Remember the Name

"Remember the Name"
Song

"Remember the Name" is a rap song by Fort Minor, the side project of rock band Linkin Park's co-lead vocalist Mike Shinoda. It is the second single from his 2005 album The Rising Tied, released on October 5, 2005. It was released alongside the album's first single, "Petrified". The song also features hip hop group Styles of Beyond. A music video for the song was released in 2005, directed by Kimo Proudfoot.

Despite numerous low peaks in different charts, the song was used extensively in the media, particularly sports events, and received a Platinum certification by the RIAA in 2009.

Background

David Campbell conducted the strings for the song. Since Shinoda performed the main string loop on the keyboards, the cellists had a difficult time performing the loop. Eventually, they resorted to breaking up the phrase, in which each cellist plays one or two notes.

"Remember the Name" was leaked onto the Internet on August 20, 2005, several months prior to the album's release. The song brought positive reviews from the hip hop community. It was also planned to be the first single from The Rising Tied but this changed just before the album came onto the shelves. Eventually, "Petrified" and "Remember the Name" were released together in one vinyl, CD or digital download in October 5, 2005.

Music video

The music video directed by Kimo Proudfoot is simplistic; it shows Mike Shinoda and Tak/Takbir Bashir and Ryu/Ryan Maginn of Styles of Beyond walking around in a bar. Ryu is noticeably wearing an official Jay-Z t-shirt (Jay-Z is an executive producer to The Rising Tied).

Numerous cameo appearances appear in the video. Many Linkin Park bandmates of Shinoda appear: lead vocalist Chester Bennington is seen at the end of Shinoda's first verse playing pinball and shakes his hand; Machine Shop Recordings A&R and guitarist Brad Delson can be seen during Tak's first verse; and drummer Rob Bourdon appears during the last chorus at a bar when Tak goes to get a drink. Holly Brook, who is a featured artist on "Where'd You Go", another song by Fort Minor, also makes an appearance, leaning on the wall during verse. Rob Dyrdek and Christopher "Big Black" Boykin of MTV's Rob & Big can be seen at the end of the video right after Shinoda's last verse.

Track listing

Vinyl single • iTunes EP

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Petrified" (Radio Edit)	3:43
2.	"Petrified" (Album Version)	3:41
3.	"Petrified" (Instrumental)	3:42
4.	"Remember the Name" (Radio Edit)	3:47
5.	"Remember the Name" (Album Version)	3:47
6.	"Remember the Name" (Instrumental)	3:48

Appearance in media

The song has been used extensively in the media, and played at many stadiums and arenas throughout the United States, including several colleges. The National Basketball Association used "Remember the Name" as the theme song for the 2006 and 2007 NBA Playoffs as well as the 2008 NBA Draft. The song is also featured on the soundtrack of the EA Sports video game NBA Live 06.

The song was also used in episode 12 of Season 2 of CBS's Numb3rs "The OG".

The song is also featured in promotional TV trailers for the 2006 movie, Gridiron Gang, NBC's 2006 series, Friday Night Lights, and Pride, directed by Sunu Gonera, as well as the trailer for Fighting and the trailer for the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid.

The song has also been featured in the TV commercial for the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008.

On March 19, 2011 UFC premiered the trailer for UFC 129 with "Remember The Name" being featured.

In October 2012 BBC One used the opening chorus of "Remember The Name" to advertise a Shinty Cup match.

The song was also featured in the 2013 movie The Smurfs 2.

Chart performance

The single initially failed to chart. However, in 2006, the single received moderate success due to its use in the media and possibly the success of "Where'd You Go", another Fort Minor single.

Chart (2006)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	66
US Billboard Pop Songs	38

External links

• "Fort-Minor|Remember-The-Name" lyrics at MafiaDJ