Paul's Boutique

decent but not sure what the hype is...

Fun and a little weird at parts. I enjoyed it though

Pretty sweet sounds. But the Besties never hit it for me lyrically. I'm more of a gangster rap fan

Really unimpressed with this one. Licence to ill was so promising for the beastie boys, but it seems they couldnt keep the magic going.

A landmark hip hop album, there will never be another quite like it. I know the Beasties can be a divisive group but regardless of how you feel this album is important to understand hip hop history.

3.0

Found the shouting a bit repetitive sometimes didn't realise a new song was playing

Not the best beastie album but for a 1989 album it gave the speakers a workout

Awful noise.

Awesome use of sampling, and yeah, it's loud. But so is NYC and any other major city. This really is a good album, and groundbreaking for hip-hop.

I concede to the attention and I get its place in history. Not for me.

Beastie boys are the best!

Great album! Never heard it before e

The energy is infectious here. the three Beastie Boys all have a great chemistry with each other, and work with the samples and beats so well, changing rhythms on a dine or just rolling with it. Just a really fun album.

Much better. The funky production still sounds fresh, with the massive load of plunderphonics not sounding gimmicky and the raps sounding like a delicacy.

In the last year or so, there's been a discussion about sampling in music, as there was 40 years ago, but it's more of a different discussion. Modern sampling is just not good, not done correctly or properly to the point that people are saying sampling is boring or uncreative. But I disagree. Sampling, to me, works better when it's chopped and screwed, pitched higher or lower, to the point where you just make a whole new beat AND where the sample originates. You look at classic hip-hop and you see how much of funk, soul, gospel, rock, metal, and they work that into their advantage. No other group, in my opinion, did that better than Beastie Boys. No other example of some of the greatest sampling work done in hip hop history is Paul's Boutique.

The mastery over sampling continues on this album, same as License to Ill. I will say this album sits in a more vibey spot than License to Ill, which I both like and dislike in comparison. Just comes down to which I prefer at that moment. The vocals aren't bothering me as much as on License though, and its a more varied album. A lot more interesting guitar work and sample usage of guitars on this one.

Nothing different than expected

Appreciate the talent but not my style

That cowbell gave me a flashback

Fuck yeah.

not good at all. Don't like it.

no disrespect, but nearly every beastie boys song sounds the same. It’s not bad, just kinda boring if it’s not your thing. They are entertaining at least!

90s rap - I enjoyed the overall feel and production but the 90s era lyrics do feel a little goofy (even with recognition that this was a different time). Still a fun listen though.

Very into the beats and the flow. This has the feeling of being something new and testing the waters.

It was fine

Always been a lover of the beastie boys but never listened to this album. Fuck it’s good, front to back banging tunes, the heavy use of effects add so much stank to all the tracks. Something about the smart ass tongue and cheek lyrics against booming funk instrumentals, my god, best shit ever…

A bit long but still you gotta give credit for the creativity on display.

Certainly one of those bands and album that I could appreciate it's inclusion here but it's just not for me 2.5*

Good.

The clear highlight of this record is the production, the Dust Brothers managed to create a really interesting and polished sampled-based arrange of beats that carry the whole project. While I love HipHop, the Beastie Boys' subject matter and delivery has never been my favourite, and this record is no exception. This doesn't take away from the fact that it's a good album, and that it was certainly influential in its moment. It's still a clever and fun album, but for me Hip Hop as a genre has so much more to offer than just this. In this record, they find a more balanced spot, not as "frat" as in "Licensed to Ill", which makes it a better listen for me. There are also no awful tracks (no "Girls" here), and it's a much more easy listen. In terms of favourite tracks, "Shardrach" and "Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun" were the best. I also loved "B-Boy Bouillabaisse: A Year and A Day" sharing the sample (and pretty much the beat) with Kendrick Lamar's "i".

It’s fun, a bit too loose and silly at times, but the celebration of the Dust Bros’ work - while warranted, just at a technical level, jeezus that must’ve been painstaking to do - can’t help but feel a bit overblown compared to subsequent sampledelia, their own included. Not because they aren’t incredible, it’s just all a little goofy. The experience is a little like revisiting old episodes of The Simpsons - you marvel at how overstuffed it all is and...also feel distanced from the humour and references.

Classic.

Ma you're just jealous it's the beastie boys. Be more quinticential. But the stuff at the end of this album is fire.

Joka biisin kohdalla pää nyökkyy mukana. Mixmaster Mike alkutohinoiden tällä levyllä mutta kehityssuunta on tuttukaikille.

Like the 80-90s rap flow but to much screaming

Ei hassumpi, mutta ei ihan sitä, mitä itse kovin usein kuuntelisin.

psm

I usually get my fill of Beastie Boys if I listen to more than two or three tracks straight. I think there was a good enough mix to keep me in it but not enough to warrant a 4/5

One of the best by the Beasties!

They sound less full and energetic than I'm used to with Beastie Boy's tracks, and has pretty uninspired and uninteresting beats that change like 3 times a song for no reason. But there are some real jams and hard going sounds and songs. It's just far too intermittent. Fav Track: Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun

I mean I know there’s going to a bunch of haters, but I’m not going to let that bother me. This album is a party from the get go and I want to go to it.

Really fun great hiphop album that wasn’t too long and had some cool samples sprinkled in

I’m not a Beastie Boys fan. The sound of their voices and bombastic delivery is usually a turnoff. So, I was surprised how much I enjoyed listening to this album. I learned that the BBs signature includes delivering lines in unison, as opposed to solo or in harmony. Also, their use of samples is very creative and fun. But the nasal voices still irritate me and the delivery is too consistent and repetitive. It’s really the samples & beats that distinguish their tunes, not the flow. Still, I enjoyed it and the BBs were clearly influential in 80s/90s rap. It’s a solid 3, for me.

Inspired some much better 90s rap

The depth and breadth of this album is incredible. And usually when an album comes out and people say “it was ahead of its time” they usually mean they didn’t like it but are just trying to be polite. But this one actually was. We weren’t ready for where the group went on their sophomore effort. But man is this album brilliant. Both musically and lyrically. It’s entirely possible that this album predicted the future direction of what music would become.

Listening to this album in elementary school in secret was a formative experience for me and cemented my love of hip-hop.

