The Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys are a hip hop group from the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. more...

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They were the first white rap group of any importance and one of the few acts from the early days of hip hop that still enjoy major success today. Their rock and punk-influenced rap has had a significant impact on artists both in and outside the hip hop community.

Many also note that the Beastie Boys play some exceptionally musically-varied and crowd-pleasing concerts; their live performances often include MCing, funk, jazz and rock. All three of the B-Boys are known to perform in matching suits as well. They have recently been honored at the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors 2006.

History

The early days

Beastie Boys were formed in 1979 as a punk band called The Young Aborigines. In 1981, Adam Yauch (MCA) joined the group and changed the name to Beastie Boys. The name "Beastie" originally stood for "Boys Entering Anarchistic States Towards Internal Excellence," and the initials B.B. intended to mimic Washington DC punk band Bad Brains. The band's original line-up consisted of Adam Yauch on bass, Kate Schellenbach on drums, John Berry on guitar, and Michael Diamond (Mike D) on vocals. Their first gig was at Berry's house on Yauch's 17th birthday. The band quickly earned support slots for Bad Brains and Reagan Youth at venues such as CBGB and Max's Kansas City, playing at the latter venue on its closing night. That same year, the Beastie Boys recorded the 7" EP Pollywog Stew at 171A studios.

John Berry left the group (later forming Thwig) and was replaced by Adam Horovitz (Ad-rock)—who had previously played in the punk band, The Young and the Useless in 1983. The band also performed its first rap track, Cooky Puss, based on a prank call by the group to Carvel Ice Cream. The song became a hit in New York underground dance clubs upon its release.

Licensed to Ill: 1984–1987

It was during this period that Def Jam record producer Rick Rubin entered the picture and the Beastie Boys changed from a punk rock outfit to a three-man rap crew. The band released the 12" single, Rock Hard, in 1984—the second record released by Def Jam that credited Rubin as producer. Soon after Rubin's arrival, Schellenbach developed creative differences with the band, citing her friction with Rubin. It was believed that Rubin objected to Schellenbach's place in the band as she did not fit the hip hop image to which the band aspired. Schellenbach went on to join Luscious Jackson in 1991.

In 1985, the band supported Madonna on her North American Virgin tour. Later in the year, the group was on the Raising Hell tour with Run DMC, Whodini, LL Cool J, and the Timex Social Club. With their exposure on this tour, the track "Hold It Now, Hit It" made Billboard's national R&B and Dance charts. The track, "She's on It," from the Krush Groove soundtrack continued in a rap/metal vein while a double A-side 12" "Paul Revere/The New Style" was released at the end of the year and became another R&B/dance hit.

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