Audio Video Revolution
The recorded intersection of the rap and hard rock worlds, represented by Collision Course, is being heralded in some quarters as something that is borderline revolutionary. But it’s hardly as pioneering as it may appear on the surface. When you consider that vocalist MC Mike Shinoda already incorporates hip hop-inspired inflections into Linkin Park’s hard rock sound, and that Jay-Z applies similar dosages of lust and anger into his rap, the end result of this project is by no means a pairing of strange bedfellows.
In fact, these tracks mostly meld together seamlessly. As a general rule, Jay-Z opens these collaborations with stripped-down, straight raps, before big rock guitars kick in to introduce Linkin Park’s entrances. This approach is exemplified by the opener, “Dirt Off Your Shoulder/Lying from You.” On it, Jay-Z’s minimalist rapping is accompanied by lonesome backing vocals, before the track eventually evolves into hard rock, with predictably screamed vocals. The only tracks that break from this repeated pattern are “Izzo/In the End,” which plays off of what sounds like a Jackson Five sample, and “Big Pimpin'/Papercut,” which smartly utilizes a Middle Eastern-sounding melody.
Although these two acts have much in common when it comes to song subject matter, they nevertheless express themselves quite differently in many places. For instance, only Jay-Z could sing, “I got 99 problems/And the bitch ain’t one” with any authenticity during “Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer.” Face it: such sentiments are well out of the range of most suburban white boys – even the ones that try to fake it. But when Linkin Park screams, “Don’t turn your back on me/I won’t be ignored” during “Jigga What/Faint,” you’re immediately aware that this is distinctly suburban angst, and clearly not an instance of urban struggle.
While this experiment may not have produced any brand new flavors, it nevertheless doesn’t leave any lingering bad tastes, either. It’s almost certain to have the effect of appealing to both the rap and hard rock camps equally. When you consider that some of the first rap music initially sampled such sounds as classic AC/DC tracks, you realize quickly that these two genres have always influenced each other. An accident-waiting-to-happen title like Collision Course suggests that, in the end, somebody is certainly going to get hurt. But no harm is ever done here, since this release obeys all the road rules in order to insure a smooth, safe ride.