"every beastie boys song is like 'three little piggies, egg-fried rice, i spy some girlies and they all look nice"' - a wise person

This is one of the biggest 180’s I’ve done on an album - this project or otherwise. Came into this knowing their hits and maybe an additional track or two, but never actually gave them a listen, and didn’t know anything off this album. What a blast! Like - I can’t hardly believe how much I enjoyed it - I remember not ‘getting’ Beastie Boys appeal when they were coming up, but listening now, I could rock this just about anytime anywhere. Sounds of Science is a new favorite track, but man, just let this whole thing ride - all the samples, the back and forth lyrical interplay, the beats - so much fun.

88/89 saw the release of It takes a nation by Public Enemy, 3 feet high and rising by De La Soul, and Paul’s Boutique by The Beastie Boys, all 3 LPS were a masterclass in sampling and really showed what could be achieved “stealing” from other artists. Paul’s boutique has an estimated 105 samples, although I suspect there’s many more. The fact that it is so cohesive is testament to the production skills of the Dust Brothers Unfortunately the legal action taken against De La meant that the sampling laws changed and hip-hop has never really sounded as good as this ever since. Paul’s boutique-An easy 5⭐️ Beastie Boys are potentially my favourite group of all time and this might be my favourite of their albums (it’s not its Ill communication. It’s not its Hello Nasty)

Classic record I'd heard many times. Beastie Boys sound inherently like themselves and this is definitely a good thing

Fantastic album, possibly their best, in my opinion.

Excellent!!!

just not my thing

Fav: B-Boy Bouillabaisse: A Year And A Day Least Fav: High Plains Drifter Sound Of Science onwards it really locks in. Really enjoyed

Like a lot of bands who maybe veered into the cheesy territory later on in their careers (REM, U2, Aerosmith) I was not expecting to enjoy this album as much as I did. The same thing happened with REM when I listened to their first album. There must be something about the rawness of their beginnings that comes through and speaks to me.

it's no License to Ill that's for sure

I'm not going to be one of these boomers that comes on here and bashes every rap album I hear- I actually really like the genre. I even like a lot of the beats on this album, but god damnit are these guys annoying. It's something about the pitch of their voice and the cadence of their flow that makes me want to rip my ears out after a couple of tracks.

4/10…it’s ok. Classic Beastie Boys: the adolescent vulgarity of the first album, a few new rhyme/rhythm devices heading toward later albums, but nothing revolutionary or new.

This is so much fun. The samples, the jokes, the pop culture references are all firing at once.

Listens: 1.5 Standout tracks: High Plains Drifter A little surprised to see a second, lesser known Beastie Boys album in the 1001 albums list. I didn't recognize a single song while listening. There are some decent tracks, but otherwise this album simply isn't as good as License To Ill or Ill Communication.

Classic

Another hip hop classic. Not their best material but still REALLY GOOD.

Lots of samples

it’s just fun!!!!

It was neat to put music to the name, Beastie Boys, but it got old fast. Hush little white boys, but I did like the sampling.

I can't and won't hate on it, I just don't like listening to it

It's important to remember how innovative these guys are, by modern standards it is on the simple side. But considering they had very little frame of reference they put out some banging hip hop.

Fantastic find! Didn't know a straw in a lid could be considered for sampling.

Maybe its just not for me, it all just feels one note and tired. I got excited when one track started with a Curtis Mayfield riff and then I ended up just wishing I was listening to that album instead.

Beast these boys heck yeah

sounds good, but not my thing. kinda done with it after a couple of songs. it is a little embarassing that this album is on the list

This sophomore effort still holds up as a fantastic album. Dense and layered sampling, playful and groovy as fuck. While it may not have been an overt hit when it came out, they boys definitely were flexing and stretching what they were and what they could do. The Dust Brothers are a huge part of this and the sheer amount of sampling in this record and how well it is done is amazing.

I know this isn’t fair to this album, but I ended up spending hours today stuck in LA traffic because I had to go fix a coworker's mistake, so any and everything was making me testy and this just so happened to be the album that I had on. Maybe on another day I rate it higher.

Better than a lot from this genre but not really my thing

Mature albumpure class

Love it. I’m 13 years old again.

I had so much fun listening to this one. A lot of old hip hop *sounds* old but this still felt fresh. Will definitely listen to this one again.

Best Beastie Boys album!!!

Perhaps the Beastie's at their best. Every rhyme works, and there are definitely building blocks for the rest of their albums in this one. Looking down the Barrel of a Gun is top notch

Gold, lot of variety

The absolutely mental sampling would be enough to warrant this album a 5/5 on its own, but then you get phrases like "suckers they come a dime a dozen // when I say dozen, you know what I'm talking about, boyyy" in a song about launching eggs to boot, and you know you're listening to something truly special. Amazingly invigorating material front to back, and in my opinion the very best of 80's hip hop.

Не моя музыка, но мне понравилось в целом. Очень интересное сочетание тяжелого рока и хип-хопа, джаза и хип-хопа. Было интересно прочитать, что группа, которая использовала сэмплы, в итоге не хотела, чтобы их сэмплы использовали в рекламе.

One of the best. Amazing samples and DJ work. Great rhymes. Already listen at least once per year

Top 5 hip hop album of all time…nah, my names Clarence! 🤣👏🏻👏🏻

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I egged the chicken, and then I ate his leg.

Fantastic album! The Boys laid it down on this one. Opened many a door for future hip hop artists! Their best album! 5 ++++

Brilliant and epic. Was a late comer to it but still strong after all these years

My favorite album

This is hip-hop, right? So I must hate it, right? Wrong! So what's the difference between this and 2Pac and Outkast? Its humour. It isn't up it's own arse. It doesn't have an agenda. And, most importantly it's got a great groove.

Tired of the Beastie Boys coming out here! Caca!

Even better than their debut. Just a first listen alone is an absolute blast, but then you start digging into the samples and it really dawns on you just how incredible it is that this record exists. The trio hold their own to make the mic a fun time as well, leading to an all around incredible package. Thank you Fantano for putting me on.

The Beastie Boys completely reinvented themselves on their second album, abandoning the juvenile party rap of Licensed to Ill for something far more sophisticated. Working with the Dust Brothers, they created a dense sonic collage built from hundreds of samples that blend funk, soul, rock, and TV soundbites into something entirely new. The album was a commercial flop when it came out in 1989. Too weird, too layered, too experimental for hip-hop audiences at the time. But it's since been recognized as one of the most important hip-hop albums ever made, capturing a unique moment before sampling laws made this kind of wholesale musical borrowing financially impossible. The production is incredibly dense but never feels cluttered. Tracks like "Shake Your Rump" and "Hey Ladies" showcase the group's evolved wordplay over seamless sample transitions that feel like controlled chaos. "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" is an ambitious nine-minute suite that proves their artistic growth, while "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun" explores darker territory. What makes the album special is how it rewards repeated listening. Each playthrough reveals new samples, new jokes, new moments of brilliance hiding in the mix. The cultural references span everything from Curtis Mayfield to Gilligan's Island, creating a fever dream of American pop culture. Paul's Boutique stands as proof that the most important art is often misunderstood in its time. It transformed three party rappers into genuine artists and created a template for adventurous hip-hop that remains unmatched. A brilliant, essential masterpiece.

