Collision Course

In keeping with rap-rock crossovers dating back to Aerosmith and Run-DMC, MTV used its ULTIMATE MASH-UPS show to put Jay-Z and Linking Park on one stage. The result is COLLISION COURSE, a combination DVD/CD package that crystallizes the meeting of New York City's Jay-Z with California rap-rockers Linkin Park. With LP MC/vocalist Mike Shinoda doing double-duty as the EP's producer, the results flow nicely over six tracks. Jay-Z's rapid-fire rhymes in "Jigga What" fit hand-in-glove amid the pounding guitars and howls of Linkin Park's "Faint." And the Jackson 5-sampling "Izzo" ducks and feints in a way that makes it a nearly seamless match with "In the End." Most impressive is how Jay-Z's seminal thumper "99 Problems" boldly wedges itself between the thunderous bookends of Linkin Park's "Points of Authority" and "One Step Closer." The audio portion, of course, is only part of the fun; the DVD features the entire live performance, along with a documentary on the MTV special and behind-the-scenes footage.