Steve Aoki—“A Light That Never Comes”
Linkin Park’s collaboration with Steve Aoki on “A Light That Never Comes” marked a significant moment in the band’s discography. This track, featured on their second remix album, Recharged, became their 26th single and their first venture with the renowned DJ and record producer.
The song made its debut as a surprise during Steve Aoki’s 2013 performance at the Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo. Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda joined Aoki onstage, unveiling the track to the audience. For weeks, shaky, distorted cellphone videos from the concert were the only evidence of its existence.
The single was later unlocked through an innovative free-to-play action/strategy game developed in collaboration with Kuuluu Interactive Entertainment AG. The game, featuring Linkin Park-designed characters and missions, showcased the band’s creativity, with Mike Shinoda, a BFA graduate in illustration, contributing to its design. The song also premiered via Xbox Music, where it was streamed on demand and serviced to radio.
In its debut week, “A Light That Never Comes” achieved remarkable success, selling 55,000 downloads in the U.S. It peaked at number seven on the US Alternative Airplay chart and number eight on the US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, solidifying its impact on both rock and electronic music landscapes.
Linkin Park ft. Jay-Z’s “Numb/Encore”
“Numb/Encore” is a groundbreaking 2004 collaboration between Jay-Z and Linkin Park, featured on their EP Collision Course. Released on December 13, 2004, through Warner Bros., Machine Shop, Def Jam, and Roc-A-Fella Records, the track creatively merges Linkin Park’s “Numb” with Jay-Z’s “Encore,” both originally released in 2003. This genre-blending masterpiece highlighted the seamless fusion of rock and hip-hop, earning acclaim as a milestone in both artists’ careers.
The single achieved significant commercial success, climbing to number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and securing the 93rd spot on Billboard’s Year-End Hot 100 singles chart in 2005. Internationally, Numb/Encore reached number 14 in the UK, number five in both France and the Netherlands, and claimed the number-one spot in Ireland for three consecutive weeks. By June 2024, it became the third track by both Jay-Z and Linkin Park to exceed 1 billion Spotify streams.
Its success was further cemented at the 2006 Grammy Awards, where it won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, showcasing its lasting impact as one of the most iconic cross-genre collaborations in music history.
Linkin Park feat. Rakim – “Guilty All the Same”
In 2014, Linkin Park collaborated with legendary rapper Rakim for the electrifying track “Guilty All the Same,” featured on their album The Hunting Party. Known for his selectivity with guest appearances, Rakim eagerly embraced the chance to work with one of his favourite rock bands.
During a 2014 interview with XXL, Rakim praised Linkin Park for their exceptional artistry, saying, “I got a lot of respect for Linkin Park. I’ve been a fan since they came out.” This fusion of Rakim’s commanding lyricism and Linkin Park’s high-octane sound showcased the band’s versatility and further solidified their reputation for groundbreaking musical collaborations.
Linkin Park ft. Kiiara—”Heavy””
“Heavy” is a 2017 track by American rock band Linkin Park, featuring the vocals of American singer Kiiara. It served as the lead single from their seventh studio album, One More Light.
Released digitally on February 16, 2017, the official music video followed on March 9 via their YouTube channel, along with a lyric video. Tragically, this would be the band’s final single to be released during Chester Bennington’s lifetime, as he passed away by suicide five months after its release.
The song debuted at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100, selling 35,000 downloads in its first week. It dipped to number 82 the following week but steadily climbed to a peak position of number 50. After Chester’s death, the song re-entered the chart in August 2017, eventually reaching number 45, and was certified Gold by September 2017.
X-Ecutioners feat. Linkin Park – “It’s Goin’ Down”
From the X-Ecutioners’ 2002 album Built for Scratch, the track “It’s Goin’ Down” features a powerful collaboration with Linkin Park. The song blends the DJ crew’s impressive turntable skills with Mike Shinoda’s sharp lyrical flow. In his verse, Shinoda engages in lyrical warfare, spitting lines like: “The combination of a vocal caress/ With lungs that gasp for breath from emotional stress with special effects/ And a distorted collage/ Carefully lodged between beats of.”
Busta Rhymes feat. Linkin Park – “We Made It”
“We Made It” was initially set to appear on Busta Rhymes’ eighth album, Back on My B.S., but ultimately didn’t make the cut. The track became a triumphant anthem, with Busta Rhymes reflecting on his success. Chester Bennington delivered a powerful hook, while Rhymes and Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda crafted bold verses that gave the song a poignant edge. Despite the track’s exclusion from the album, the artists filmed a music video for it, solidifying the collaboration as a standout moment.
Linkin Park feat. Stormzy & Pusha T – “Good Goodbye”
From their 2017 album One More Light, Linkin Park teamed up with UK grime artists Stormzy and Pusha T for the track “Good Goodbye.” The song blends rock with hip-hop, allowing both MCs to shine within the band’s dynamic world. Pusha T delivers lines like, “Wings up, now I’m airborne/ King Push, they got a chair for him/ Make way for the new queen/ The old lineup, where they cheer for ’em,” showcasing his distinctive style.
Mike Shinoda shared that the inspiration for the song stemmed from his passion for basketball, explaining it was meant to capture the moment when a player fouls out and the crowd reacts. Chester Bennington added that the song was intended to reflect both being ejected from a game and breaking free from a bad relationship.
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