Better than the first BB album and interesting way to make the music.

Not my fav among their albums but still, I can’t go wrong with these guys. They rap a lot about their grandmas and cooking and I’m into that.

I love this album. This or check your head in my favorite beastie boys album!

Love Beastie Boys. They are in my normal rotation. But this is one of their worst albums.

Each song sounds really similar simple beats that aren’t that interesting. Couldn’t get through this album something about it really annoys me 2/5

Love how the three guys can jump in and out from each other. Almost could be one person. High energy nonstop.

A huge improvement over their debut. A joyously weird collage of beats and samples that kept me listening. The lyrics still aren't quite as engaging as they got later, but a step up from previously. Borderline 3/4, giving a 4 just because there feels like a depth that will reward close listening.

I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this. Maybe I was imagining the Beach Boys? It was a lot, but on the whole it was pretty good.

В цій рубриці ми вже знайомились з більш джазовим альбомом Beastie Boys - Ill Communication (1994). Сьогодні ж перед нами нехай й не мій улюблений їх альбом, але однозначно їх магнум опус. Саме він відокремив більш зрозумілий та хуковий дебютник від подальшої експериментальної творчості. Paul's Boutique примітний в першу чергу видатною роботою з семплами абсолютно різних речей. Це були й класичні соул та фанк, шматочки з різних фільмів, а також треки інших реп зірок, на кшталт Public Enemy. Все воно звучить дуже незвично та дивно. Навіть стандартна для хіп-хопу річ як «біт», тут не є такою вже очевидною. Проте вони все одно якось спромоглися навалити під все це свій качовий та технічний флоу. Це класика, що стала прикладом для експериментального хіп-хопу, яка й досі надихає безліч топових виконавців. З останніх прикладів можу навести торішній альбом No Hands від Joey Valence & Brae.

Get this man a xanax or something, my ears hurt.

Okay

It's awesome. The mixing of hip hop, funk, punk, and rock, plus the prodigious use of sampling, creates an incredibly creative, forward-thinking, and influential record. The frat boy rhymes can be both intelligent (Pass me the scalpel, I'll make an incision I'll cut off the part of your brain that does the bitching; Put it in formaldehyde and put it in the shelf; And you can show it to your friends and say "that's my old self"), and bawdry (Rapunzel Rapunzel let down your hair; So I can climb up and get inside your underwear). As with all hip hop, it shows its age, but I also think it has aged like a fine wine with a realization of how foundational and influential this album was during the early days of hip hop. 4.5 stars.

Not my taste of music

About as enjoyable as hip hop can get for me

Ahead of its time.

Such a killer album!!

Yeah , never really been a fan of the Beastie Boys. Seemed to be playing at being gangsters and very shouty. Not for me

Not as good as other BB offerings. This one just seems to be the same level/tone shouting most of the way through without a lot of discernible differences between songs. Or maybe I’m just getting old!

I liked this album better than their previous one and in particular the song, Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun. Still too shouty and tough to listen for too long.

Uniquely dizzying in its variety of samples used and how they are sequenced, making for some standout backing tracks. Lyrically it’s funny and snappy. Just a fantastic record, and they only get better from here. All hail the Beasties.

Boring

If you have read any of my reviews so far, it might be obvious that hip hop is not something that I enjoy and I don't normally choose to listen to it. Paul's Boutique is really the lone exception. I guess the difference between this and other albums in the genre is that this feels sort of like a rock and roll record, albeit one with samples and rap. Maybe it's an attitude that is conveyed, there is humor in the lyrics, it's clever. I don't listen often but occasionally, when Gina is not around, I put it on and turn up the volume really high. Then I tuck it back away until next time.

3,5

Amazing! One of the greatest albums of all time.

I don't fee this is their best album, but it is still fun!

The album everyone hated... until they loved it! An album so ahead of its time, it sounds like it could have been made last year and not decades ago.

Interesting in places and I like the sample heavy sound. I always wished I liked the Beasties more but the voices can be grating. Would like to love this.

Favoriten High plains drifter The Sound of science

Got so deep into this album in my late teens, early 20’s. We listened to this album non stop on Biscayne Blvd. A lot of crazy shit went down in that house and this album was part of the soundtrack to some great memories.

Meh

Second Beasty Boys album. Breakthrough. Very fun and creative rap. Prefer their later work.

Often considered their magnum opus, and I can see why now that I've finally listened to it. Love how many samples they used, loved the energy they bring to every record. I think I'd put Ill Communication a hair above this, but I can't argue with anybody saying that this is their best.

What a chore. Sorry, but I just can't go the whole album with the headspace required to actually enjoy the non-stop yelling.

It's good

Always a fun listen. Clever rhymes, inspired samples — a true creative tour de force with such awesome energy between the three Beasties. Love it!

Lubię to.

I like the Beastie Boys but could never be considered a hardcore fan. I am aware most fans think this is their best album. I am not one of them. It's good but I don't think it's even in my top 3. Still it has been years since I listened to it and I enjoyed it.

I really liked this album. I've listened to it a few different times over the years, and I think it's one of the more memorable hip hop albums I think I've ever heard. It almost feels like an encyclopedia of beats. Very abstract/experimental parts and some dynamic vocals and a lot of fun mixed in. Playful in tone while serious in delivery, technically well crafted and felt like it was still always reaching for it's limits. I think I'll start to listen to it in like 4-5 round bursts every 2-3 years. Worth owning I think. 4.5

Muy buen disco. Los Beastie Boys hacen uso experimental del sampleo en la forma de los temas. De repente sorprenden cortando tema con segmentos en otro tempo y caracter, para retomar la continuidad. Hacen uso de una gran cantidad de recursos sonoros, pero mantienen una identidad clara, sobre todo gracias a las voces.

This album is all over the place in terms of sounds and samples. I liked a couple songs through the first listen. But, I feel like I’d enjoy it more late night after some herb and ales.

