Kenji - Fort Minor 

war doesn't have victors, only survivors

At the beginning of the year, my teacher gave out a syllabus that listed Mike Shinoda as one of the poets/authors that we would be dealing with. I spent the rest of the year anxiously awaiting the day we would read a work from him. Never expecting to be brought to tears the day he finally showed us. A few days ago, he showed us this song while talking about Japanese internment during World War II. This song should be shown in every classroom.

Oh man, rap with emotion. I dig this.

My 8th grade history teacher: a frail elderly woman played this. Surprised us that she would play this but she said it'd teach us about the Japanese internment

Michael Shinoda is so damn underrated, it's unreal how he's so overlooked.

The way she says "Then my husband died..." is striking and sudden. Not surprised that line was chosen as a fitting end.

Mike Shinoda knows true hip hop.

Kenji is Mike Shinoda's middle name. (Seriously, go look it up)

Shinodas flow is so underappreciated

it seriously takes a lot of skill to put together a rap like this, the way he made everything rhyme, while still telling this story in order, AND having it make sense. while STILL having flow and making a good track, that’s crazy bro. underrated genius.

This song is so deep

My English teacher showed me this song... He’s the greatest teacher of all time

2022 and this song still hits as hard as ever, songs like these never lose their meaning.

It's so refreshing to hear a rap song that isn't about doing drugs, money, claiming to be a criminal and objectifying women but instead is a moving story about how poorly ordinary Japanese Americans were treated during WWII ...there needs to be more rap songs like this, it's the reason I like Fort Minor (aside from being a big Linkin Park fan)

We respect Mike for knowing history and his families past

My father, came from Japan, in 1905 He was fifteen when he, immigrated from Japan He, he, he worked until he was able to buy To actually build a store" Let me tell you a story in the form of a dream I don't know why I have to tell it, but I know what it means Close your eyes, just picture the scene As I paint it for you It was World War II When this man named Kenji woke up Ken was not a soldier, he was just a man With a family who owned a store in L.A That day, he crawled out of bed like he always did Bacon and eggs with wife and kids He lived on the second floor of a little store he ran He moved to L.A. from Japan They called him immigrant, in Japanese He'd say he was called "issei" That meant first generation In the United States when Everybody was afraid of the Germans, afraid of the Japs But most of all, afraid of a homeland attack And that morning, when Ken went out on the doormat His world went black, 'cause Right there, front page news Three weeks before 1942 Pearl Harbor's been bombed and "The Japs are Coming" Pictures of soldiers dying and running Ken knew what it would lead to And just like he guessed, the president said "The evil Japanese in our home country Would be locked away" They gave Ken a couple of days To get his whole life packed in two bags Just two bags, he couldn't even pack his clothes And some folks didn't even have a suitcase To pack anything in So two trash bags, is all they gave them And when the kids asked mom, "Where are we going?" Nobody even knew what to say to them Ken didn't wanna lie He said, "The U.S. is looking for spies So, we have to live in a place called Manzanar Where a lot of Japanese people are" Stop it, don't look at the gunmen You don't wanna get the soldiers wondering If you're gonna run or not 'Cause if you run, then you might get shot Other than that, try not to think about it Try not to worry 'bout it being so crowded 'Cause someday, we'll get out Someday, someday "Yeah, soon as war broke out, the FBI came and They just come through the house and, you have to come All the Japanese have to go They took Mr. Ni, the people couldn't understand Why they had to take him because he's an innocent laborer" So now, they're in a town with soldiers surrounding them Every day, every night, looked down at them From watchtowers up on the wall Ken couldn't really hate them, at all They were just doing their job And he wasn't gonna make any problems He had a little garden Vegetables and fruits that he gave to the troops In a basket his wife made But in the back of his mind, he wanted his family's life saved Prisoners of war in their own damn country, what for? And time passed in the prison town He wondered if he'd live it down If and when they were free The only way out was joining the Army, and supposedly Some men went out for the army, signed on And ended up flying to Japan with a bomb That fifteen kiloton blast Put an end to the war pretty fast Two cities were blown to bits The end of the war came quick And Ken got out, big hopes of a normal life With his kids and his wife, but Then they got back to the home And what they saw made him feel so alone These people had trashed every room Smashed in the windows and bashed in the doors Written on the walls and the floor "Japs not welcome, anymore!" And Kenji dropped both of his bags at his sides And just stood outside He looked at his wife without words to say She looked back at him wiping tears away And said someday, we'll be okay, someday Now, the names have been changed, but the story is true My family was locked up, back in '42 My family was there, where it was dark and damp And they called it an internment camp When we first got back from camp, uh It was pretty, pretty bad I-I remember, my husband said Oh we're gonna stay 'til last Then my husband died, before they closed the camp

