Hybrid Theory is the debut studio album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on October 24, 2000, through Warner Bros. Records. Recorded at NRG Recordings in North Hollywood, California, and produced by Don Gilmore, the album’s lyrical themes deal with problems lead vocalist Chester Bennington experienced during his adolescence, including drug abuse and the constant fighting and divorce of his parents. Hybrid Theory takes its title from the previous name of the band as well as the concept of music theory and combining different styles.
Four singles were released from Hybrid Theory: “One Step Closer”, “In the End”, “Crawling” and “Papercut”, all of them being responsible for launching Linkin Park into mainstream popularity. While “In the End” was the most successful of the four, all of the singles in the album remain some of the band’s most successful songs to date. Although “Runaway”, “Points of Authority”, and “My December” from the special edition bonus disc album were not released as singles, they were minor hits on alternative rock radio stations thanks to the success of all of the band’s singles and the album.
Generally receiving positive reviews from critics upon its release, Hybrid Theory became a strong commercial success. Peaking at number two on the US Billboard 200, it is certified 12x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also reached the top 10 in 15 other countries and has sold 27 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling debut album since Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction (1987) and the best-selling rock album of the 21st century. At the 44th Grammy Awards, it won Best Hard Rock Performance for “Crawling”.
In 2002, Linkin Park released the remix album Reanimation. It included the songs of Hybrid Theory remixed and reinterpreted by nu metal and underground hip hop artists. Contributors to the album included Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, Jonathan Davis, Stephen Carpenter, and Aaron Lewis. The sound of later Linkin Park albums would involve experimentation with classical instruments such as strings and piano, both of which, along with the same elements of electronica from Hybrid Theory, are prominently included in the band’s second studio album, Meteora.
On August 13, 2020, Warner Records announced a re-release of Hybrid Theory for its 20th anniversary. A previously unreleased demo song, “She Couldn’t”, was put out at the same time.
1. “Papercut” 3:04
2. “One Step Closer” 2:35
3. “With You” 3:23
4. “Points of Authority” 3:20
5. “Crawling” 3:29
6. “Runaway” 3:03
7. “By Myself” 3:09
8. “In the End” 3:36
9. “A Place for My Head” 3:04
10. “Forgotten” 3:14
11. “Cure for the Itch” 2:37
12. “Pushing Me Away” 3:11
1. “One Step Closer” (rock mix) 2:37
2. “It’s Goin’ Down” (featuring Mike Shinoda and Joe Hahn) 4:09
3. “Papercut” (recorded live at BBC1) 3:07
4. “In the End” (recorded live at BBC1) 3:25
5. “Point of Authority” (recorded live at BBC1) 3:24
6. “High Voltage” 3:44
7. “Step Up” (1999 demo) 3:54
8. “My December” 4:21
9. “A Place for My Head” (live at Docklands Arena, London”) 3:10
10. “Points of Authority” (live at Docklands Arena, London) 3:29
11. “Papercut” (live at Docklands Arena, London) 3:12
12. “Buy Myself” (Marilyn Manson remix) 4:26
1. “Opening” 1:07
2. “Pts.OF.Athrty” (featuring Jay Gordon) 3:45
3. “Enth E Nd” (featuring KutMasta Kurt and Motion Man) 4:00
4. “[Chali]” 0:23
5. “Frgt/10” (featuring Alchemist and Chali 2na) 3:32
6. “P5hng Me A*wy” (featuring Stephen Richards) 4:38
7. “Plc.4 Mie Hæd” (featuring Amp Live and Zion) 4:20
8. “X-Ecutioner Style” (featuring Sean C, Roc Raida and Black Thought) 1:49
9. “H! Vltg3” (featuring Evidence, Pharoahe Monch and DJ Babu) 3:30
10. “[Riff Raff]” 0:21
11. “Wth>You” (featuring Aceyalone) 4:12
12. “Ntr\Mssion” Shinoda 0:29
13. “Ppr:Kut” (featuring Cheapshot, Jubacca, Rasco and Planet Asia) 3:26
14. “Rnw@y” (featuring Backyard Bangers and Phoenix Orion) 3:13
15. “My<Dsmbr” (featuring Mickey P. and Kelli Ali) 4:17
16. “[Stef]” 0:10
17. “By_Myslf” (featuring Josh Abraham and Stephen Carpenter) 3:42
18. “Kyur4 th Ich” 2:32
19. “1Stp Klosr” (featuring The Humble Brothers and Jonathan Davis) 5:46
20. “Krwlng” (featuring Aaron Lewis) 5:40
1. “In the End” (demo) 3:48
2. “Dedicated” (1999 demo) 3:11
3. “With You” (live at Docklands Arena, London) 3:22
4. “High Voltage” (live at Docklands Arena, London) 4:02
5. “Points of Authority” (demo) 3:00
6. “Stick and Move” (“Runaway” demo 1999) 0:55
7. “Esaul” (“A Place for My Head” demo) 3:06
8. “Oh No” (“Points of Authority” demo) 2:04
9. “Slip” (1998 unreleased Hybrid Theory demo) 3:28
10. “Grr” (1999 demo) 0:26
11. “So Far Away” (unreleased 1998) 2:50
12. “Coal” (unreleased demo 1997) 3:37
13. “Forgotten” (demo) 3:44
14. “Sad” (“By Myself” demo 1999) 1:08
15. “Hurry” (1999 demo) 0:31
16. “Blue” (1998 unreleased Hybrid Theory demo) 3:27
17. “Chair” (1999 “Part of Me” demo) 0:30
18. “Pts.OF.Athrty” (Crystal Method remix) 4:58
1. “Dialate” (Xero demo) 3:24
2. “Pictureboard” 4:01
3. “She Couldn’t” 5:05
4. “Could Have Been” 4:37
5. “Reading My Eyes” (Xero demo) 2:59
6. “Rhinestone” (Xero demo) 3:40
7. “Esaul” (Xero demo) 3:07
8. “Stick N’ Move” (Xero demo) 3:17
9. “Carousel” (demo) 2:58
10. “Point of Authority” (demo) 3:20
11. “Crawling” (demo) 3:49
12. “SuperXero” (“By Myself” demo) 3:18
1. “Carousel” 3:00
2. “Technique” (short) 0:40
3. “Step Up” 4:00
4. “And One” 4:35
5. “High Voltage” 3:30
6. “Part of Me” 12:45
Chester Bennington – lead vocals
Mike Shinoda – rapping vocals, beats, samples
Brad Delson – guitars, bass
Joe Hahn – turntables, samples, line art sketches, drawings
Rob Bourdon – drums, percussion
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