This is #day278 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my second Beasties album. I got Ill Communication back on my #day151, and I gave it a 4. Now, Paul's Boutique... I know it's regarded as seminal, but somehow it feels less focused. I like the instrumentation and that this album belongs to the golden age of hip-hop (even regarded as its landmark), but it just didn't quite live up to my expectations. The samples are fun, or at least they should be. But maybe it's because I'm listening to this record later into the night that it's starting to feel a bit tiring too soon. Or, it's just too experimental? Anyway, this is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day279.

I can't remember

This album grew on me a little bit, the vocals are quite repetitive and a little grating on the ears but still cool to listen to, and the history with the samples is amazing

Completely changed my mind about these guys. This album is stupendous

interestingly didn't like this as much as sabotage... but it's still super fun music.

Yes.

Okay

it was pretty solid

Old school hip hop/ rap, I can dig the vibes, but the vocals are just too grating to me, sounds whiny at times. Just annoying after a while.

cool experience, but wont be on my repeat

Ikke helt min greie men litt groovy innimellom 2/5

Just 3 guys who were having a good time

I usually don't write long and legitimate reviews either because I don't have the time or patience or the album was so monotonal and boring that there wasn't that much to say about. When I do write a long and well thought review it's probably because I have a special connection to the album or it had some ups and some downs. This album is neither. I came into this album thinking that it was some kind of landmark in hip-hop. I had heard a lot about the Beastie Boys and knew a little bit of there later albums. When you listen to their individual songs, they are a refreshing listen that feels good and is enjoyable. Some find they're voice annoying and I see where they are coming from. But as I said, individual songs of theirs are nice. and this brings me to my first point. Each song individually is nice, but the album as a whole is repetitive and and the same sounding songs drag the album. Which is surprising to me, because this album's era was the era of concept albums, which are supposed to bring ups and downs, each song a piece of a bigger puzzle. And you can tell this album is intended to be a concept album. Songs flow into each other some are short. However there are no ups and downs, and all the songs don't make an image; if they did, it would be distorded and rather boring. My point is that this is a failed attempt at an concept album. but there's still a lot of great points in this album. The beats are very groovy and never let down, even though they can seem repetetive at points in the album. The lyrics are very good and they all tell stories. At least that part isn't repetitive. That brings me to yet another point. The vocals are not... great. They aren't unique, they don't bring anything new to the hip hop world, and they are not pleasent. It doesn't matter what the lyrics are, if it's hard to actually enjoy the vocals, you can't pay too much attention to the lyrics. There's no harmony in the vocals, there's nothing musical in the way they sing, and it's just not creative. If this is such a revolutionary album, then why do the vocals not add anything? What makes an album revolutionary is if it brings something new to the table. Some musicality would be very original but it seems like they just don't care. And god halfway through the album and you are already tired of their groaning type singing. Please, SINGGG!! Even in rap there should be some musicality in the vocals. There just isn't! Besides the vocals, there are some creative moments in this album. 5-peice chicken dinner isn't that long but it was a sudden changed and it kinda put a smile on my face. I wish there was more moments in the album where there are sudden changes to escape the eternal monotonal singing of whoever tf these rappers are. There are also some riffs that I can't mention because I don't remember what songs they were on but it was pretty refreshing when they had some pitch to them. but they were usually samples anyways :') i'm not saying that the beastie boys are racist or anything but I feel like this was created for people who are afraid of black rappers. I don't think that they did this intentionally but I can't imagine a black dude listening to this. It's very white culture. So... yeah. If you love painfully boring vocals with interesting lyrics, cool riffs that are usually sampled and groovy but extremely repetitive drum beats and a goofy ahh cowboy song about chicken and dinner, I think this it the album for you. For me? nah. I'll stick with the black rappers, thank you very much 2.5/5

This is alright but I feel there are original rappers who deserve to be on the list more.

This album is all samples and layers and I don’t particularly like it. It’s incredible how many samples there is, and that’s where the innovation is. The problem is that PB is not as good as 3ft High and Rising. It’s also very long and the shouting gets wearing after about 40 minutes. It was okay. I didn’t hate it and technically it’s very accomplished. I wouldn’t turn it off if I heard it, but it would not make my play rotation.

one of my favorites, surprised there's two beastie boys albums on this.

Not my fav beastie boys

Trendsetter that hasn't aged too badly

Second Beastie Boys this week! Anyways, as a young and dumb high schooler, I never understood why people always said this was their best album. Some of the songs were weird and short and not as fun as License to Ill. Looking back the sampling and creativity is another another level. Obviously it's their best album (jus maybe not the most fun to listen to) 9/10

I’ve probably said this before, but I remember people talking about The Beastie Boys when I was a teen and Sabotage was on Guitar Hero. I never really got the appeal of it at the time. Listening to them nowadays, I do enjoy them more than I used to. Partly because I’m less closed minded about all music that didn’t fit perfectly in my comfort zone, and also partly because I can enjoy how the Beastie Boys didn’t take things too seriously. I enjoyed this is album, but it’s still not going to be something I seek out. Sabotage isn’t on this album by the way, I’m not even sure why I mentioned it.

I really appreciated this on a technical level, but I didn't like it

Felt like entering a time warp. Did not hate but a very specific vibe not suited to my mood - would be good for stomping down the street

I like some of their stuff, and really tried with this, but couldn't get into it.

I really struggle to see what they brought to the table from a rap vocal standpoint, besides being white! It’s a miracle they had such good producers on board to carry their tracks along. Great basslines throughout, and some fun “I know that song!” sample moments, like with the appearance of the Get Back riff. Still find their energy a little lacklustre on the microphone, which is probably THE worst piece of criticism for a rapper.

I really like this era of hip hop. Great samples, fun beats, it’s just a good time. Reminded me of 3 Feet High and Rising, which I later learned came out the same year. I’ve never really listened to Beastie Boys before despite them being a huge name, but now I want to hear more.

It was fun but not sure why it had to be on the list, ill communication is more iconic

These beats are fucking great, Beastie Boys are really overlooked in rap but this is insanely ahead of it's time

Perfect 10! I imagine its the best album on this list. Definitely one of the best albums ever recorded. 100/100

I didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. Lots of samples and sounds that are iconic that I’ve heard later that’s been inspired by this. I imagine this was groundbreaking when it came out, but I can’t learn to love the vocals

Nö! Egal, wer hier stottert, flucht oder post, das ist keine Musik!

Really good album. Superb sampling, and the vintage style fits really good with rap. Their voices are perfect for the style. Really great.

Liked it but bit hard to listen to

найс, вайбово.

I'm a Beastie Boys fan, in general, so I'm always going to enjoy their albums. This isn't their very best, but it's still good.

