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)
Reading My Eyes
Linkin Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Stupid-dope-fresh" type shit resurrector
Top gun, Miramar, best-of-the-best-er
The leave-an-emcee-peace-in-rest-er
The skill tester, the flex-the-gunner
The make-funner, the adversary make runner
The make summer cold with rhymes I spit
Kick gift to lifted delinquent wit
Fly like rocket when I rock it
Lock it down with this perverse verse
Every fucking curse a burst of hurt
Move crowds; Physical fitness rhymes
Coke heads couldn't do my lines
I'm decorated like Christmas pines
My battalion rocks
Emcees become silhouettes of chalk
Reading my eyes will say it in many ways
Losing my pride will save it in many days
Hit the dirt because the words I spit
Will do more than just rip your shirt
It'll bitch slap your soul, contact the track control
You're coming at me? You can't hack it though
So ridiculous, watching my crew get sick with this
Wickedness, pitching this, lyrical viciousness
To crews and cliques, made of men and mistresses
This is my life: the twilight in the fight night
And trying to see nothing but the highlights when I write
These eyes on horizons, die for my song, cry rhymes in Krylon
Fire on, move men telekinetically
Esoterically beat-speaking with clarity
Feel my verities, heroism of heresy
And sever every emcee I see with severity
Reading my eyes will say it in many ways
Losing my pride will save it in many days
Why not... what I came...
Why not... what I came...
Why not... what I came...
Why not give me what I came to deserve?
Why not give me what I came to believe?
Why not give me what I came to deserve?
Why not give me what I came to believe?
Reading my eyes will say it in many ways
Losing my pride will save it in many days
The song "Reading My Eyes" by Linkin Park is a powerful track that speaks to the pain and struggle of someone fighting to be heard in a world that doesn't seem to value their voice. The lyrics are a strong indictment of the music industry and the way that it often silences authentic, honest voices in favor of those that are more marketable and formulaic. The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the track, with the singer identifying himself as a "microphone molester" and a "machete undresser," both of which are aggressive, confrontational, and unconventional roles for an artist to take on.
The lyrics go on to reference various other aspects of the music industry, including the idea of being the "best-of-the-best-er" and the pressure to constantly "move crowds" with one's rhymes. There is a sense of rebellion and defiance throughout the song, as the singer refuses to be silenced or boxed in by the expectations of others. The repeated refrain of "Reading my eyes will say it in many ways/Losing my pride will save it in many days" serves as a reminder that even when it feels like no one is listening, there is power in speaking one's truth and refusing to compromise one's integrity or authenticity.
Overall, "Reading My Eyes" is a powerful and emotionally charged track that speaks to the struggle of finding one's voice in a world that often seems determined to drown it out. It explores themes of rebellion, defiance, and the power of speaking one's truth, and is an excellent example of Linkin Park's unique sound and lyrical style.
Line by Line Meaning
The microphone molester, machete undresser
I am an aggressive rapper and I strip lyrical opponents bare with ease.
"Stupid-dope-fresh" type shit resurrector
I am able to bring to life styles, rhymes, and music that are considered unconventional or outdated.
Top gun, Miramar, best-of-the-best-er
I am at the top of my game, the elite among my peers, and my abilities are unmatched.
The leave-an-emcee-peace-in-rest-er
My rapping is so powerful that it leaves other rappers feeling defeated and at rest.
The skill tester, the flex-the-gunner
My rapping is a display of my supreme skill and proficiency in the art of rhyming.
The make-funner, the adversary make runner
I am able to make fun of those who oppose me and they often decide to run away instead of battling me.
The make summer cold with rhymes I spit
My rhymes are so powerful that they can cool down or freeze the summer heat.
Kick gift to lifted delinquent wit
I gift my witty and skillful rhymes to those who indulge in delinquent activities to lift them up.
I be the prophet, my hand -- top it? Stop it.
I am a prophet of the rap game and my skills are so great that no one can surpass or stop me.
Fly like rocket when I rock it
I am able to soar high like a rocket when I perform and deliver my rhymes with power.
Lock it down with this perverse verse
My rhymes are so provocative that they lock down and capture people's attention.
Every fucking curse a burst of hurt
Each curse word I use in my rhymes is a burst of pain and emotion that hits hard.
Move crowds; Physical fitness rhymes
My rhymes are so engaging that they get the crowd moving physically while delivering a message.
Coke heads couldn't do my lines
Even if someone was trying to keep up with my rhymes while high on cocaine, they still couldn't match me.
I'm decorated like Christmas pines
I am adorned and decorated with rhymes and skills like a Christmas tree with ornaments.
My battalion rocks
My crew is strong and we are a force to be reckoned with in the rap game.
Emcees become silhouettes of chalk
Other rappers are killed off and become forgotten like chalk outlines after being defeated by me.
