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BEASTIE BOYS
1986 - Licensed To Ill.
1986 - Ill Communication.
more BEASTIE BOYS.
way more Helter Skelter.

October 31, 1986 - 2021: 35 years of: Licensed To Ill.

They fought for our right to party.

NYC's deadly trio hiphop-ed their way into the stratosphere of rocknroll, one rhyme at a time. After demoing and b-boying in the local DIY scene, an unknown Rick Rubin tagged along after having produced Def Jam's earthshaker L.L. COOL J. This union forever changed the face of alternative-rock.

From their underground NYHC-roots, to opening for MADONNA in 1985, to Lollapalooza '94 to the sold-out main-stage around the world, all these brass monkeys needed was a license to ill.

Break the beat down, as "Rhythm & Stealin" ring aloud in yer boom-box. On to the über-hyp "The New Style", a track that cracks skulls with it's phat bassdrum-kick. Check your head as the heavy low-end ass-kickin' "Slow And Low" is a declaration of war, while the discotheque favorite "Girls" ablazes with it's un-politically correct lyrics ...but hey it's the 80s !

From the dancefloor to the moshpit, rockers and rappers worldwide unite under one roof, as the BOYS did "Fight For Your Right" ...to party. A simple AC/DC-ish riff and classicrock pattern, mixed with freestyle lyrics and delivery. The festivities becomes a global phenomenon, MTV pushes the venom and eventually the record becomes RIAA-certified 10x Platinum. Rock around the clock, head East as there's "No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn" ...another rock / metal cut that fuses genre and street attitude. This title is an homage to MOTÖRHEAD's 1981's live LP "No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith".

These three lovable bums would rapidly become the new top-trend along the usual rock-shenanigans. The BEASTIE BOYS not only became the cornerstone of white-rappers and show-stoppers, but they fully criss-crossed hardcore and hiphop into this new volatile hybrid we now take for granted: alternative-rock ...that later morphed into rapmetal / nümetal.

While the mid 80s L.A. hardrock would dominate the airwaves, the BEASTIEs would inject more hard edge to the growing East-Coast hiphop scene on Round Two with 1989's bass-droppin' rump shakin' intergalactic Paul's Boutique LP.

RIP Adam MCA Yauch (1964-2012)

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Fight For Your Right = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBShN8qT4lk
No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Y0cy-nvAg
She's Crafty = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erD0nCFA75g
Licensed To Ill = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4m_M0JwGLI&list=PLfUV806q_Ri7oydZun4YRlOIym2JUDGRy
Interview in 1986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR4yGzIJR98
Live at Montreux in 1987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQF4OKD2iW0

May 23, 1994 - 2024: 30 years of: Ill Communication.

Testing One-Two !

Our lovely hip trio is finally about to break the bank. Call it a planned sabotage, but after checking our heads in 1992, the game was now steamin' hot for this new genre, filled with rock, grooves and street-flair: alternative-rock.

This is what'cha want: the BEASTIE BOYS !

The cool vibe is instant, as "Sure Shot" drops hard and smooth. While serious beats hammers-on with "B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak", the spawning "Get It Together", the DIY "Alright Hear This" and the sick slick moves of "Root Down". Trading rough rhymes on the dominant "Do It" and extra mojo of "The Scoop" ...these boys to men are in command.

Criss-crossing back into dirty rock along the "Heart Attack Man", these "Tough Guy"s punks their way into MTV along 1994's best track ...bar-none.

Blazing badges, guns drawn, breaking doors and swarming the mob ...this is a fuckin' "Sabotage". Hard rockin' with street rappin', this hybrid as since left only a few un-kicked asses globally. As a fan of 70s police-action series, the following exhibition tops the entire 90s as it became an instant classic for both concept and visuals. The fuckin' coolest mini-movie video ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE

Then Billboard #1, now RIAA-certified 3x Platinum and co-headlining Lollapalooza '94 along THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, George Clinton, L7, Nick Cave ...and new kids on the block: GREEN DAY. Straight outta Paul's boutique and mainstream supported, the body movin' providers shall hit hard again with 1998's Hello Nasty CD.

The nineties was now fully beasti-ed !

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Sabotage = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE
Sure Shot = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhqyZeUlE8U
Root Down = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf1YF_MH1xc
Ill Communication = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN0fOXkyN70&list=OLAK5uy_nGHow_3MJvDJVtNUON9SB1VAZegqAQ7kc
Interview in 1994
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53l64Gj_sJw
Live at the VMA's in 1994
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYd9BWk7WW4
Live in New-York City in 1994
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbRruj8u9oo
some guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSFUGSOFmvY

more BEASTIE BOYS:

Alternative-Metal 1992