One Step Closer (Linkin Park song)

"One Step Closer"
"One Step Closer"
Single by Linkin Park
from the album Hybrid Theory
B-side	"My December"; "High Voltage";
Released	August 29, 2000
Studio	NRG (Los Angeles)
Genre	Nu metal; rap metal; hard rock; rap rock;
Length	2:35
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Linkin Park
Producer(s)	Don Gilmore
Linkin Park singles chronology
Music video
	"One Step Closer" on YouTube

"One Step Closer" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park, released as the debut single from their debut album, Hybrid Theory.^[7]

A remixed version of the song entitled "1Stp Klosr", featuring Korn frontman Jonathan Davis, was featured on Linkin Park's remix album, Reanimation. In 2021, Linkin Park released a new remix of the song by electronic duo 100 gecs.^[8]

The song was mashed up with another song by the band from Hybrid Theory, "Points of Authority", and a collaboration of the song "99 Problems" from The Black Album by Jay-Z on the EP Collision Course.

Live performances

In 2001, Linkin Park performed "One Step Closer" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.^[9]

On October 27, 2017, during the Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington, Jonathan Davis performed the song again with the remaining Linkin Park members alongside Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh of Julien-K and Dead by Sunrise.

Music video

Joe Hahn of Linkin Park and director Gregory Dark came up with the concept for the video.

Directed by Dark^[10] and shot in Los Angeles, sixty-three feet underground in the abandoned Hollywood Subway underneath Bunker Hill, the video begins with a group of teenage friends hanging out around a dark alley. Two of them follow a strange man wearing a black hooded robe into a door which leads them to a dark, misty room where the band is playing. Monk-like men are performing martial arts moves throughout the video. Midway through the song, they knock over a crate, startling the monk-like men, and then flee the tunnel. Eventually, the strange man appears at the end of the video. While Bennington screams the song's bridge, he is also upside-down.^[11]

Critical reception

Billboard and Kerrang both named "One Step Closer" as the fourth-greatest Linkin Park song.^[12]^[13]

Track listing

Maxi single (Europe, Australia)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"One Step Closer"	Linkin Park	2:39
2.	"My December"	Mike Shinoda	4:21
3.	"High Voltage"	Shinoda Joe Hahn Brad Delson	3:45
4.	"One Step Closer" (Video)	Linkin Park	2:55

10" vinyl (UK), cassette (UK), cardboard sleeve CD (Europe)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"One Step Closer"	Linkin Park	2:39
2.	"My December"	Shinoda	4:21

100 gecs remix
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"One Step Closer" (100 gecs Reanimation)	Linkin Park	2:21

Early promo CD
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Plaster" (David Kahne Mix 1 of 4)	Linkin Park	2:36

US promo
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"One Step Closer" (Album Version)	Linkin Park	2:36
2.	"One Step Closer" (Rock Mix)	Linkin Park	2:36

One-track promo (US, UK)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"One Step Closer"	Linkin Park	2:39

Humble Brothers Remixes promo CD
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"One Step Closer" (Humble Brothers Remix Extended)	Linkin Park	6:13
2.	"One Step Closer" (Humble Brothers Remix FM Radio)	Linkin Park	3:12
3.	"One Step Closer" (Humble Brothers Remix LP)	Linkin Park	2:35

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic for original release only.^[14]

Linkin Park

Chester Bennington – vocals
Mike Shinoda – keyboards, backing vocals, programming, samples, artwork, production
Brad Delson – guitars
Joe Hahn – turntables, samples, synthesizers, artwork
Rob Bourdon – drums

Additional personnel

Scott Koziol – bass

Production

Don Gilmore – producer, engineering
Steve Sisco – engineering
John Ewing Jr. – additional engineering, Pro Tools
Matt Griffin – engineering assistance
Andy Wallace – mixing
Brian Gardner – audio mastering, digital editing
Jeff Blue – executive producer

Artwork

Frank Maddocks – graphic design
James Minchin III – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

2000–2001 weekly chart performance for "One Step Closer"
Chart (2000–2001)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[15]	4
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[16]	38
Germany (GfK)^[17]	32
Italy (FIMI)^[18]	46
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[19]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[20]	57
Scotland (OCC)^[21]	23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[22]	46
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[23]	42
UK Singles (OCC)^[24]	24
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[25]	3
US Billboard Hot 100^[26]	75
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[27]	5
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[28]	4

2017 weekly chart performance for "One Step Closer"
Chart (2017)	Peak position
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[29]	75
Portugal (AFP)^[30]	77
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[31]	14

2024 weekly chart performance for "One Step Closer"
Chart (2024)	Peak position
Global 200 (Billboard)^[32]	184

