Formed in 1996, Linkin Park rose to international fame with their debut studio album, Hybrid Theory (2000), which became certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Released during the peak of the nu metal scene, the album's singles' heavy airplay on MTV led the singles "One Step Closer", "Crawling" and "In the End" all to chart highly on the US Mainstream Rock chart. The lattermost also crossed over to the nation's Billboard Hot 100. Their second album, Meteora (2003), continued the band's success. The band explored experimental sounds on their third album, Minutes to Midnight (2007). By the end of the decade, Linkin Park was among the most successful and popular rock acts.
The band continued to explore a wider variation of musical types on their fourth album, A Thousand Suns (2010), layering their music with more electronic sounds. The band's fifth album, Living Things (2012), combined musical elements from all of their previous records. Their sixth album, The Hunting Party (2014), returned to a heavier rock sound, and their seventh album, One More Light (2017), was a substantially more pop-oriented record. Linkin Park went on a hiatus when longtime lead vocalist Bennington died in July 2017. In April 2022, Shinoda revealed the band was neither working on new music nor planning on touring for the foreseeable future.
Linkin Park is among the best-selling bands of the 21st century and the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 100 million records worldwide. They have won two Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, 10 MTV Europe Music Awards and three World Music Awards. In 2003, MTV2 named Linkin Park the sixth-greatest band of the music video era and the third-best of the new millennium. Billboard ranked Linkin Park No. 19 on the Best Artists of the Decade list. In 2012, the band was voted as the greatest artist of the 2000s in a Bracket Madness poll on VH1. In 2014, the band was declared as "The Biggest Rock Band in the World Right Now" by Kerrang!.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linkin_Park
Studio albums
Hybrid Theory (2000)
Meteora (2003)
Minutes to Midnight (2007)
A Thousand Suns (2010)
Living Things (2012)
The Hunting Party (2014)
One More Light (2017)
[Riff Raff]
Linkin Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, Mike, what's up?
This is Roc, just asking you what's happening?
I was just touching base, seeing how your Easter went
Um, just seeing if you're going to see Joe sometime soon, too,
Because he's got my keyboard that I've been trying to get back
I've been trying to call him and he hasn't been returning any messages
So I'm seeing what the best angle is to, you know, get it back
The lyrics to Linkin Park's "Riff Raff" may seem like a nonsensical voicemail message at first, but they actually provide some interesting insight into the band's personal experiences. The message is left by a friend named Roc, who is reaching out to Mike Shinoda to ask about his recent Easter holiday and to inquire about getting back a keyboard that he loaned to Joe Hahn, another member of the band. The lyrics reveal a casual conversation between friends and provide a glimpse into the everyday life of the band members.
However, the song's meaning goes further than just a simple voicemail message. The song's name, "Riff Raff," can be interpreted as a commentary on the band's rise to fame and the challenges they faced along the way. The term "riffraff" refers to a group of people who are seen as undesirable or worthless, and the lyrics may suggest that the band felt like outsiders or misfits before achieving success. The song can be seen as a reflection on both the band's past struggles and their current position as successful musicians.
Overall, "Riff Raff" is a unique and personal song that reveals a different side of Linkin Park's music. The lyrics are relatable and provide an intimate glimpse into the band members' personal lives, while also exploring themes of identity and belonging in the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Mike, what's up?
Informal greeting to the person named Mike, asking for an update.
This is Roc, just asking you what's happening?
Introducing oneself as Roc and inquiring about any interesting events taking place.
I was just touching base, seeing how your Easter went
Stating the reason for the call, which is to check on Mike's Easter celebrations.
Um, just seeing if you're going to see Joe sometime soon, too,
Mentioning the name of a mutual acquaintance, Joe, and inquiring if Mike will be seeing him soon.
Because he's got my keyboard that I've been trying to get back
Explaining the reason for the inquiry about Joe, which is to recover a keyboard that belongs to Roc.
I've been trying to call him and he hasn't been returning any messages
Informing Mike that attempts to contact Joe have been made without success.
So I'm seeing what the best angle is to, you know, get it back
Expressing the desire to recover the keyboard and asking for suggestions on how to go about it.
Heyy dude this is a good idea to get a message around... I like that
Optimistically affirming the idea of relaying a message through Mike and expressing approval of the conversation.
Contributed by Nicholas E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@konstantinosshinoda1008
This song will never die
@nishee424
Konstantinos Shinoda true that
@deepakwanarse
Konstantinos Shinoda my sis deleted this video from my phone π its died for me
@linsundari0359
deepak wanarse you redownload it....this is my first time love LP
@deepakwanarse
Lin Sundari03 ππ yes sir on my way
@linsundari0359
deepak wanarse hello I'am isn't sir
@rodja6647
15 Years, still one of the best songs!
@nocturnal2155
Finally some recent comments
@rodja6647
Nocturnal sKΒ Lol
@INDIANA0PACERS
You're telling me. I'm still listening to Smooth Criminal and Youth of a Nation. Take me back to 2000 please.