House, R&B, Soul & Rap > B House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Underground / Alt Rap

All Back To '87

Advantages: Back to their early style; clever rapping; 15 tracks in 40 minutes
Disadvantages: Couple of stinkers

...by a white act: Licensed To Ill. It's mixture of big beats, rock samples and very clever lyrical interplay between the three band members (MCA, Mike D and Ad-Rock) ensured a winning, unique combination that would sell millions of records worldwide. The singles, released in 1987, from that album (Fight For Your Right To Party, No Sleep Til Brooklyn and She's Crafty) were catchy, heavy on the wit and guitar and made stealing VW badges from suburban ...
...a stolen election and 9/11 to do it but the Beastie Boys seem to have recaptured that old spirit on this new album - released last autumn, my favourite season - and it's to their credit that three men approaching 40 years old can still look and sound so fresh. To The 5 Boroughs features all the old trademarks of 1980s hip hop. There's scratching, crazy but soulful samples and the typical Beasties vocal interplay. First track and single, Ch Check ...

waynehorrigan 23.02.2005 · Read full review
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Review of To The 5 Boroughs [PA] - Beastie Boys

You Might Want To...

Advantages: Lots of big tunes
Disadvantages: Some tracks take a while to get into

Seen as a return album, “Check Your Had” came out in 1992 as the third album from The Beastie Boys. The New Yorkers, consisting of the three MCs Ad-Rock, MCA and Mike D, were seen to return (off the back of two classic records) to return from two pure Hip Hop releases to move on stylistically to their roots in Punk Rock, whilst still holding on to both the Hip hop elements and also pulling in other ones such as Jazz too. 1. “Jimmy James” They kick ...
...as the first track to the album as it seems to effectively lead on from the killer Hip Hop offering that was “Pal’ Boutique” and so with this one you fin that as they get down to things, they keep things the way that they have been known well for with the first two albums as they come with some straight, underground Hip Hop and here come in strong with a raw Jimi Hendrix tribute. **Five Stars** 2. “Funky Boss” (Lude) 3. “Pass The Mic” After an interlude ...

XICripZ 15.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Check Your Head [PA] - Beastie Boys

A Beastie Bore

Advantages: Could be used as background music.
Disadvantages: No musical ability whatsoever is displayed here, the album is despicably tedious.

With latest album 'The Mix-Up', Beastie Boys tread new ground in that it's the first album the band has ever released of all new instrumental material. Whereas in the past the albums of the Beastie Boys have been littered with all the bands best rap licks, here the voices have been cut out, the computers have been left alone, and an album has been produced which utilises instruments such as drums, guitars, organ, bass, and synth. Twelve tracks are ...
...a change in direction for the boys and in all honesty an incredibly strange move for the band to have undertaken. Beastie Boys have never been my favourite hip-hop artist in the world, I have however greatly enjoyed some of their music in the past and in picking up this album was expecting the music to come alive with great energy and excitement. All that is present on this album is a tame instrumental offering in which Beastie Boys fumble their ...

RazzaLazza 07.04.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Mix Up, The - Beastie Boys

[Re-Written] - Hello Nasty - Just Plain Nasty?

Advantages: some breakin beats in there
Disadvantages: as usual the beasties fail to complete an album well

Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty - Review Mike D, Adrock and MCA have come back with a lip smackin' thirst quenching ace tastin downright trippin album! if u like ur music melodical then the doors over there. if u like bottomed out bass beats, heart stoppin riffs and mike d's raucous high pitched rapping style then this albums for you! seriously now i do have to say that the beasties seem to have lost some of their early humour that was evident in "girls" ...
...programming); Mix Master Mike (DJ). HELLO NASTY won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance. "Intergalactic" won the 1999 Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. On their fifth album and first proclamation in four years, the Beasties pledge allegiance to the next millennium while rocking out old-school stylee. Instead of pretentiously haphazard schizophrenia, Adrock, Mike D and MCA mold Run DMC boasts, Lee Perry dub ...

ricky_gervais 11.06.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Hello Nasty - Beastie Boys (The)

I Prefer "Don't Be A "F****t"

Advantages: Classic Hip Hop
Disadvantages: Punk Rock elements are weak

"Licensed To Ill" is the debut album from the Beastie Boys. It was re-named from "Don't Be A F****t" for obvious reasons, and has the first mainstream, all-white Hip Hop crew come with a classic cut. Here, the crew were a trio of MCs, Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock. It came out in 1986 on Def Jam, and had a groundbreaking impact as they became the first Hip Hop act to top the Billboard Charts. Originally, they started up in the Punk Rock scene, but crossed ...
...producer responsible for all the killer cuts off LL Cool J's "Radio". Elements of this are still apparent in their work as it has a spectrum of tunes which go from pure Hip Hop, to Rap Rock, and then one full Punk Rock track. 1. "Rhymin' & Stealin'" Although I have to say that this is quite impactful with its heavy bass, I wouldn' say that this one is the best way to kick off the album as it is far from the best that you will get on the album. ...

XICripZ 17.02.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Licensed To Ill - Beastie Boys (The)