Linkin Park didn’t become famous overnight. It actually took years of hard work, a lot of “no” from record labels, and a few big name changes to get where they are. The band started as high school friends making beats in a bedroom and ended up becoming the voice of a generation.
Their journey from a struggling local band called Xero to global superstars is a classic story of never giving up. These 13 tracks tell the story of how they found their sound and finally got the world to listen.
One Step Closer
This song was the band’s breakout moment after years of being rejected by every major label. They played over 40 showcase performances for record executives before finally getting signed to Warner Bros. Records.
The raw energy in this track comes from the band’s actual frustration with the music industry at the time. It became their debut single in 2000 and proved to the world that their mix of rock and rap was the future.
Crawling
This track shows the moment the band found their emotional heart. It was one of the first songs where Chester Bennington’s powerful singing style really clicked with Mike Shinoda’s heavy production.
The song was a massive success and earned the band their first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. It helped their debut album, Hybrid Theory, become the best-selling debut of the 21st century.
In the End
This hit represents the perfection of the “Hybrid Theory” sound that the band worked on for years. Interestingly, Chester Bennington initially didn’t even want the song on the album because he didn’t think it was good enough.
It ended up becoming their most famous song and a Diamond-certified hit in the United States. Its success proved that the band’s vision of blending different genres could reach a massive pop audience.
Papercut
This was the song that convinced the band they finally had something special. It was the opening track on their first album and set the vibe for everything that followed.
The band considers this one of their best songs because it perfectly balances rap, rock, and electronic beats. It remains a fan favorite and was a staple of their live shows from day one.
Points of Authority
This track highlights the band’s roots in hip-hop and DJ culture. It was built around a demo titled “Oh No” that featured Mike Shinoda’s early production skills and Joe Hahn’s turntable work.
It became a standout track that showed the band was more than just a rock group. The song’s unique rhythm helped it become a multi-platinum success as part of their debut album’s legendary run.
Numb
By the time this song came out, Linkin Park had moved from being “discovered” to being the biggest band on the planet. It captured the feeling of being pressured by others, which resonated with millions of fans worldwide.
The song was a record-breaking hit on the Modern Rock charts, staying at number one for 12 weeks. Its music video is currently one of the most-viewed rock videos in YouTube history.
Faint
This song showed the band’s evolution during their second album, Meteora. It was written to be a high-speed, high-energy track that demanded the listener’s attention right from the start.
It reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2003. The track proved the band wasn’t just a “one-album wonder” and that they could stay at the top of the music world.
Breaking the Habit
This was a major turning point because it was the first single that didn’t feature Mike Shinoda’s rapping. It showed the band was willing to take risks and try a more electronic, melodic sound.
Mike Shinoda actually worked on the lyrics for six years before the song was finished. It became a massive hit and won an MTV VMA for its unique anime-style music video.
Somewhere I Belong
This was the lead single for their second album and had a lot of pressure behind it. The band spent months trying to get the intro just right, eventually reversing a guitar sample to create the iconic sound.
It debuted at number one on rock radio and helped Meteora sell over 800,000 copies in its first week. This track cemented their status as the leaders of the nu-metal movement.
What I’ve Done
This song marked the band’s discovery of a new, more mainstream rock sound. They teamed up with legendary producer Rick Rubin to move away from their original style and try something more raw.
The song became a global smash after being featured as the main theme for the first Transformers movie. It introduced Linkin Park to a whole new generation of movie fans and listeners.
Bleed It Out
This track was born out of a desire to create a song with a “party” vibe that would be fun to play at festivals. It features a simple, driving beat and rapid-fire rapping from Mike Shinoda.
It became one of the band’s most popular live songs because of its high energy. The song’s success showed that the band could still write heavy, catchy tracks even as they changed their overall sound.
New Divide
Written specifically for a movie soundtrack, this song showed that the band was now a major part of Hollywood culture. It was their highest-charting single in several countries around the world.
The track was a massive digital success and showed that Linkin Park could dominate the charts even between album cycles. It remains one of their most-streamed songs on all platforms today.
Waiting for the End
This song represents the final stage of their discovery journey, where they became a truly experimental band. It mixes different genres like reggae, hip-hop, and synth-pop into one track.
Critics praised the song for its creative and forward-thinking production. It proved that Linkin Park had successfully evolved from a local bedroom project into a band that could do anything.
Final Word
The story of how Linkin Park was discovered is all about staying true to a vision even when everyone says no. They went from being the most rejected band in Los Angeles to one of the biggest names in history. These songs are the proof that if you keep pushing, the world will eventually listen.