Inspired by "The Grey Album", which collaborative EP by Jay-Z and Linkin Park was released in 2004?
Collision Course (album) Collision Course is a collaborative EP from American rapper Jay-Z and nu metal band Linkin Park, released on November 30, 2004 by Roc-A-Fella, Machine Shop, Warner Bros. and Def Jam records. Before the album, Jay-Z had released collaborations with The Roots and R. Kelly, and Linkin Park had collaborated with various artists on their remix album Reanimation. The album was inspired by "The Grey Album" by Danger Mouse, which was a mash-up album between Jay-Z and The Beatles. MTV had originally planned on mashing up only one or two songs, but the project was eventually expanded to a six-song EP. The album was mostly produced by Mike Shinoda and Jay-Z, and was recorded between July 16 and July 19.
Dear Summer "Dear Summer" is the third and final single from Memphis Bleek's fourth album, "534." The single is somewhat unusual because the song features no vocals from Memphis Bleek, the host of the song. The song only features vocals from featured guest, Jay-Z. At the time, Jay-Z was a retired rapper just making an appearance on his label-mate's song. The beat dropped and Jay began freestyling and they recorded the song when it was done without Bleek having rapped. He made the choice to give it to Jay-Z but still place it on his album and release it as a single. It was produced by Just Blaze. It contains a sample from Weldon Irvine's "Morning Sunrise". Jay-Z released his first song since beginning his brief "retirement". The song was called "Dear Summer", in reference to what Jay called the time of the year when he would drop a classic album or single every year for 8 straight years, and how he had to metaphorically leave "her", Summer."Jigga has some great rhymes about his decision to leave performance for his job as Def Jam's CEO".