Reviews (page 10 of 15)
Sounds like an SNL skit 2 ⭐️
I was between a 4 and a 5, and I've gone 4 because the later albums we did were slightly more diverse. It's really splitting hairs though, this is still great.
Klasse Album. Hervorragende Musik.
New spin on hip hop, brought power to new genre and withstands the test of time.
Oi, that was pretty kak.
Favourite songs: none
I mean, it's the Beastie Boys. It's kind of hard to not enjoy the anti-swagger that these dorks have. They're aping a bit from Run-DMC, but I think it just shows you how early in the game it was. It's fun, juvenile, and the beats are still great almost forty years later. Favorite tracks: "No Sleep Til Brooklyn", "You Gotta Fight", "License To Ill", "Paul Revere"
Really one of my favorite albums, the childhood memories is envokes are priceless
Not my favorite Beastie Boys album by a country mile, but gotta respect where it all started. With early Rick Rubin production, for better or worse. The album opens with blown-out Rhymin & Stealin, which is built around a repetitive guitar hook and enormous boom bap. The New Style has a distinctly 80s style production. Features much better flow from the Boys with each taking the helm in turn -- beat flip toward the back half baths the whole thing in 808 thump. Posse In Effect is the first that really feels "polished" to a point where it has stood the test of time. Slow Ride is such a weird beat flip. Girls stands out like a sore thumb. Louder, cleaner and more polished than the rest thus far. Damn its an annoying song. Fight For Your Right > Paul Revere is a solid display of capability. The start being a great piece of satire that a generation rallied behind. No Sleep Til Brooklyn sits in the middle and is quite possibly the strongest track on the album with its Rubin-esq heavy metal hook. Paul Revere is one of my favorites here; love the way the bass plays with the inverted cymbals. Also features some of the better writing here and an interesting origin story. Understand the significance of this album for its time, but this one always feels to me an outlier in their discography. Something like highly successful growing pains that cast a shadow over them that lasted through their next several (imo superior) releases. I'm glad they made this because it paved their way to success, but ultimately I'm not interested in playing it over and over again. 3 / 5.
Beastie Boys love white castle... so many references in this album. Great jams on this album Girls, fight for your right, brass monkey. Brings me back to high school. This gets a nostalgia 4 stars.
Not sure if the "point" of this album was to sample a ton of other songs as a riff off the "licensed" naming of the album, but I like the songs they chose to sample. I always appreciate BBs rapping style of switching off words with one another. Do the Beastie Boys make the best music in the world? No. Do I enjoy the high energy funky beats with lyrics that don't take themselves too seriously? You're damn right.
Pretty much the same as with the other 2 Beastie Boys albums, something about these singers just doesn't work for me. I must say the sampling though from the 2 Led Zeppelin songs and Slow Ride were very cool. Girls may be the dumbest, most fun song which I absolute love everytime it comes up. Fight for Your Right and No Sleep Till Brooklyn are also absolute classic hype songs. Everything else around the album is very meh to me with the Beastie Boys sound getting sour to me very quickly. I completely understand the appeal to them and I am really ok with hearing a song come up every so often, but full albums are tough for me to listen to. That all being said this is still a 3 because it's filled with hits.
I feel like I'd be such a huge Beastie Boys fan if I was old enough (or even born) when some of their classics came out. The hits hit hard and the rest I was bumpin' to. Love all the random ass samples this has. Still have had 3 Beastie Boys albums and no Intergalactic :(
An absolute classic, still stands test of time banging beats
Aged a bit worse
Rock, RAP, 1986 -> 1
Some classics but rest of songs didn't keep up. 3/5
Definitely less grating to listen to than “Paul’s Boutique,” which I didn’t love. I know the first track is called “Rhymin’ & Stealin’” and that it’s probably meant to foreshadow the intense use of samples (from pretty famous songs, too) on this record. But I honestly don’t care if you tell me how much sampling you’re going to do before you do it, when it’s too much it’s too much. And this was too much. I dunno man. I came into this with a pretty positive, albeit largely uninformed, opinion of the Beastie Boys. It’s really only gone down since. I expected to give their stuff four to five stars, but this gets three. It was fine. Standout Tracks: Rhymin’ & Stealin’, Girls, Brass Monkey
A bit shouty and repetitive. They love a bit of Led Zep though, which gives a new slant on some old favourites.
One of my favorite golden era hip hop records. Just plain fun to listen to.
Nope. Not my genre
всё время поездки в метро, во время которой это слушалось, думала, что альбом очень смешной. и музыка какая-то брякающая-завывающая (особенно в paul revere) и манера вокалиста тоже забавная (хотя, честно говоря, в какой-то момент от неё устала). во время you gotta fight мне стало смешно оттого, что я как будто слушаю highway to hell, но rap. мне очень нравится обложка по необъяснимым причинам, очень пропорциональная….
Can’t help but hear: “Scranton, what? The electric city.”