I’ve been thinking about this song a lot lately. Back in college in Hawaii, we had a speaker from the 442nd Infantry who fought for America during WWII as a Japanese American and as a JA myself who had uncles and grandparents in the camps, I listened to this song on my way home and bawled my eyes out. During these difficult times, my mind keeps coming back to this song that spoke to me years ago and still gets to me today. Thank you for making this song and representing a dark period of history that tends to get glossed over. My family split up after the war and they NEVER spoke about it because as Americans, they just wanted to move on. This song makes me feel more connected to my family history so again, a million thanks.

The most powerful aspect about this song is the fact that the Kenji respected the soldiers holding them in the internment camp. It takes a lot to forgive someone, but even though it was hard, he gave the soldiers fruit and vegetables. Us Americans could learn from this... But we won't...

the world needs more songs like this.

The most tragic thing about what Kenji and others like him had to go through, is that at large, people didn't know how badly they were treated, or even in some cases that they were treated poorly at all until after the fact. The notion that people are still treated this way at all makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Showed my US History class this back in high school. I remembered everyone just being dead quiet like they were entranced and shook from what they heard. It was a powerful memory

Just to let you know, Mike, this song is the first instance of me becoming aware of the Japanese Internment in the US during World War 2. It wasn't through highschool, or even most of college. It was here with you. Thank you.

This song is a rapping and songwriting masterclass. This is the epitome of timeless rap. It's incredibly powerful and moving and gives me a lump every time.

Sure, this is a good storytelling song, but it's also one of the few good songs that directly relates to the artist who writes and performs or records it.

When I hear this, I can paint the scene of Kenji's world. How is must of been to see what was happening. A twist of betrayal and sorrow... And not knowing why. Innocent Japanese Americans being taken away from everything they worked and lived for. It's tragic, yet it's true. As being from the United States of America, I realize that our country isn't as lovely and great as we say we are. We have done so many wrongs to other countries, their people, etc. But then again, our world has never been perfect... I wish it was....

This is the only song that has ever actually made me cry. Calling this a song doesn't even do it justice. This is poetry.

Damn his middle name is actually kenji

I first had this CD when I was 18, thanks to a good friend. I'm from a small city in China. This kind of music was super rare. Now 15 years have passed I still listen to it now and then. Great music

Using this song in my history lesson tomorrow. We just started working with Pearl Harbor. The feels man.... I hope my students can connect with the message.

that makes me cry because Mike's family story is sad. But the song, omg the feels

The western Washington state fair is held on an old internment camp. I worked there one time and never again

This song always makes me cry especially knowing that it's a true story about his family. The people speaking are his relatives that lived through it.

This is like the only song I know that is entirely about history.

Literally one of the most powerful songs in history. This is the only song I’ve ever listened to in my entire life that has had the power to bring me to tears

Remember hearing this when it first came out. It's on my list of historical songs to occasionally play and think about.

I thought I knew everything major about WWII because I thought that in school they would teach me if something like this actually happened. They didn't teach me a thing about this. I feel lied to and sad, really sad. I have no words.

Mike Shinoda has been one of my favorite musicians since I was 15 and I'm 25 now. The lyrics he writes have probably saved more lives than we'll ever know.

When I was in junior high, listened this for the first time. Moved but didn’t feel it deeply. Now I’m a Japanese immigrant Issei in Europe going through the same situation, dairy based discrimination without a war. I now feel Kenji in me, I have nothing but to make my day better for the future!

Most underrated song ever made, brings me to tears every time

You know I'm surprised more people aren't listening to this. Fort minor has some of the best hip hop I've ever listened to.

You guys hear a sad song, I hear a song about strong people who wouldnt let their own government make them feel less.

I'm not much into rap...at all... but this had one hell of a message in it that I can respect and share.

