Whoa. Hang on now.
This is my first post on this site, however I've been following SOB avidly as a fan since I first heard "Style Warz" in a 411 VHS Skateboard video in 1999 or 2000.
Style Warz was quite literally the FIRST MP3 that I ever downloaded of the Internet using a computer that my older brother had built for my mom (a 486 DX 166!) and I remember my brother showing me how to end as many tasks in windows 98 so that the computer would be capable of playing back that song without interruption / locking up with the heads on that harddrive SCREAMING because windows was trying to move data from RAM to the page file. -- then connecting a cassette tape recorder to the audio out port on that PC's sound card recording that song you a blank tape, then taking that cassette tape out of that recorder and placing it into another dual cassette stereo, and recording my cassette tape recording onto ANOTHER cassette tape, multiple times, so that I could listen to Style Warz on repeat WITHOUT having to rewind!
Hopefully that story helps give me enough credibility to justify making such an audacious first post on this forum (I'm half way kidding here) - but for any of you fans to flat out say that an artist hates another artist, is, in my opinion out of line. Y'all gotta respect these artists if you want to consider yourself as legitimate fans.
In regards to SOB & Mike Shinoda -- if you look at the cover art of the very first SOB release, the 1997 Killer Instinct vinyl single, Mike Shinoda is credited for the artwork. So, from everything that's my stupid ass in South Carolina (the REAL 'SC', who's never even been to Southern California) has been able to observe, Mike Shinoda was part of the SOB crew from the very beginning.
Now -- look at difference in the paths that all of the individuals credited on that first 1997 release -- how many of them have pursued and traveled the exact same path? Genuine artists strive on pursuing what they feel lead to pursue. It's not really something that they can manufacture, and when they do, the result / production ends up sounding like it's been manufactured and usually lacks the magic / zeal.
My suggestion Is to have a "what if" perspective about whichever artists that you're fans of. Entertain those "what if" ideas. If any of those ideas that you come up with ends up standing out in your mind and if you can't stop thinking about it, perhaps you, yourself should consider trying to create something that seems most similar to whichever idea it is that develop in your mind, and be appreciative of the fact that that artist had such a strong influence on you that inspired you to want to create something yourself.
Sorry if I sound like I'm scolding you. I have a lot of respect for these guys. The older I get the more appreciation I have for what they've done, along with how much influence that their creative works have had on me in my own life.
Back to the specific subject -- Tak and Mike.
From my understanding, Tak is hanging out in India and Mike is constantly flying around in Linkin Park aircraft signing autographs or whatever lol.