This album might be for you if you are a 90s skater boy with a bleached Mohawk and an inclination to sit on the stoop and say “oh shoot girl! Sick fit!” to passerby. Alas, I am not this.

I just couldn't get into this. First real stinker of this endeavor.

Listening to this after Cuban Linx is some whiplash. They are lacking a bit in the lyrics department, but they make a good beat and have fun. It's as if as if an ivy league a capella group formed a rap group that could make a half decent beat.

It’s okay

Not as good as Ill Communication for me but still pretty nice Will I listen to again: 62%

классика че

total classic

Great album. Reminds me of how fun 80s hip hop could be. Highlights: Johnny Ryall, 3-Minute Rule, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun Will return to more of their stuff.

The album is cool and very diverse but I lost the focus at some point.

Not the novelty that was Licensed to Ill with it's "Rage Against the Machine" punk vibes, it stays as a milestone defining the NY Hip Hop Scene. But that was the album before Money Mark..

Ce n’est clairement pas ma came

Hardcore punk skater messed-up kids turning to rap couldn’t drop anything less than a wild, ironic, and eclectic gem. The lyrics are hilarious, and the high pitched flows are iconic. Great stuff to me, especially for the 80s. « Looking down the barrel of a gun » or « Shadrach » for exemple are far ahead of their time.

Great energy and great sampling

This was sick Remembered why I was suffering through all of these terrible albums

Нормально, но более поздние альбомы гораздо прикольнее

It used to be a favourite

Other than high planes drifter, not a huge fan. If ever in the mood for adult Aaron Carter vibes…

Not really my jam but I respect the grind

It's the Beastie Boys.

It's a good time. Spotting all the samples is fun.

Good, entertaining rap album with creative use of samples it was ahead of its time.

I had a lot of the same issues with this that I had with Ready to Die (too long, some bangers but a lot of weird filler) but also they're just so cute

I can appreciate the instrumentals and samples but the vocals are not for me. I had to take a break midway through, it was too much for my ears, constant shouting.

Enjoyed it. Not given a whole beastie boys album a shot before. Some good songs. A little long and samey as a whole but not bad

Super unique sound, especially vocally. I liked it, though I did wish it had bigger hits. 7/10.

if they could only all be as interesting as A Year and a Day...

Love the Beastie Boys! This album is not my favorite, though it's fun.

Good stuff. Love this classic hip hop with what sound to be live instruments, or at least very well mixed instruments. Again, decades after people have done this sound better to more unique results and idk how many of these songs I’d go back to but I enjoyed listening to them.

I don't really know how I could be grumpy about this, the Beastie Boys are just a lot of fun. They're not all winners, obviously, and it's not, like, peak Beastie, but I just kinda respect them for their sound, yknow? Distinctive, no apologies.

9.5/10 Considering I've only really listened to a few selected songs of the beastie boys before this I really enjoyed it - at no point did i want to skip or play something else (very rare for me). You can tell they had fun making it and I had so much fun with all the samples (especially the Johny Cash right at the end of Hello Brooklyn, that was a great surprise). feel like i could spend days going through and pick new things out each listen. Iconic, get it divas. Song's added to playlist; Johnny Ryall Hey Ladies Shadrach Hello Brooklyn

Not quite my genre

Cannot stand these guys. I guess it’s influential but it’s just so obnoxious and I’m never in the mood for it.

Not really my cup of tea but certainly influential in the development of rock/rap. The lyrics seem a bit childish to me. Didn’t notice the Eagles and Beatles samples the first time though. Those were pretty cool

More of a sound collage than an album, but one that shows you how important samples have always been to hip hop. The music was far more interesting than the rapping here, and it was appropriate that we got this album when we did because the whole thing was a fun easter egg hunt. Hearing the guitar solo from "The End" over the drums from "Sgt. Peppers" was thrilling as a Beatles fan, and I'm wondering if this helped influence the creation of the Love album.

Beastie Boys are always cool!

Awesome! I listened to it all day

I liked the beginning beats of all the songs

Really fun to listen to

Great

Exactly what I needed today! Fun, engaging, and quirky - both the lyrics and the sounds and the beats! 🤌🏼 I think I just really love hip hop 🥰 Album rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

I like Beastie Boys and read their book but for some reason I've never listened to this album? I have no idea why I haven't because it's excellent. The samples are so good in this one.

This is truly experimental music. Is it rough and hard to listen to? Yes. Is it as good as License to Ill? Not even close. But I love the big swings with this one. I love that the Beastie Boys just made a chaotic record because they freaking wanted too. The samples, genre fusing, raps, yelling, swearing. Its all so good.

zu viel "beats"

The Beastie Boys have such a stylized sound that it is very hard to hear their music without it sounding like a parody of themselves, in a bad way. I don't understand the appeal of the yell-rapping, especially doing it over one another, not very musical in my opinion. My favorite parts of this album were hearing all of the samples because it served as a distraction from the musical cacophony that was this record.

Absolute classic rap album. Has a unique feeling all the way through. Naive and playful pass-the-mic goodness.

I was excited for this album. It been over 30 years since I heard it and have fond memories of listening to the Beastie Boys. I listened to it twice now and it's got some good songs but overall it's not holding up for me. I want to like it but it's not there for me. Like I said some of the tunes got added to the playlist but this is flat out party music, you play it when you have people over and no one is paying attention to the songs, just the energy.

Thought this would be kinda grating, but was enjoyable

I got so thrown off by the intro I began to have doubts listening to this, then Shake Your Rump just hit me in the face like an aluminum baseball bat. The boisterous and captivating aura flowing from this album is unbelievable. On top of that you got some amazing samples that just come out of nowhere like they sampled The Beatles, Mountain, and so much more. A cool thing to note is the influence that this album had on legends like J Dilla and MF DOOM (some of my favorite artists/producers). Wonderful listen. Top 5: The Sounds Of Science, High Plains Drifter (MPF), Egg Man, Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun, and Johnny Ryall / Honorable Mention: B-Boy Bouillabaisse No bad songs 4.50-4.75/5

Can’t lie. This one was (begrudgingly) cold.

Tons of funky samples. Production blends many genres from rock, funk, soul, and jazz. Witty and energetic flows.

This really grew on me. The samples are great. The lyrics are sometimes cringeworthy but fun. But I don't think I'd listen to this again.

