Joseph Hahn (born March 15, 1977) is an American musician, DJ, director, and visual artist best known as the DJ and creative director of the rock band
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn, bass ...
, doing the
scratching
Scratching, sometimes referred to as scrubbing, is a DJ and Turntablism, turntablist technique of moving a vinyl record back and forth on a phonograph, turntable to produce percussive or rhythmic sounds. A crossfader on a DJ mixer may be used to ...
,
turntables
A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration Waveform, waveforms are recorded as correspond ...
,
sampling, and
programming for all eight of Linkin Park's albums. Hahn and bandmate
Mike Shinoda
Michael Kenji Shinoda ( ; born February 11, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He co-founded the rock band Linkin Park in 1996 and is the band's co-lead vocalist, as well as rhythm guitarist, ...
are responsible for most of Linkin Park's album artwork. Hahn also directed many of the band's music videos.
Early life and education
Joseph "Joe" Hahn was born the youngest of three children
['Joe Hahn'](_blank)
2011) ''Linkin Park American''. Accessed 2011-02-18. in
Dallas
Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
; Hahn has two older sisters.
Hahn is a second-generation
Korean American
Korean Americans () are Americans of full or partial Korean ethnic descent. While the broader term Overseas Korean in America () may refer to all ethnic Koreans residing in the United States, the specific designation of Korean American impli ...
,
[Han Hyun-Woo]
A Band's Linkin Korea
. ''Chosun Ilbo''. October 23, 2003. Retrieved on March 21, 2010. and he grew up in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood
of
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles.
As of 2024, Glendale ha ...
.
[Linkin Park's Joseph Hahn releases The Seed on iTunes](_blank)
. ''Monsters & Critics''. March 27, 2008. Retrieved on March 21, 2010. As a child, Hahn played the violin for a few years in school, then also tried out the guitar for a bit.
Hahn graduated from
Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale. He then studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena but did not graduate.
Career
Hahn began
deejaying in high school,
[Marinel. R. Cruz.]
Curse-free music for the young and the restless
. ''Philippine Daily Inquirer''. June 2, 2002. 27. and he studied illustration at the
Art Center College of Design
The ArtCenter College of Design is a private art college in Pasadena, California.
It was incorporated in 1930 as a degree-granting institution of higher learning in the US created specifically for students of both the visual arts and design. ...
in
Pasadena, California
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commerci ...
.
[ In college, he met ]Mike Shinoda
Michael Kenji Shinoda ( ; born February 11, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He co-founded the rock band Linkin Park in 1996 and is the band's co-lead vocalist, as well as rhythm guitarist, ...
and joined his band Xero, which would release its self-titled demo album in 1997. The band later became known as Hybrid Theory in 1999 with the EP release of the same name as the band, then was changed again into Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn, bass ...
during the recording sessions of ''Hybrid Theory
''Hybrid Theory'' is the debut studio album by American Rock music, rock band Linkin Park, released on October 24, 2000, by Warner Bros. Records. Recorded at NRG Recording Studios, NRG Recordings in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, North Hollywo ...
''.[ Hahn and Shinoda guested in ]the X-Ecutioners
The X-Ecutioners, originally known as X-Men, are a group of American hip hop DJs/ turntablists from New York City, New York. The group formed in 1989 and currently consists of three DJs, including Total Eclipse, DJ Boogie Blind, and DJ Precis ...
' hit single " It's Goin' Down". Hahn also guest starred in Shinoda's Fort Minor's debut album '' The Rising Tied'' on the song "Slip Out the Back".
Hahn was called Chairman Hahn on the back cover of Linkin Park's first remix album '' Reanimation'' next to the remixes of the songs "With You" and "Cure for the Itch", titled "Wth>You" and "Kyur4 TH Ich", respectively. Hahn has directed several of Linkin Park's music videos, such as those for " Numb", " From the Inside", " What I've Done", "Somewhere I Belong
"Somewhere I Belong" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. It was released to US radio on February 24, 2003, as the lead single from their second studio album, ''Meteora'' (2003), and is the album's third track. It entered the top ten o ...
", " Pts.OF.Athrty", " New Divide", " Bleed It Out" and "Iridescent
Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear gradually to change colour as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Iridescence is caused by wave interference of light in microstruc ...
". He has also directed videos for Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band from Chicago. The band's current members are Matt Skiba (guitar, vocals), Dan Andriano (bass, vocals), and Atom Willard (drums).
Founded in late 1996 by Skiba, bassist Rob Doran, and drummer Glenn Por ...
