The Beastie Boys, an American hip-hop group from New York City, are widely regarded as one of the pioneering acts in the genre. Over their three-decade-long career, the Beastie Boys sold millions of albums worldwide and became one of the most influential groups in the history of hip-hop.
Beastie Boys Career Highlights
1981
Formation - The Beastie Boys were formed by Mike D, MCA, and Kate Schellenbach. Originally a hardcore punk band, they later transitioned to hip-hop.
1983
Debut Single - They released their debut single, "Cooky Puss” which gained attention in the New York underground music scene.
1984
New Lineup - Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz joined the band, completing the classic trio after Kate Schellenbach's departure.
1986
"Licensed to Ill" - The Beastie Boys released their debut album, which became the first rap album to top the Billboard 200.
1989
"Paul's Boutique" - Their second album, produced by the Dust Brothers, was initially a commercial disappointment but later gained critical acclaim.
1992
"Check Your Head" - This album marked a return to their punk roots and featured live instruments.
1994
"Ill Communication" - Featuring the iconic single "Sabotage” this album continued their critical and commercial success.
1998
"Hello Nasty" - The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and won two Grammy Awards
2004
"To the 5 Boroughs" - This politically charged album paid tribute to New York City post-9/11
2009
"Hot Sauce Committee Part Two" - Delayed by Adam Yauch's cancer diagnosis, the album was eventually released to positive reviews in 2011.
2012
Adam Yauch's Passing - Adam "MCA" Yauch passed away on May 4, 2012, after a battle with cancer, leading to the band's disbandment.
Beastie Boys Members
Michael "Mike D" Diamond (1981–2012) - Founding member, vocals, drums.
Adam "MCA" Yauch (1981–2012) - Founding member, vocals, bass.
Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (1984–2012) - Vocals, guitar.
Kate Schellenbach (1981–1984) - Drums (early member).
Beastie Boys Grammy Awards
1999
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Intergalactic"
Best Alternative Music Album for "Hello Nasty"
2008
Best Pop Instrumental Album for "The Mix-Up"
2019
Lifetime Achievement Award
3 Most Famous Beastie Boys Songs
1. "Fight For Your Right" (1986)
- From their debut album "Licensed to Ill” this rebellious anthem became a defining song of the 1980s.
2. "Sabotage" (1994)
- Known for its aggressive sound and iconic music video directed by Spike Jonze, "Sabotage" is one of their most enduring hits.
3. "Intergalactic" (1998)
- This Grammy-winning single from "Hello Nasty" is famous for its futuristic sound and inventive music video.
Beastie Boys Quotes
Mike D…
‘We didn't expect to sell records. We just wanted to be loud and obnoxious and have a lot of fun."
MCA…
‘To all the people who’ve been with us from day one, I’d like to thank you, and to all the people that jumped on the bandwagon later, I’d like to say, 'Get off my bandwagon!'"
Beastie Boys Scandal/Gossip/Trivia
- Parental Advisory: "Licensed to Ill" was one of the first albums to receive a parental advisory label due to its explicit content, which only boosted its popularity among rebellious teenagers.
- Sampling Lawsuit: The Beastie Boys faced numerous lawsuits for their extensive use of sampling in "Paul's Boutique” which later became a case study in copyright law and music sampling.
- MCA's Activism: Adam Yauch was a dedicated advocate for Tibetan independence, founding the Milarepa Fund and organizing the Tibetan Freedom Concerts.
- MTV Ban: The video for "Fight For Your Right" was initially banned by MTV for its controversial content, but it later became one of the channel's most played videos.
- Band's Disbandment: After Yauch's death in 2012, the Beastie Boys announced they would not continue as a band, honoring Yauch's wish that they not perform without him.
Beastie Boys ratings