Not my favorite from Beastie Boys, though generally not a huge Beastie Boys fan so take that as you will.

i seriously dislike "rap" "hip-hop" in all forms. this stuff is corny beyond belief, it was then and it is now, no amount of revisionism or critical reevaluation will ever make this good

This was a reeeally good record. I love this sound. Loved the samples and almost everything about it. There are some stronger, some weaker tracks, but all around i is at least a low 5

My number one favorite album of all time. 10/5

I don’t think this album as the same anthems as License to Ill does but this album is the best work of the Beastie Boys

Wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this album at first, but by the end of it, I realized I would definitely come back to this for a few tracks. The intro reeled me in immediately! Loved the jazzy cool elements. Overall, the production and sampling in this album was pretty cohesive and fun to jam to. I loved some of the sampling of The Shining in “Egg Man”, and some of the Jamaican influences throughout as well. Enjoyed the rock elements in “Looking Down The Barrel of a Gun”. “Sounds of Science” was a cool track, loved the transitions in that. What really got me digging the album though was the second half, B-Boy Bouillabaisse! I didn’t expect that at all and I felt it was really raw and cool. I’m not sure if this is the case, but some of the stylistic cadences of the Beastie Boys reminded me of the likes of Childish Gambino and A$AP Rocky which makes me wonder if they were inspired by them at all. “Hey Brooklyn” gave me A$AP (“Praise The Lord”) vibes immediately and that bass absolutely slaps. Definitely my favourite off the album. Reading about them and learning it was their sophomore album makes sense as it’s pretty refined and cool, definitely want to hear more of them.

3.5

Can't go wrong with the Beastie Boys. Snotty, smart, and funny, and always on point with bars and beats (Minus the blatant misogyny of the early years). This is a sampling masterpiece. A whopping 100+ tracks sampled, providing a sense of familiarity on every track while combining to produce something fresh. Johnny Ryall and Hey Ladies are going to be living rent free in my head for the next few weeks. Happens with every spin.

Beastie Boys has like one good song and it isn't on this album.

I think I cannot rate hip-hop albums. It's fun, there's a bit of hip and hop in it, it's enjoyable.

“Sampledelic”

being in a beastie boys-type group where we all say the last word of each line together would be so much fun. very enriching activity

It was a good album. I think because I listen to hip hop a lot, I appreciate that this earlier albums are referred to again and again via samples and references but this isn’t an album I’d go out of my way to listen to again.

the best the best the best the best 10/5

Beastie Boys should cover Danny Brown

Good beastie boys album.

Yep. It's Paul's Boutique.

Decent. Good vibes.

Nuff said.

Sounds cute.

An improvement over License to Ill in every way. Lush productions without comprising the punk attitude they established

9.2/10

To już moje drugie Beastie Boys tutaj. I zdecydowanie słabsze. Bardziej eksperymentalne, powypychane krotkimi wstawkami. Nie taki rap lubię. Sample ciekawe i oryginalne, bronią się. Ale całość męczy. 6/10

The production is much better than on Licensed to Ill but I still disliked this album for similar reasons. The biggest reason is that I find the high-pitched guy's voice extremely grating (I think it's Mike D) to the point that it totally kills my enjoyment of the album. I also just generally don't like their back and forth style of rapping. I really liked some of the sampling, in particular using the Beatles' the End on the Sound of Science and also the ominous heavy metal sample on Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun. The funk sample on Car Thief was also excellent.

As a rock fan who was in high school in 1989, I’ve always had disdain for these guys. But this album is better than expected

Fantastic album. Often overlooked in the Beasties discography, shame too. Reminds me how much we miss MCA …. Plus my favorite Beasties song is on this album - Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun

joa, sind halt die Beastie Boys; insgesamt aber nicht (dauerhaft) meine Musik

i’m not gonna lie, i was really questioning this album’s integrity after that opener. BUT it quickly turned around. everything was so funky and rhythmic and FUN! the beastie boys are always a fun listen so idk why i was surprised. nothing really stood out to me, but that’s not to say i didn’t like it… in fact, i would say my feelings on this album were more akin to love. would i go out of my way to listen? probably not (rap/hip-hop has never been my niche). BUT it was still a really good album. 4/5!

Damn. this is actual trash. Rating: 1.0

A great achievement in both rapping and sampling; my only complaint is that it's hard to listen to both at once.

The bit in 5 second diner when it breaks into a fast country song probably says everything i feel about this group and this album It does nothing for me, and a little annoying. Is it any worse than the other two albums on the list? Dunno, don't really care either. All I know is that to sit through this twice is a task. Just not for me at all Shadrach is fine, so well done. Nothing is as good as Intergalactic. It's just not for me. There was a lot more interesting things going on in the genre at the time It's bad when the parody of the thing is better than the thing The last 12 min song is like the end of Abbey Road, if the end of Abbey Road was written by a bad musician

OK, beastie boys as beastie boys. Not exactly my bag

I am so excited. There have been a few albums I knew I was going to rate a 5 before I pushed play, but this is the first one where I felt giddy and thought "this is awesome, I get to listen to this album again".

Excellent album, one of my favorite Beastie Boys albums. It wasn’t one of the first albums I owned on tape so I don’t quite have it memorized like Licensed To Ill, but this is definitely a classic.

It would have been a 4 star album, just on the samples alone, but adding in possibly the best Beastie Boys lyrical performances of all time? It's a 5 star album. This is so far and away above License to Ill. It's amazing that these are the same people that created both albums. Too much good stuff to mention everything but easily a very re-listenable album. - Got more suits than Jacoby and Meyers (the puns on this album are on point) - I got more hits than Sadaharu Oh (if you know, you know) And Mario Andretti cause he always drives the car well

Helllzzzz yeah!

'It's the joint.' Paul's Boutique is the logical continuation of License to Ill, which sets the standard for witty rhymes and sample-based production. Tho this goes full throttle in the direction of an avant-garde explosion, it's still dedicated to 'all the girls,' and the three white boys are in no mood to be overly serious: 'A strapped shoplifter, a pirate on cassette'; 'Well, me in the corner with a good-lookin' daughter'; 'I love girlies, waxin' and milkin'.' Musically, things culminate most brilliantly on 'High Plains Drifter,' 'The Sounds of Science,' and 'Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun,' all of which contribute to a sonic experience that is equally brash and temperate. No other Hip-hop record is as unorthodox or as hilariously smashing as this.

3.5

I do love a sample heavy project it's like skipping through a radio stations. This is rich !!! So much fun!!! Lost me a couple times but really easily brought me right back in with fun rhymes even more fun beats and, again, those awesome samples. God I wish I could have seen these guys live - Favs: High plains drifter, 3-Minute rule, Looking down the barrel of a gun, B-Boy Bouillabaisse: A year and a day.

