On October 24, 2000, LINKIN PARK released "Hybrid Theory", the debut that turned nu-metal into a global phenomenon. Built on the dual-vocal chemistry of Chester Bennington's raw screams and Mike Shinoda's rhymes, the record fused down-tuned riffs, electronics and hip-hop into a sound that spoke directly to a generation. "One Step Closer", "Papercut", "Crawling" and "In the End" became inescapable, with "Crawling" winning a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and became the best-selling album in the world in 2001, moving 8.5 million copies that year alone. Certified Diamond in the United States, it has now sold over 32 million copies worldwide. Whatever one thinks of nu-metal, "Hybrid Theory" remains the genre's defining statement and one of the most important heavy albums of its era.