When you realize that the shit called Despacito has 3B views and a masterpiece like this has just over a mil...

I just recently began my International Studies major with a focus on East-Asian Studies and we actually visited a museum in downtown Portland that preserves and explains this event in strong detail. Something I never knew much about until just recently! A very sad event in history, but is very interesting to look back onto.

Nostalgia.... First song to make me cry.

As an educator, I love love love musicians spreading knowledge to the masses!

I am a Russian who lives abroad, this whole situation just reminded me of this song. When you wake up every day and know that the whole world hates you and wish you the worst life, but you also feel guilt on your own.

My American history teacher played this in class and it’s so good. Love the meaning behind it.

i know every word of this song... by heart. and yet, everytime i hear this song, it feels like my first time. everytime i get goosebumps, sometimes i'm close to tears. this hits hard on another level. high quality rap and story telling. high quality showcase of how the world can be.

Fort minor is like the only form of rap I would listen to

My father got me this album for my birthday because he knew how much I loved Linkin Park and I fell in love with it. Years later, when I was a senior in high school, my history teacher played this song when teaching us about the Japaneze internment camps during WWII. I was very proud of Mr. Evans that day hahaha

Mike Shinoda is a very underrated lyricist. But this song alone shows that not only can he string words together, but can tell a story with those words.

I grew up with my grand grandfather. He was a soviet union soldier in ww2. He was wounded. He had a fragment in his head. When he was very old and I was a teenager he was suffering from this splinter in his head. He used to scream and moan in front of my room door. I was a teenager without a father and attention from my parents. Shit, it was very hard I was screaming and crying too. Smoked a lot of weed and listened to Linkin Park. War never changes guys, peace to you all. Rest in peace to all who came through the hell of any war.

So apparently Mike's full name is Michael KENJI Shinoda...

Kids, use this for your school projects. I wasn't aware of this song when I was in high school doing Windows Movie Maker assignments, give em a real history lesson.

Make a movie about Kenji and I would pay to watch.

This is why I love Fort Minor. I only heard this song 2 days ago and its really sticking with me, a powerful song by a criminally underrated artist

My GF isn't a fan of this kind of music but is a huge ww2 fanatic and a a soldier herself...I loved Mike and this song since I was young in middleschool...anyways, maybe she'd like this. Just sent it to her. Wish me luck :)

Coming back to this. With everything that’s going on in the world, this song is proof of how brutal, war is on the innocent. Thank you Mike for a song that’s relevant forever!

This is history family of Mike Shinoda (Michael Kenji Shinoda) incrible exemple of superation in times war! Excelent Mike. I am brazilian 🇧🇷

I have an adopted brother that's full Japanese and even though he never had to know this pain, I surely feel it, thanks to the genius writer of this song.

I found this song on one of my mom's old CDs that likely pre-dates me, and this track really caught me off guard. Since I was practically raised on Linkin Park, hearing Fort Minor went without saying, but until a few days ago, Remember The Name was THE only song I knew by them. And until listening to this track, I had previously never even heard tell of an internment camp, nor any of the prejudice towards ethnic groups throughout the USA's history, and definitely not during WW2. Thinking about it now, it seems fairly obvious there would have been extreme racial tension during such a time, but these things were never told to me by any person I spoke to, and most definitely not in any form of school, which should logically be the #1 source of information on this country. This piece of art is masterfully crafted, teaching both the story of Mike's family and of the Japanese in America overall, keeping with rhyme over the perfect backing track for such a song. I still cannot get the thought out of my head that history is being erased, at least partially. How could struggle like this happen within the country I call home, to the people I call my neighbors and friends, and I not learn about it from any source, except from a song released before I was born? It's an unsettling thought, for sure.

Me and my friend listened to Fort minor when we were in Afghanistan, we had just come across there music and it got us threw

This song hits deep during this time of hate towards Asian-Americans rising during the coronavirus pandemic.

Why aren't more popular songs in today's society cover these topics? It is as if they don't want people to know or pretend like it didn't happen

Every song that Shinoda writes has a big story to tell. Full respect!✊

Mike Shinoda is one of the greatest rappers of ALL TIME!!! (In My Opinion)

This hits very different in 2023.