I grit my teeth and sat through all 53 excruciating minutes of this album, I deeply regret every single second of it. I cannot imagine anything more grating, maybe pushing a half inch space bit in my cordless drill directly into my skull, but I think it would be awfully close. I cannot overstate just how annoying I find the beastie boys, and I really truly hope I never have to listen to any of this garbage again. 0*

I have always kinda shrugged off the Beastie Boys because their flow isn't really a style that I particularly love and to be quite honest, it's seemed to me that a lot of their appeal to a lot of people has been "they're great rappers... BUT THEY'RE WHITE!!! isn't that crazy?!" and I find that pretty tiresome and lame. So I have never really given the Boys a fair shake. But I have to admit I really enjoyed this album. The production, and particularly the sampling, is just really really fun, really creative, really varied throughout the album. While they still rap with that kind of staccato 80s New York style that isn't my favorite, their rhymes are also undeniably creative and pretty clever. At times they are a bit boyish but it's never egregiously so. Even though it's not especially the kind of rapping that I like, they are certainly talented and manage to still be quite fun to listen to, and the strength of the album musically certainly carries it enough to make up for it. 7.5/10

If you don't like being shouted at then this is not the album for you, fortunately I love it. The sampling is also in a class of its own, lots to love on this.

Previously rated: License to Ill (5/5) Ill Communication (4/5) *************************** I don't have the nostalgia for this one like I do License to Ill, but this is probably a superior album, though I still prefer License. I'm not a fan of the added profanity in this one. I liked the throwback hip-hop sounds on a couple of the later tracks.

There’s never was before and never will be another band quite the the Beasties! We don’t get many true originals anymore, but these guys were the real deal. I love HipHop with actual instruments and lush samples and…fun!

A truly classic and stellar album of hip hop made by 3 Jewish kids from NYC. They snuck this album in just before the ruling was made about sampling and it shows- an album lush with samples and one that even samples the Beatles which is almost unheard of. Fun and funky and great. After their first album, people thought they were kind of a joke. PB showed they were here to stay.

A lot of people they be jonesin’ cuz they hear me rock the mic.

Still not that NY Jew that is obsessed.

They can do better.

Not the most banger heavy album but I can always kick it with the Beastie Boys. Even their lesser known stuff can still pique my curiosity and it’s always nice to add a few tracks I typically skip over into the rotation.

while i like Paul's Boutique, I think that its an interesting juxtaposition from their first album, Licensed to Ill, to this. Having listened to Ill Communication first, I think that found the balance of what their first two albums were. Licensed to Ill is light, and has very few samples. Paul's Boutique, on the other hand, is super heavy with samples and much more focused on that aspect, as opposed to the lyrics carrying it through. I think that the Beastie Boys perfect their style as their journey continued, but Paul Boutique comes across and one large experiment. It's a good experiment, that I think really sticks and stands the test of time, but knowing where the boys start and where they end up later in their career, Paul's Boutique isn't going to be my favorite album of theirs. I could go back to this for sure, but there is other items I would rather listen to.

Every time we listen to a beastie boys album it really makes me wish I could’ve seen them live. They have so much energy I feel like they would’ve been a bangin concert. Casually listening to a whole album of theirs just isn’t the move for me but I do appreciate their sound

I liked this album WAY more than the last beastie boys album. It was fun to listen to. I still think they’re a niche that is filled better by other things, but this album was a good representation of what they have to offer.

Exactly what you would expect from a Beastie Boys album. The lyrics are just crass enough that if your mother heard you listening to it she would yell at you to turn it off, and the production of the beats has that nostalgic feeling that only rap from the late 80s and early 90s can give you. Has this style aged all that well? Not really, but its fun to come back to it from time to time. Not many of their hits on this one at all, but for a debut rap album from a group of white kids, its pretty solid.

A review from my two year old daughter: "There's too many words. I want shake it! [Shake It - Metro Station]"

Paul’s Boutique by the Beastie Boys is a dazzling labyrinth of sound that tosses hip-hop conventions aside for a wild, sonic collage. It’s not just a record—it’s a postmodern manifesto where a dizzying array of samples collide in audacious, ingenious ways. The Beastie Boys mix sounds like a mad chef combining unexpected ingredients—sometimes messy, always brilliant—delivering a record that’s both self-indulgent and irreverent. Critics may label it indulgent, but for those in the know it’s a masterclass in creative defiance and a cheeky middle finger to the pop mainstream. Decades later, Paul’s Boutique remains a daring celebration of rule-breaking and reinvention. Yeah, we salute Adam, a rebel with a righteous beat, MCA’s spirit echoes on every New Yoik street. Fought for Tibet, stood tall, never backed down, With wisdom like a lama, spread love all around, spitting rhymes like a L-l-lama - no d-d-d-rama… Karma in his verses, truth in his tone, A Bodhisattva on the mic, in the zone. From the concrete to the cosmos, his legacy lives on— Beastie Boy forever, never gone.

Sampling and beat-making mastery. The album is packed with Easter eggs if you pay attention. Only thing is, the Beasties’ rapping gets a bit annoying after a while… The hits are hits, though. Shake Your Rump is all-time.

Genuinely a masterpiece. From start to finish it is fully original and authentic. The beats are amazing and the sampling is super creative. Basically a perfect rap album. I don’t know that it’s my favorite beastie boys album, but it’s definitely in the running.

An achievement, but also kind of too long. Feel like the beastie boys kept maturing past this lyrically but hit some real highs with the sampling. Since some of the songs are skips, it's a 4.

Lot of samples in this album. Good, but not great album.

Still really good, but a bit dated.

This album has been called “frat-style hip-hop” and it’s also one of the first albums to turn sampling into an art of its own. But I feel like many of the songs blended together with a couple songs that stood out on their own

I thought I was gonna laugh more than I actually liked it. I didn’t expect it to actually be good

Really good album, would’ve been a 5⭐️ if not for the B-Boy Bouillabaisse at the end. It didn’t do much for me

Not good

this white guy screaming type hip hop is not really my thing

Excellent

There’s some funny samples but none of the big hits like Licensed To Ill. Everything kinda blurred together.

I liked this quite a bit more than License To Ill - felt less juvenile, and the samples were more fun (imo). Still not sure Beastie Boys are my cup o' tea, but this was probably like a 3.5 for me.

These Boys seem like they're having fun, I like that they all take turns with the verses. Didn't like it as much as Ill Communication, but still a solid hip hop album. The sampling was really well done, and an unexpected treat.

