Hybrid Theory  by Linkin Park

Hybrid Theory is the debut studio album of the American band Linkin Park, which was released on October 24, 2000, by Warner Bros. Records. It is one of the most influential albums of modern rock, holding the title of the best-selling debut album of the 21st century. Its global sales are now estimated to be around 21,000,000 copies (!)

The album is considered a landmark of nu metal and rap metal, combining elements of alternative rock and hip-hop. Its innovation was based on the perfect balance between the heavy guitar riffs, the rap vocals of Mike Shinoda, the melodic yet furious outbursts of Chester Bennington, and the use of electronic elements (sampling, scratching). The lyrics of the songs focus on Bennington's personal experiences, such as substance abuse, family conflicts, and alienation. The main recordings of the album lasted from March to July 2000 and took place at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California. The production of the album was undertaken by Don Gilmore. Hybrid Theory brought forth four major hits: One Step Closer, Crawling, Papercut, and the iconic In The End. The iconic album cover was designed by Mike Shinoda and depicts a soldier with dragonfly wings. It symbolizes the mix of "hard" elements (soldier) and melodic elements (wings) in their music.

The band won a Grammy Award in the category "Best Hard Rock Performance" for the song Crawling. In the U.S., it has been certified 12 times platinum (!)