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When Linkin Park announced their shocking return at the end of 2024, one of the biggest questions wasn’t just when they’d play again — it was who they’d bring with them.

Instead of letting managers or agents make the call, the band did what they’ve always done best: took creative control. For Mike Shinoda, one name immediately stood out, Jean Dawson.

The 29-year-old genre-bending artist from Tijuana had already been making waves for his fearless mix of rock, hip-hop, punk, and R&B. The first time Shinoda heard Dawson’s music, it stopped him in his tracks. A track from Dawson’s Pixel Bath quickly landed on Shinoda’s Breadcrumbs playlist, sparking a connection that’s now come full circle.

Fast forward to today, with Dawson opening for Linkin Park on their massive comeback tour, the two sit down together in a quiet studio in the San Fernando Valley to talk about artistry, evolution, and the future of modern rock.

This is a meeting of minds. A conversation between two generations of innovators redefining what alternative music can be.

Hit Parader’s latest issue brings Mike Shinoda and Jean Dawson together on the cover, two icons, one unforgettable story.

Get it now before it’s gone.

• 144 pages of content (no ads)
• 20+ interviews with today's biggest rock artists