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "One Step Closer"
Chart (2001)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[33]	42

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "One Step Closer"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[34]	Gold	35,000^{^}
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[35]	Platinum	90,000^‡
Italy (FIMI)^[36]	Gold	35,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[37]	2× Platinum	60,000^‡
Portugal (AFP)^[38]	2× Platinum	20,000^‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[39]	Gold	30,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[41]	Platinum	744,000^[40]
United States (RIAA)^[42]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "One Step Closer"
Region	Date	Format	Ref.
United States	August 29, 2000	Rock radio active rock radio alternative radio	^[1]
United States	September 28, 2000	CD	^[43]
United Kingdom	January 13, 2001	CD 12-inch vinyl	^[44]
United States	February 20, 2001	Contemporary hit radio	^[45]

References

^ ^a ^b "Going For Adds". Radio & Records. August 25, 2001. p. 104, 108, 116.
^ Green, Chris (25 June 2015). "Linkin Park have launched a venture capital brand, but can such a company ever be rock n' roll?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. (June 25, 2015). Retrieved on October 11, 2015
^ Diver, Mike (September 6, 2009). "Top Ten - Nu-Metal Anthems". Clash. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
^ Rolli, Bryan (July 23, 2021). "20 Teen Angst Anthems to Melt Your Icy, Black Heart". Loudwire. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
^ Lipshutz, Jason (September 17, 2024). "The 10 Best Moments of Linkin Park's Triumphant NYC Performance". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2025. Linkin Park unwittingly created one of the most thrilling runs of hard-rock songs of the evening, with "Given Up" and "One Step Closer" immediately following
^ "Linkin Park: 12 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. July 20, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
^ Allmusic.com
^ Blisten, Jon (January 8, 2021). "100 Gecs Turn Linkin Park's 'One Step Closer' Into Wild Genre Collage". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
^ Chapstick, Kelsey (October 24, 2019). "SEE LINKIN PARK PLAY EXPLOSIVE "ONE STEP CLOSER" ON 'CONAN' IN 2001". Revolver. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
^ "One Step Closer - Linkin Park | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "One Step Closer (Official Video) on YouTube". YouTube. from the Warner Bros. Records YouTube Channel
^ Unterberger, Andrew (July 20, 2017). "The 15 Greatest Linkin Park Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
^ Law, Sam (April 17, 2021). "The 20 greatest Linkin Park songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
^ "Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park - Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
^ "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Top Digital Download.
^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 15, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
^ "Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
^ "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Singles Top 100.
^ "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 30. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
^ "Danish single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
^ "Italian single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Radioscope. Retrieved December 28, 2024. Type One Step Closer in the "Search:" field.
^ "Portuguese single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
^ "Spanish single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
^ Official Charts Company (September 15, 2024). "They just scored their highest Singles Chart peak EVER with #TheEmptinessMachine, but what are @linkinpark's all-time biggest songs in the UK?". Instagram. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
^ "British single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
^ "American single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
^ "New Releases - For Week Starting January 15, 2001" (PDF). Music Week. January 13, 2001. p. 22. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
^ "CHR/Pop:Going For Adds". Radio & Records. February 16, 2001. p. 43.

[radio-1] "Going For Adds". Radio & Records. August 25, 2001. p. 104, 108, 116.

[2] Green, Chris (25 June 2015). "Linkin Park have launched a venture capital brand, but can such a company ever be rock n' roll?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. (June 25, 2015). Retrieved on October 11, 2015

[3] Diver, Mike (September 6, 2009). "Top Ten - Nu-Metal Anthems". Clash. Retrieved March 13, 2016.

[4] Rolli, Bryan (July 23, 2021). "20 Teen Angst Anthems to Melt Your Icy, Black Heart". Loudwire. Retrieved March 4, 2022.

[5] Lipshutz, Jason (September 17, 2024). "The 10 Best Moments of Linkin Park's Triumphant NYC Performance". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2025. Linkin Park unwittingly created one of the most thrilling runs of hard-rock songs of the evening, with "Given Up" and "One Step Closer" immediately following

[6] "Linkin Park: 12 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. July 20, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2021.

[7] Allmusic.com

[8] Blisten, Jon (January 8, 2021). "100 Gecs Turn Linkin Park's 'One Step Closer' Into Wild Genre Collage". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 3, 2021.

[9] Chapstick, Kelsey (October 24, 2019). "SEE LINKIN PARK PLAY EXPLOSIVE "ONE STEP CLOSER" ON 'CONAN' IN 2001". Revolver. Retrieved March 4, 2022.

[10] "One Step Closer - Linkin Park | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.

