Labels

Beastie Boys


Formed: 1979
Location: New York, New York, USA
Genre: Hip Hop, Rap Rock
Years Active: 1982 - 2011
Meaning of the Name: Boys Entering Anarchistic States Towards Inner Excellence (backronym)
Core Members: MCA, Mike D, Ad-Rock
Way of Working: Collaborative
Associated: Luscious Jackson

Essential Releases

Dummy

License to Ill (1986)

Hip hop white boy style.

Album Title 2

Pauls Boutique (1989)

Hated at the time but loved now.

Album Title 2

Ill Communication
(1994)

The one with 'Sabotage'.

Dummy

Hello Nasty (1998)

The one with 'Intergalactic.


Before the Beastie Boys made hip hop, they were just another punk band. Although not usually associated, both punk and hip hop were born from the same urban decay that arose when the promised utopia of the 1960s failed to materialise. The frustrated youth left in its wake used music to channel their rebellion against society, such as when the Sex Pistols labelled the UK a 'fascist regime' with their trademark raucous energy.

Mike D's act of rebellion was to adorn himself with a chain made from a Volkswagen emblem "freed" from an expensive foreign car as an act of protest. It implied "Why should we have to watch while the yuppies get rich? Why can't we display the symbols of success?" and it wasn't long before kids everywhere followed suit.
The DIY spirit shared by both punk and hip-hop directly stemmed from the prevalent social conditions of disillusionment with authority and independence that influenced people growing up in the 70s. When the Boys rap "fight for your right... to party" it works because Generation X didn't see protest the same way the boomers did.

They were raised in the 70s, and by then delicately placing a daisy in the barrel of a gun was passé. They wanted nothing more than to party and have a good time. They didn't believe they could change the world.

The disillusionment came from persistently high inflation and unemployment as well as President Nixon's exposure as a fraud during the Watergate affair and America's loss of the war in Vietnam.

The sense of independence that typified Generation X, often called latchkey kids, came from being the first generation with both parents often working full-time jobs. Coming home from school, they regularly had to provide for themselves. They cooked and prepared meals, did the housework, and resolved their differences without adult supervision, fostering a spirit of independence that filtered into their music and culture.

No one exemplified this better than the Beastie Boys. With their unique combination of rapping, comedy, live instruments, and rebellious spirit, they appealed to fans of both rock and rap. This combination saw them become the first hip hop group to top the US album charts with 'License to Ill' (1986).


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
60

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
65

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
85

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
90

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
35

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
75

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
85

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
60

Rapping

i Technical attributes.
65

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
90

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
70

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
90

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
90

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
75

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
55

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
85

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications >>>

  • License to Ill: Diamond in USA; Platinum in Canada; Gold in UK
  • Paul's Boutique: Platinum in USA, Canada; Silver in UK
  • Check Your Head: Platinum in USA, Canada; Silver in UK
  • Ill Communication: Platinum in USA, Canada; Gold in UK
  • Hello Nasty: Platinum in USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK
  • To the 5 Boroughs: Platinum in USA, Canada; Gold in Australia, UK

Charts >>>

  • License to Ill: #1 in USA
  • Ill Communication: #1 in USA
  • Hello Nasty: #1 in USA, UK, Germany, Australia
  • To the Five Boroughs: #1 in USA, Canada; #2 in Australia, UK
  • Hot Sauce Committee Part Two: #2 in USA

Critics >>>

  • Melody Maker: Hello Nasty - Best Albums of the 1998: #2
  • NME: Hello Nasty - Best Albums of the 1998: #2
  • Rolling Stone: License to Ill - 500 Greatest Albums of all Time: #195
  • Rolling Stone: Hello Nasty - Best Albums of the 1998: #2
  • Pitchfork: License to Ill - Best Albums of the 80s: #41
  • Pitchfork: Paul's Boutique - Best Albums of the 80s: #3
  • Slant: License to Ill - Best Albums of the 80s: #12
  • Slant: Paul's Boutique - Best Albums of the 80s: #5


CRITICISM

  • On their 2004 track 'Sure Shot' the Beasties apologised for the misogynistic lyrics found in their song 'Girls' from '86. Such lyrics included "girls, to do the dishes, girls, to clean up my room"

  • Russell Simmons, the founder of Def Jam Records, accused the Beasties of performing in cultural "blackface", as white guys doing the black guy thing to an applauding mainstream, as the black innovators of the genre languished in relative obscurity.


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