Beastie Boys

There’s hip-hop, and then there’s the Beastie Boys. Since their first commercial success in the mid-1980’s, they have redefined the genre and have become one of the greatest rap groups in music history. Their unique blend of attitude, musical genius and showmanship have made Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock hip-hop royalty.

The Beastie Boys began their career as a New York City hardcore punk rock band. From 1979 to 1984 the band played many smaller venues throughout NYC, opening for bands like Bad Brains and The Dead Kennedy’s. However, in 1984 the group took a dramatic creative turn and at the urging of legendary producer Rick Rubin, became a three-man rap group. Their first recording with this new format was “Rock Hard”, a 12” EP release on Def Jam Records. This recording earned them supporting spots on tours with the likes of Madonna, Public Image Ltd., and rap icons Run DMC, further expanding their growing fan base.

1986 was a turning point in the career of the Beastie Boys. With the release of “License to Ill” they exploded into the upper echelon of popular music. This album was to become the first by a rap artist to reach the number one spot on the Billboard charts, and eventually became the best selling rap album of the 1980’s, selling over 5 million copies. The first single that was release from this album, “Fight for Your Right”, was a top 10 hit. A video for the single was released on a then fledgling cable TV station, MTV, and became one of the most requested videos of the era.

On the heels of the success of “License to Ill”, the Beastie Boys left Def Jam for the more lucrative opportunities at Capitol Records. Their first release on this label was “Paul’s Boutique”, which is largely considered a revolutionary hip-hop album. However, despite its brilliance and critical acclaim, this album did not match the success of their previous work, reaching only number 14 on the Billboard charts. On their next album, “Check Your Head”, the group would yet again push the envelope of the hip-hop genre. Extensive use of real instruments, played by the group’s members, largely replaced the “sampling” that was/is common to hip-hop. Released in 1992, this album quickly went double platinum and reached as high as number 10 on the charts.

The release of “Ill Communication” in 1994 put the Beastie Boys over the top. This top selling album debuted at number 1 on the charts, and the video for the album’s top selling single “Sabotage” cemented the group as one of the top musical acts of the 1990’s. The album “Hello Nasty” was released in 1998 and was an instant Top 10 hit in the United States, as well as many other countries around the world. The album garnered the band two Grammy Awards, including the award for Best Rap Performance for the hit single “Intergalactic”. This album was quickly followed up by “The Sounds of Science” in 1999, again to much critical acclaim and commercial success.

The dawn of the new millennium hasn’t slowed the Beastie Boys one bit. “To the 5 Boroughs” (released in 2002) and “The Mix-Up” (released in 2007) have both been commercial successes, both in CD sales and mp3 downloads. Currently, the group is working on yet another album, “The Hot Sauce Committee”. This album is scheduled to be released in two parts.