UK rapper thanks Linkin Park for 'changing my life' with freestyle shoutout

An up-and-coming UK rapper's thanked Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda for "changing my life" after he praised one of her freestyles.

Morgan Da Savage's rap went viral after she performed on DJ and producer Toddla T's independent music platform Steeze Factory.

Shinoda mentioned her name when asked by BBC News at Download Festival who he'd want to collaborate with on a 2026 version of Collision Course, their 2004 mash-up album with Jay-Z.

Da Savage says it feels "surreal" as she listened to Linkin Park growing up and all the attention means her song Innit is going to be released next week.

Speaking to the BBC at Download, Shinoda said it was "refreshing" to see Da Savage's rap and he immediately showed it to his bandmates.

"She was going crazy. Whatever's happening over here [in the UK] is cool, it's fresh, it's got motion," he said.

When BBC Newsbeat caught up with Da Savage, she says she cried when she found out about the clip through a message on social media.

"Linkin Park have gone on the FYP and they see me," the 21-year-old says.

"It's unbelievable, I'm just so grateful to him to even say my name.

"I was like 'no way, he knows my name'. He could have said anybody and he's gone Morgan Da Savage.

"It just shows like what a real person he is even to do that for me. It's changed my life."

Shinoda spotted Da Savage's rap in a cypher on Steeze Factory's Instagram, where it was also praised by Rizzle Kicks' Jordan Stephens.

The project was set up by former BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJ Toddla T, who's married to DJ Annie Mac, to highlight UK talent.

It's featured bigger acts like Aitch, Window Kid and legendary grime crew Roll Deep - while also giving space for up-and-coming artists like Da Savage.

A report from Seed Sounds Weekender, backed up by artists including Matty Healy from The 1975, suggested more than 1.5 million 18-25s may have given up live music ambitions because of the disappearance of pubs and music venues.

"It's just what the scene needs right now," Morgan says about Steeze Factory.

"It's not just famous artists that have blown [up], it's all underground artists that are actually getting known from it."

The rapper's also full of praise for people like Toddla T, as well as DJs AG and Mak10 who put on street sets that often go viral.

"They're making it easier access for artists to get on to that," she says.

"When you start, it's very hard as an artist. It's really good for upcoming artists now that they can show themselves."

In his interview at Download, Shinoda said he'd been drawn to emerging UK talent, even performers who didn't have a huge fanbase yet like Da Savage.

"Some of them have huge followings, some have tiny followings, but it's interesting to me," he says.

But despite the praise, Shinoda was clear a collaboration with Da Savage isn't on the cards - at least not yet.

"Let's not go overboard and say do a Collision Course, that's not going to happen at this point."

But Da Savage tells Newsbeat she'd love to collaborate with the band, having grown up listening to the mix of rock and rap on tracks like Numb/Encore.

She says she's sent Shinoda a DM and has a message for the Linkin Park star.

"It means a lot. You're a real person. You've inspired my life."

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