Michael Kenji "Mike" Shinoda is a Japanese American musician, record producer, and artist. He is best known as the rapper, principal songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Linkin Park. Shinoda is also noted as a solo rapper in his side-project, Fort Minor. He also provides artwork, production, and mixing for both projects. Shinoda was born and raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Agoura Hills. His father is Japanese American and his mother is Caucasian. He also has a younger brother, Jason. Shinoda attended Parkman Elementary and Lindero Canyon Middle School.... As per his mother's wishes, Shinoda began his classical piano training with lessons around the age of six. His enthusiasm grew eventually and at the age of thirteen, he expressed the desire to move toward playing jazz, blues, and even hip-hop. During his middle school and high school years, he added the guitar and, eventually, rap-style vocals to his repertoire. After his teens, Mike Shinoda's rap interests found a source of encouragement in Brad Delson, with whom he started to write and record songs in a makeshift studio set up in his bedroom.
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| Birthdate: | February 11, 1977 |
| Birthplace: | Agoura Hills, California |
| Age: | 35 |
| Height: | 6' 0" |
| Also known as: | Michael Kenji Shinoda, Shinoda, Michael Kenji, Shinoda, Mike |