It all started in February 2004 when a gifted producer who called himself Danger Mouse edited a seamless mash-up of Jay-Z’s The Black Album with The Beatles’ “White Album.” Though it was created for fun, The Grey Album quickly went viral and became an underground sensation. Danger Mouse went on to major success as a producer and rapper and his oddball mash-up attracted attention from major names in big places.Seeing dollar signs, MTV decided to put together a mash-up series that involved some of the biggest bands working with the hottest rappers. One of the first people the network approached was Jay-Z, who liked the idea. When the network asked him who he’d want to work with he answered, “Linkin Park.”Jay-Z’s manager contacted the band, which was excited at the idea of working with the hip-hop entrepreneur. Nine months later, the two artists released the six-track EP Collision Course, which explored the creative possibilities of mashing up metal and rap.As soon as Linkin Park’s co-voc...