Exceptional and masterful record. One of the Beastie Boys' best work is in here. The flow and creativity in full force. The Dust Brothers mix and samples makes this pair some of the best work for this group. Very enjoyable and extremely recommended.

I can appreciate the Beastie Boys and their contribution to the world of hip hop but their music isn't really for me. Something about it just doesn't capture my interest or keep me all that engaged. I also don't like their whiney/shouty vocal style. Some nuance would be appreciated and, I think, would add to many of their songs. That said, many of the samplings on this album were super interesting. The use of The Beatles on "The Sounds of Science" caught me totally by suprise.

Aside from the awesome samples used here (shoutout to The Beatles), the vocals are significantly lacking and take me out of the moment.

The Beastie Boys is a group I find fun in small dozes. Fear this might be a bit of an exhausting listen, as I feel their energy can add up to be too much over an album's length of time. I expect to hear some clever wordplay, and some great energetic performances with a lot of synergy between the members. Will give it an honest shot. To All The Girls A smooth instrumental sample. The content of the song is presented in a manner that comes across as a bit silly. A worship of all different types of women. A bit cheesy. Intro/5 Shake Your Rump Really like the beat on this. Interesting sample work. Can take it or leave it with the DJ Scratches. The lyrical content serves as a reintroduction to the Beastie Boys and the people they're working with on the album. As juvenile and dumb some of the bars are, the wordplay is at times pretty clever. I find the over the top performances to be mostly charming though they're walking a fine line where they risk falling into obnoxious territory. Decent. 3.5/5 Johhny Ryall Again the sample work is really impressive. Really like the guitar sample. Really goes with the content of the lyrics. Tells a pretty concise story. The performances are a little more eccentric here. The energy here is really engaging, found myself bopping along to the beat of the track. Decent. 3.5/5 Egg Man Cheeky and mischiveous lyrics. A song about throwing eggs at people, can't say I've ever heard anything like it. Many of the literary references seem a bit obvious, but they do their job decently. Can't say I'm too crazy about this one, the beat is fine, and the lyrical content is fun, but it grows stale throughout the course of the song. The "egg man" sample also gets a bit ridiculous. Fine. 3/5 High Plains Drifter Sounds a bit messy, the sample in the background is pretty horrible. The lyrics are pretty clever at times, but the concept is pretty uninteresting. I hate the flows, they're really annoying. Some of the vocal inflections are really obnoxious. Don't find it charming at all. Slightly irritating. 2/5 The Sound of Science Really strange choice of beat, the bass sample isn't exactly what I'd expect from a Beastie Boys song. I like the nerdy lyrics, fun parody. The beat switch really hits. Love the subversion after the first part of the track. Good setup, great punchline. Good. 4/5 3-Minute Rule A lot of the references and the language used on the track goes completely over my head. The beat is pretty good. The second verse is definitely weaker than the first, there's just not much of interest there, feels a bit filler. The final verse has a lot of references I actually get, which is a breath of fresh air. Sounds like they're having fun on the beat creating a decent vibe, though the track itself isn't spectacular. Fine. 3/5 Hey Ladies Love the funk instrumental. I find their synergy on top of the beat pretty immaculate. The lyrics are pretty juvenile and dumb, but they're presented in a pretty fun and entertaining way. The obnoxious hook is pretty good. Interesting sampling. Fun song. 4/5 5-Piece Chicken Dinner Yep that exists. Interlude/5 Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun The hard rock instrumental is fantastic. Their punk roots really show in their performances here. Really like the hook. A track like this shows that they have range outside of just writing witty bars about girls and parties. Has a lot more edge to it, not just instrumentally but also lyrically. I enjoy the aggression present in both the performance and lyrics, even though it's pretty simple conceptually. Great. 4.5/5 Car Thief Excuisite choice of sample. The flows seem a bit more varied on this track. Has some of that same punk energy to it from the previous track. Rebellious fuck the system kind of attitude. Does a good job of staying varied and spaced out while still remaining concise and on theme. Good. 4/5 What Comes Around Pretty obnoxious performances. The sample is again stellar. Don't really like the hook. I get what they're going for but for me it doesn't really work that well. Slightly irritating track. Wouldn't really put it on outside the album. Did not like. 2/5 Shadrach Love the vocal sample on top of the funky bass instrumental. The biblical references are represented in a fun way. Love the vocal sample on the hook. Immaculate vibe. I find the lyrics fairly clever and charming. Really fun song. Great. 4.5/5 Ask For Janice. It's an interlude. Interlude/5 B-Boy Boullabaisse A series of experimental short tracks that forever reason didn't turn into full tracks of their own. Seems a bit of a scattered collection. Don't really have much to add, most of them are fine, but not exceptional. They show a lot of creativity and fun spirit. Really appreciate the inclusion as it shows a lot of decent ideas that would otherwise be left in the writer's room. Feels like they're messing around and having fun. I would like to shout out the final track as a pretty fun closer giving appreciation to the people they've worked with on the album. Decent. 3.5/5 Really really like the production on this. The sample work is just fantastic, and I really like the mix of funk, rock and soul music for the instrumentation resulting in some really creative and eclectic beats for the Beastie Boys to rap over. They bring a lot of energy to the tracks which is at times really infectious and leaves you with a smile on your face. Other times you can really see their punk rock roots, reflecting in some heavier tracks where their attitudes shift from playful to more hard and rebellious. I think lyrically the album is in a bit of a strange place for me. It seems that they write lyrics they themselves have fun with, but they're not always saying anything interesting. A lot of the references go over my head, as their relevance might have faded over time, and a lot of the language used requires knowledge of the slang of the NYC area during the time, which I simply don't have. In the end I found some tracks to be draining, and others to be a great time. Wouldn't say the album is inconsistent though as I do feel the intention is always there, though I cannot say I'm always in love with how it's being executed. A decent listen though not entirely for me. 3.5/5 leaning closer to a 3.

Love this one! I need to give it a more thorough listen to try and catch more of the lyrics as well as the samples. Very cool piece of history before sampling was no more.

Another of the so-called important albums from my childhood, but it helps that every track is a total banger. I’ve never personally been a fan of B Boy Bouillabaisse, but after the previous tracks go song after song with such variety, such absolute enjoyment, I suppose they’re entitled.

It was pretty good. I hadn't heard of this album before as I was more familiar with the albums both before and after this one.

Humorous and complex. Great interplay and beats.

Not my cup of tea

so many lines are cringy, but the music is clear and undeniably clever

Really great, some lines haven't aged well but overall brilliant

An alright album, I liked Egg Man the most.

May be my favorite record of all time!