Groundbreaking in more ways than one, Linkin Park and Jay Z’s collaboration EP, 2004’s Collision Course, showcased what happens when hip-hop and rock join forces. Despite the enduring popularity of these cross-pollinating events, Collision Course felt particularly important because of the circumstances for both Linkin Park and Jay-Z surrounding its release. The mashed-up songs felt like brand new tracks, instead of merely just a “collision”.
Buoyed by lead single “Numb/Encore”, the EP became the first EP to top the Billboard 200 since Alice In Chains accomplished the same in 1994 with Jar Of Flies. Now, “Numb/Encore” is still considered a veritable epochal moment in music history, with the song having reached a staggering one BILLION streams on Spotify now. It was truly something on the level of Run-DMC and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way”, and once you hear it, you’ll never forget it.
