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.

Linkin Park became the first female-fronted band to headline the UK’s biggest rock festival last weekend.

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.”