[11] "One Step Closer (Official Video) on YouTube". YouTube. from the Warner Bros. Records YouTube Channel

[12] Unterberger, Andrew (July 20, 2017). "The 15 Greatest Linkin Park Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2025.

[13] Law, Sam (April 17, 2021). "The 20 greatest Linkin Park songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved August 12, 2021.

[14] "Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park - Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.

[sc_Australia_Linkin_Park-15] "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[sc_Austria_Linkin_Park-16] "Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Germany_Linkin_Park-17] "Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.

[sc_Italy_Linkin_Park-18] "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Top Digital Download.

[19] "Tipparade-lijst van week 15, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

[sc_Dutch100_Linkin_Park-20] "Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_Scotland_-21] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2020.

[sc_Sweden_Linkin_Park-22] "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Singles Top 100.

[sc_Switzerland_Linkin_Park-23] "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_UK_-24] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2020.

[sc_UKrock_Linkin_Park-25] "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Linkin_Park-26] "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_Linkin_Park-27] "Linkin Park Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Linkin_Park-28] "Linkin Park Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.

[sc_Czechdigital_-29] "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 30. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved August 1, 2017.

[sc_Portugal_Linkin_Park-30] "Linkin Park – One Step Closer". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved August 4, 2017.

[sc_Billboardrocksongs_Linkin_Park-31] "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2017.

[sc_Billboardglobal200_Linkin_Park-32] "Linkin Park Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2024.

[33] "ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 14, 2022.

[AustraliaLinkin_ParkOne_Step_ClosersingleCertRef-34] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 9, 2024.

[DenmarkLinkin_ParkOne_Step_ClosersingleCertRef-35] "Danish single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved April 30, 2025.

[ItalyLinkin_ParkOne_Step_ClosersingleCertRef-36] "Italian single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 8, 2024.

[New_ZealandLinkin_ParkOne_Step_ClosersingleCertRef-37] "New Zealand single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Radioscope. Retrieved December 28, 2024. Type One Step Closer in the "Search:" field.

[PortugalLinkin_ParkOne_Step_ClosersingleCertRef-38] "Portuguese single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 18, 2024.

[SpainLinkin_ParkOne_Step_ClosersingleCertRef-39] "Spanish single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved April 29, 2024.

[40] Official Charts Company (September 15, 2024). "They just scored their highest Singles Chart peak EVER with #TheEmptinessMachine, but what are @linkinpark's all-time biggest songs in the UK?". Instagram. Retrieved September 15, 2024.

[United_KingdomLinkin_ParkOne_Step_ClosersingleCertRef-41] "British single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 17, 2023.

[United_StatesLinkin_ParkOne_Step_ClosersingleCertRef-42] "American single certifications – Linkin Park – One Step Closer". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 8, 2024.

[RIAA-43] "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.

[44] "New Releases - For Week Starting January 15, 2001" (PDF). Music Week. January 13, 2001. p. 22. Retrieved June 13, 2022.

[USpop-45] "CHR/Pop:Going For Adds". Radio & Records. February 16, 2001. p. 43.

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v t e Linkin Park songs
Singles discography Awards and nominations
Hybrid Theory	"Papercut" "One Step Closer" "Points of Authority" "Crawling" "Runaway" "In the End" "She Couldn't" (20th Anniversary Edition)
Reanimation	"Pts.OF.Athrty"
Meteora	"Somewhere I Belong" "Lying from You" "Faint" "Breaking the Habit" "From the Inside" "Numb" "Lost" (20th Anniversary Edition) "Fighting Myself" (20th Anniversary Edition)
Collision Course	"Numb/Encore"
Minutes to Midnight	"Given Up" "Leave Out All the Rest" "Bleed It Out" "Shadow of the Day" "What I've Done"
A Thousand Suns	"Burning in the Skies" "Waiting for the End" "Blackout" "Wretches and Kings" "Iridescent" "The Catalyst"
Living Things	"Lost in the Echo" "In My Remains" "Burn It Down" "I'll Be Gone" "Castle of Glass" "Powerless"
Recharged	"A Light That Never Comes"
The Hunting Party	"Keys to the Kingdom" "All for Nothing" "Guilty All the Same" "Wastelands" "Until It's Gone" "Rebellion" "Final Masquerade"
One More Light	"Good Goodbye" "Talking to Myself" "Battle Symphony" "Invisible" "Heavy" "One More Light"
Papercuts	"Friendly Fire" "Qwerty"
From Zero	"The Emptiness Machine" "Heavy Is the Crown" "Over Each Other" "Two Faced" "Up from the Bottom" "Unshatter"
Featured songs	"We Made It" "Darker Than Blood"
Other songs	"New Divide" "Not Alone" "Rolling in the Deep" "White Noise" "Darker Than the Light That Never Bleeds"
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