Hybrid Theory is the debut album by the American nu metal band Linkin Park. Released on October 24 2000 through Warner Bros. Records, the album was a commercial success, peaking at #2 in the U.S. Billboard 200 and reaching high positions in charts worldwide, despite receiving mixed reviews from publications. Recorded at NRG Recordings in North Hollywood, California, and produced by Don Gilmore, the album's lyrical themes deal with problems lead vocalist Chester Bennington experienced during his adolescence, including drug abuse and the constant fighting and divorce of his parents.
Four singles were released from the album: "Papercut", "In The End", 'One Step Closer", and the Grammy Award-winning "Crawling", the latter three of which were responsible for launching Linkin Park into mainstream popularity. Since its release, Hybrid Theory has been certified diamond by the RIAA, and to date has sold 24 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling debut album of the 21st century. At the 2002 Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Rock Album.