Thank you for the history lesson. A great reminder that our country is not as great as we claim it to be

Manly tears

My family were interned in Manzanar, as well. I made the pilgrimage there when I was a kid. ‘Haunting’ doesn’t even capture it.

one of the best hip hop records of all time in my opinion

love this song, so emotional, so real, this is what rap is all about!

I'm glad I knew fort minor for the past like, 5 years and I need a song to be delivered in a presentation in a form of a speech. This one's perfect, thank you fort minor

This still brings shivers down my spine.

I am hearing this for the first time Today it just popped on my RU-vid playlist And i am just speechless Just wow to hear a song with this much emotion I don't cry much but this song differently made me shed a tear Its just so enmointal Love you Mike. 💖💖💖

This is what art is made for. A MESSAGE.

My US history teacher had us watch this for homework and I'm a huge Fort Minor fan so i'm like I've seen this so many times. Sad story though :(

The more you learn about history, the more difficult it is to trust the systems we have devised for ourselves and the disasters we've created.

This is to this day one of my favourite FM,MS songs.. it's so well written, facceted and personal.

This still makes my throat well up, all these years later. It's just such a good song! I can enjoy it with my brain totally turned off as well, which allows all the real emotions to get the jump on me, I swear. Right when I'm vulnerable and not thinking, not dissociating enough to catch myself before I become overwhelmed and start shedding tears - the physical response. (Not talking about literal sobbing, as I have no personal connection to the subject matter.) This music makes a personal connection, however, and he does such a good job at humanizing the situation. Idk, I feel it right in my empathy...his pain is is translated so perfectly, it slaps me across the face making my eyes sting. (Clarification: I'm not implying that I consider this subject literally *more* depressing, than all of the atrocities throughout history that I haven't cried over, (even including other situations during World War 2). It's this song and how the story is communicated.) Just, damn...(I think) Mike did such a good job with this song. Sorry for dumping this rant here haha but I had to get it out somewhere. It's almost noon and I got shit to do, I can't afford to cry all day, I have to see!

One of the best rappers

Still one of the best ever dropped until 2024. Shinoda was legit on this drop.

As a Japanese American who family fought in ww2 this song hits home and I remember my reading teacher (white lady) heard my family story and decided to change the course enough to were we learnt about Japanese Americans and I remember breaking down crying

日本人で聴いている奴はいないか？この素晴らしいHip hopが俺ら日本人に広く知られないのは悲しい。Rapの本質が、ビートに乗せ真実を語ることなら、この曲は完全だ。

Fort minor is the most passionate rapper out there! This song is dope AF!

the "someday" refrain hits so hard

Michael Kenji Shinoda 💖💖💖 A.k.a Mike!!💖💖💖 I love his songs!!!💖💖💖

Why does shit like Gangnam Style have 2686 million views, while this strong and touching poetry has just above million? What's wrong with this world?

I love this song. Always have - and hey Fort Minor, Mike Shinoda - I'm sharing this story for a school project, I want to honor Kenji. Thanks for this song.

Crazy this is true story. So well put together. Must have been really hard for your family Mike.

Every few years this song hits me. Today was a special evening... I'm leaving this comment here for myself, to remember sometimes life isn't so bad and it's worth fighting on... See you in a few years.

Here in my home town, The war never stop. I remember when I was still in elementary school, my mother was in cold sweat deciding which flag to put up in front of our door step, the rebellion, the national soldier, we don't know who will protect us or would harm us, then it keeps going when I was in Junior high school, I literally went to school with tanks by my side, all the road filled up with bomb underneath, have to received training how to hide when We hear the gun sound, See some of my fellow young friends died from unknowing bullets, Literally almost mistaken for a spy because I dare to go to school far away from my home with a bicycle. And I am just a 24 y.o girl now so when they talk about the war like it was such a long away story. it's still fresh in my mind. Thank you for this song Mike shinoda.

It's 2021 and most of the world are only now waking up and starting to realize that Anti-Asian Hatred still exists. The hatred and exclusion detailed in this song is more relevant than ever.

March 1, 2024. Still listening.

This really makes me cry everytime i listen to it

Started hearing rap because of Mike Shinoda, the mastermind

With everything happening now with Russia, I’m hoping people will think of this song the same way I do. It’s important to not give into fear. To not repeat our past mistakes.

Old but gold

Got a Exam tomorrow, can't find my notes on Japanese Internment Camps. Listened to this instead.