Episode 67: The Beastie Boys

Co-hosted by Jon Lindemann (Radio Free Nintendo)

Hear more of Jon at ninwr.com/rfn

 

SOME OLD BULLSHIT (Early 80's)
Egg Raid on Mojo - 1:20
Cooky Puss - 3:20 (Horovitz, hip-hop) - 1983

 

- Initial influences were Bad Brains, Minor Threat (hardcore)
- The Young Aborigines, in 1981 by Diamond (vocals), John Berry (guitar, left in 1982), Yauch (bass) and Kate Schellenbach (drums)
- First EP was Polly Wog Stew (1982)
- Started to add more rap to the their shows, added Rick Rubin as their DJ around 84/85

 

LICENSED TO ILL (1986)
Rhymin' and Stealin - 4:08

Paul Revere - 3:41 (Written by Run-DMC)

 

- Rolling Stone: "Three idiots create a masterpiece"
- Heralded the rise of Def Jam
- Closely aligned with Run-DMC through Rubin/Simmons
- Opened for Madonna on The Virgin Tour, and Run-DMC on the Raising Hell Tour

 

PAUL'S BOUTIQUE (1989)
The Sounds of Science - 3:12
Shadrach - 4:08

 

- Left Def Jam for Capitol, money dispute w/Russell Simmons
- Produced by the Dust Brothers (Tone Loc's Loced After Dark, Young MC Stone Cold Rhymin, Beck's Odelay)
- Dust Brothers went on to work with Rolling Stones, Santana, Korn, etc.
- Rolling Stone on Paul's Boutique: "the Pet Sounds/The Dark Side of the Moon of hip hop."
- KRS-One said rappers dissed it but on the down low couldn't believe the beats

 

CHECK YOUR HEAD (1992)
Funky Boss - 1:36
So What'Cha Want - 3:37

 

- '92-'95 Height of popularity
- Move back to live instruments, distortion
- Formed Grand Royal record label, along with Grand Royal Magazine (which coined the term mullet)

 

ILL COMMUNICATION (1994)
Sureshot - 3:20
Eugene's Lament - 2:12
Sabotage - 2:58

 

- Move into political activisim - 1996 first Tibetan Freedom Festival, organized by Yauch
- Aglio E Olio - 8-track punk record with leftovers from Hello Nasty sessions, In Sound from Way Out - Instrumental compilation album

 

HELLO NASTY (1998)
Intergalactic - 3:51
3 MC's and One DJ - 2:50

 

- Added Mixmaster Mike to the group
- Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album for Hello Nasty
- Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Intergalactic" (only time a band has won awards in BOTH rap and alternative)
- 1998 MTV Awards - Video Vanguard Award
- 1999 MTV Awards - Best Video for Intergalactic
- Political activism continued, with political acceptance speeches at all these awards, Tibetan Freedom Festival, etc.

 

TO THE 5 BOROUGHS (2004)
Triple Trouble - 2:43

 

- First album produced by Beastie Boys themselves
- Very stripped-down in feel

 

HOT SAUCE COMMITTEE PART TWO (2011)
Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (feat. Santigold) - 4:11

 

- Produced by Beastie Boys themselves
- Hot Sauce Committee Part Two was delayed two years by MCA being diagnosed with cancer. Was planned to go out as Part One in 2009, as part of a two-part set
- Inducted into Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in December 2011; MCA was in the hospital and couldn't perform
- MCA died of cancer on May 4, 2012 at the age of 47.
- Group breaks up as a promise to Yauch, ending the Beastie Boys permanently.

 

ENCORE:

Group X Arabian Rap Sensation

Pay for Your Gas or Lose Your I.D. (Stepping on the Crowtche...)

 

More DMP is on the way in 2015!