Fort Minor

I'm not a musical historian at all, and if you were to ask me all the members of my favourite band I'd struggle. I'm not fussed if bands chop and change members as long as the underlying music isn't butchered. But it is interesting seeing individuals decide to branch off on solo careers or side projects to help develop skills or take music to places where they otherwise couldn't. Fort Minor is the pet project of Mike Shinoda who hails from Linkin Park and it is an interesting turn from the 2 studio LP albums produced. I'll just get something straight. I don't like 90% of the rap/hiphop that's out there. Singing about how many 'ho's you get or the 'grillz' on your teeth are only surpassed by the accomanying video clip for the cringe factor.

The first thing that stands out on this album are the lyrics. There are some fantastic stories brought together with catchy loops and beats that really add to the feel of some of the songs.

Right Now
...Right now someone wishes they were you and I
Instead of second-guessing fatal thoughts of quiet suicide
But right now I'm staring out the window at a fiend
With holes in his arm and / holes in his jeans

...Yeah / right now somebody's sittin' in the darkness
Tryin' to figure how to put some heat in they apartment but
They got a little mattress / Little carpet
And they appreciate it 'cause some people on
a park bench

...Right now / it's somebody who ain't eat all week
That would kill / for the shit you through away in the street

A bit far removed from Grillz by Nelly:

...Rob the jewelry store and tell 'em make me a grill.
Dirrty, R&B.

...Piece simply symbolize success
I got da wrist wear and neck wear dats captivatin
But it's my smile dats got these on-lookers spectatin
My mouth piece simply certified a total package
Open up my mouth and you see mo carrots than a salad
My teeth are mind blowin givin everybody chillz
Call me George Foreman cuz I'm sellin everybody grillz

Ok, those lyrics are pretty funny and the song is a novalty but come on...

Probably the best song on the album is Kenji and I read somewhere when Mike played this song to some of his family members they wept after hearing it. With spoken words from an eldery woman and man during the song, it tells of some stories of Japanese Americans during WWII after Pearl Habour. Before, during and after being locked up in internment camps is covered and it portrays a pretty vivid picture of just some of the issues that these people faced just for being a certain nationality. The lyrics within the CD are printed on a background picture of Japanese Americans presumably from the time; providing an insight to the detail and thought given particularly to this song.

Other highlights from the album:
Cigarettes - Comparison between the rap industry and cigarettes
High Road - Story about making the album. Great use of a few piano cords throughout
Where'd You Go - About relationships and being apart

All in all its an excellent album that I'm happy to have added without hearing anything prior to the purchase. In this case I followed the artist because I knew of past projects. I believe Mike was across all parts of the album and it shows attention to detail in all aspects of the sound and polished final product. There are some fantastic examples of good rap -in my opinion- which is a fresh change from what's on the top 40 charts bringing up a generation of kids to, in short disrespect the opposite sex.