Released in October 2000, Linkin Parks groundbreaking debut album Hybrid Theoryis a melting pot of heavy alternative rock, hip-hop, and electronic flourishes that inspired a new genre of music and a generation of dedicated fans, who continue to be loyal followers of the band. Additionally, the bands sound influenced many young bands who related to the intense and emotional musical style. Hybrid Theorywas the best-selling album of 2001 in the US and has since exceeded 11 million album sales in the US, qualifying for the rare Billboard Diamond award.

Hybrid Theorys success was supported by intensive touring, and three successful singles: One Step Closer, Crawling, and In The End. The band won their first Grammy Award for Crawling as Best Rock Performance.