, Static-X
Static-X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1994. The line-up has fluctuated over the years, but was long-held constant with band founder, frontman, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Wayne Static until his d ...
, Story of the Year, and Xzibit
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), better known by his stage name Xzibit (pronounced "''exhibit''), is an American rapper, actor, television presenter, radio personality, and record executive. He began his musical career in 1992, ...
. In a 2003 interview, he told MTV
MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
that film-making was his true passion, and that "doing the music asmore of an extra thing".[Jon Wiederhorn. "". MTV. August 11, 2003. Retrieved on March 21, 2010.] He is known to add various dramatic effects to the music videos he directs, such as casting a snake in the video for "Iridescent".
Outside of his work in music, Hahn provided special effects work on ''The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to Ma ...
'' and the miniseries '' Frank Herbert's Dune''. He also directed a short film called ''The Seed'' and acquired the rights to produce a film adaptation of China Miéville
China Tom Miéville ( , born 6 September 1972) is a British speculative fiction writer and Literary criticism, literary critic. He often describes his work as "weird fiction", and is allied to the loosely associated movement of writers called ...
's novel '' King Rat''.
Hahn directed the trailer for the video game ''Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
'', featuring Linkin Park's single " The Catalyst". Hahn also directed the music video for "The Catalyst", which premiered on August 26, 2010, as well as the music video for Linkin Park's " Waiting for the End" and " Burning in the Skies". On April 13, 2011, Mike Shinoda
Michael Kenji Shinoda ( ; born February 11, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He co-founded the rock band Linkin Park in 1996 and is the band's co-lead vocalist, as well as rhythm guitarist, ...
confirmed on his blog that the music video for "Iridescent
Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear gradually to change colour as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Iridescence is caused by wave interference of light in microstruc ...
" would be directed by Hahn.
Hahn became the first Korean American to receive a Grammy
The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...
when the band won the 2002 award for Best Hard Rock Performance.[ In November 2011, Hahn designed a helmet of ]Formula 1
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
driver Kamui Kobayashi
is a Japanese racing driver and motorsport executive, who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, Toyota and in Super Formula for KC Motorgroup, KCMG. Kobayashi competed in Formula One from to . In end ...
. As of April 2012, Hahn directed a film adaptation of Eric Bogosian
Eric Michael Bogosian (; born April 24, 1953) is an American actor, playwright, monologuist, novelist, and historian. Descended from Armenian-American immigrants, he grew up in Watertown and Woburn, Massachusetts, and attended the University ...
's '' Mall'', based on the novel, which stars and is executive produced by Vincent D'Onofrio. The musical score for the album was handled by Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn, bass ...
and Alec Puro of Deadsy for the film.
In 2019, he was a judge in the South Korean JTBC
JTBC (shortened from Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company; ; stylized in all lowercase) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on December 1, ...
talent show '' Superband''.
In 2022, Hahn composed the original score for the Samurai movie ''Blade of the 47 Ronin'' along with co-contributor Alec Puro.
Discography
With Linkin Park
* ''Hybrid Theory
''Hybrid Theory'' is the debut studio album by American Rock music, rock band Linkin Park, released on October 24, 2000, by Warner Bros. Records. Recorded at NRG Recording Studios, NRG Recordings in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, North Hollywo ...
'' (2000)
* ''Meteora
The Meteora (; , ) is a rock formation in the regional unit of Trikala, in Thessaly, in northwestern Greece, hosting one of the most prominent complexes of Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox monastery, monasteries, viewed locally as se ...
'' (2003)
* '' Minutes to Midnight'' (2007)
* '' A Thousand Suns'' (2010)
* '' Living Things'' (2012)
* '' The Hunting Party'' (2014)
* ''One More Light
''One More Light'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band Linkin Park. It was released on May 19, 2017, through Warner Bros. Records and Machine Shop. It is the band's first album to have a title track, as they felt that the song " ...
'' (2017)
* ''From Zero
''From Zero'' is the eighth studio album by American Rock music, rock band Linkin Park. It was released on November 15, 2024, through Warner Records and Machine Shop Records, Machine Shop, and is Linkin Park's first studio album since ''One Mor ...
'' (2024)
Other appearances
Filmography
Music videos
Films
References
External links
*
"Billboard" – Google Books
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hahn, Joe
20th-century American musicians
21st-century American musicians
Alternative metal musicians
American hip-hop DJs
American heavy metal musicians
American music video directors
American musicians of Korean descent
Grammy Award winners
Linkin Park members
Living people
Musicians from Glendale, California
Musicians from Los Angeles County, California
Artists from Glendale, California
Rock DJs
American special effects people
1977 births