Reading my eyes will say it in many ways
My eyes reveal the depth and complexity of my thoughts and emotions in many different ways.
Losing my pride will save it in many days
I am willing to humbly accept defeat in order to save my pride and continue fighting another day.
Hit the dirt because the words I spit
My rhymes are so powerful that they knock people down to the ground.
It'll bitch slap your soul, contact the track control
My rhymes hit so hard they are like a slap to the soul and can take control over the entire track.
You're coming at me? You can't hack it though
No one can measure up to me and my skills, even if they think they can take me on.
So ridiculous, watching my crew get sick with this
It's absurd to watch my crew become addicted to my rhymes and abilities.
Wickedness, pitching this, lyrical viciousness
My rhymes are so wicked and vicious that they pitch and send chills down the spine of the listener.
To crews and cliques, made of men and mistresses
My rhymes are for all kinds of groups, including both men and women.
This is my life: the twilight in the fight night
My life is like the twilight of the night, a time of transition and change, especially when I'm performing on stage.
And trying to see nothing but the highlights when I write
When I am writing lyrics, I try to focus only on the best and most memorable parts, like highlights of a game.
These eyes on horizons, die for my song, cry rhymes in Krylon
My eyes are constantly scanning the horizon for inspiration and my passion for my music runs so deep that my words are like paint on a wall.
Fire on, move men telekinetically
My rhymes are so powerful that they are like fire, and they move people without even touching them, as if through telekinetic abilities.
Esoterically beat-speaking with clarity
My rhymes are deep and filled with hidden meanings, yet they are still delivered with crystal-clear clarity.
Feel my verities, heroism of heresy
Listen to my rhymes and feel the truth and reality within them. Even though they may go against the norm or be seen as rebellious, they carry a heroism within them.
And sever every emcee I see with severity
Every rapper I encounter and perform against is defeated and taken down by my severe and powerful rhymes.
Why not give me what I came to deserve?
I have worked hard and have the skills to deserve great recognition and success.
Why not give me what I came to believe?
I have a belief in my skills and abilities and feel that recognition and success should be given to me as a result.
Contributed by Emma Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
XTheLastStar
Lyric's:
The Microphone Molesta'
Machete undresser
Stupid dope fresh tight sh*t resurrector
Top gun yeah mon best of the besta'
The living MC peace and resta'
Successa, the flexa gunna'
The make funna the adversary make runna'
Make summa cold with rhymes that spit
Kickin' gifted, lifted, delinquent 'wit
I be the prophet, my hand
Top it, stop it, felt like rockin when I rock it
Locked it down with this perverse verse
Every f*ckin' curse I burst to hurt
Move crowds physical fitness rhymes
Coke heads couldn't do my lines
Decorated like Christmas pines, my battalion rocks
Emcees become silhouettes of shock
Reading my eyes will say it in many ways
Losing my pride will save it in many days
Hit the dirt
Because the words I spit will do more than just rip your shirt
I'll b*tch slap your soul
Get back the track control
You coming at me?
You can't hack it though
So ridiculous
Watching my crew get sick with this
Wickedness
Pitchin' this
Lyrical viciousness
To crews and cliques
Maiden, men, and mistresses
This is my life
The twilight, the fight night
And trying to see nothing but the highlights
When I write
These eyes on horizons
Die for my son, cry wrongs and Krylon
Fire on, rude men telekinetically
Esoterically beats become a clarity
Feel verities, heroism, and heresy
And sever every Emcee I see with severity
Reading my eyes will say it in many ways
Losing my pride will save it in many days
Why not...
What I keep...
Why not...
What I keep...
Why not...
What I keep...
Why not give me what I came to deserve
Why not give me what I came to believe
Why not give me what I came to deserve
Why not give me what I came to believe
Reading my eyes will say it in many ways
Losing my pride will save it in many days.
Antonio Alcalá
Mark Wakefield is sounding really good here!
a stupid meme channel
@Devotii that’s the first shopping cart variant not the baby variant
Devotii
@ from the linkinpedia page for the xero demo tape "To date, only JomJom's, Falloon19's, Anna Shinoda's, and the mysterious eBay auction's tapes have been the only ones confirmed to exist outside of possible copies that the band still might have." - so 4 copies plus any the band have exist :) pretty cool!
Devotii
@ I heard that Mike gave it to her when they first met, I think the story is on Anna's IG
Rishi Upadhyay
Agreed
Rick F
meh
Adriana Muñoz
FINALLY THEY HAVE GOOD SOUND QUALITY
Adriana Muñoz
@Izler Valdivia Lajo love that version. They should officially release that too even though it's live
Izler Valdivia Lajo
however the live version is unforgettable
Izler Valdivia Lajo
yes!!!!