I like a little Beastie Boys on occasion
Some good hits. A little corny nowadays since rap has really come a long way since '86
A foregone logical conclusion pushed to its extreme with stunning and hilarious results. Still, if you end up being the first ones there, you may as well show that it was plan decades in the making. And for producer, Rick Rubin, who had flirted with the fusion of hard rock and rap before, it certainly was. MCA, Ad-Rock, Mike D would have you believe that they're simply young, dumb, and full of cum, until you take a step back and realize that their wordplay, niche references, and memorable flow belie something much deeper with a greater understanding of storytelling craft. It's a shame that the audience at the time (and maybe for years after) didn't understand that they were being rightly skewered and parodied, but I can't quite blame them since the humour and levity are boundless here. Imagine living a life with so much privilege that the only right that you feel is being infringed on is your right to party. Yet, the statement works were removed from its subtext. A thrilling way to introduce yourselves to the world and show that you're only getting started. Incredible album art. A-
Cannot beat "ill communication" by a mile
Nicht meine Richtung
Actually quite enjoyable! At least it is really fun to try to find all the samples from known songs.
Good album.
1980's equivalent of Gen AI - stealing 95% of your content from actual artists Some decent grooves here and there, but they weren't appealing to me and i was 16 when it came out
Somehow, I’ve never listened to the whole thing front to back. So many good samples and a great cohesive vibe.
The Beastie Boys were highly influential, using their punk origins to blend hip-hop with rock. Born from that was their massive debut album "Licensed to Ill", eventually becoming the first Billboard #1 rap/hip-hop album ever. All from three white Jewish dudes in New York. This is probably one of the greatest debut records of all time. It certainly got a lot of play from me when I was younger and still getting exposed to hip-hop. The rock samples (as well as ACTUAL guitar play from Kerry King himself) mixed with the group's goofy delivery (and equally goofy lyrics) commanded my attention then and still does to this day. Not really a bad track here, although I think the run of tracks from "Fight for Your Right" to the end especially are matched by few in all of music. The best part is that their discography somehow gets even better from here depending on who you ask. It turns out that these dudes were just getting started.
Would it kill these idiots to not shout at me for about 5 minutes.
Licensed to Ill I’m never quite sure if they are joking on this, or if they actually mean it. I can see why they would say it’s a joke, and bearing in mind the rest of their career, I’m probably inclined to believe them. Even if their wordplay, pop culture references and delivery are all great, and whether it is all tongue in cheek or is actually sincere, the constant fixation on and references to girls, beers and defying the authority of teachers and parents does get a little tiresome over the course of the whole album. Musically it’s also very of its time and very 80s Rick Rubin, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Led Zep sample on Rhyming and Stealing is great and sets the tone for well chosen samples and big, echoey beats, and its fusion of rock and rap is clearly hugely important, along with Run DMC (with Rick Rubin of course), in Rap's emergence into the mainstream. I suppose the flip side of that is that it also birthed some god awful rap-rock in its wake, like Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit and particularly and most egregiously Kid Rock. Rhymin and Stealin, Slow Ride, Girls, Fight For your Right, No Sleep till Brooklyn, Brass Monkey and Time to Get Ill are the standout tracks. I particularly like the Led Zep, War and Creedence samples on Rhymin, Slow Ride and Licensed to Ill and of course Fight for Your Right is a great tune. Girls (aside from the lyrics) and Brass Monkey do indicate some of the musical playfulness they would subsequently exhibit It may be a bit low, but in the context of their whole career a high 3 probably feels about right - it shows glimpses of their sense of humour, and their ears for a hook, but it misses the sense of inventiveness and fun that you get from Paul’s Boutique onwards. 🤒🤒🤒 Playlist submission: Fight For your Right
Why would you end with "it's time to get ill"?? Shouldn't i already be ill?
When I want to listen to the Beastie Boys I usually gravitate towards Ill Communication, Paul's Boutique, or Check Your Head, but that doesn't mean this one is bad. When comparing this to their later albums, this album feels a little incomplete and immature (quality and personality wise). The production here is good, but once again compared to their later works feels a little unrefined. Shoutout to She's Crafty, I don't think that song gets enough attention. This album is probably closer to a 4, but compared to all the bland 70's crap I've had this past month this is a breath of fresh air.
The rapping is of its time, but it’s obvious why it’s influential and was very popular. So much energy, themes of fun and partying. Talent on display.
It's just so good.
I’ve heard these songs before but Ive never paid attention to the lyrics. I liked the beastie boys before listening to this album but I’m not so sure now. The bad boy persona is “cool” but it crosses a line for me when it comes to guns at school, being attracted to minors and putting drugs in girls drinks so they will have sex with you. Sure the times were different and the songs are catchy, but I don’t find them relatable. Overall, after listening carefully I think that their unique and progressive sound carried the heavy weight that led them to success.
This is rightly held as a classic and like becks Odelay, the one album you need to introduce yourself to the beastie boys. Yes they grow and change but you start here. 4.5
Gush warning. I feel spoilt, to listen to not one but two (yes 2) Beastie Boys albums on this list. I would never have considered a whole album of their stuff. I thought they had a few fun tracks and that was it. Turns out they make a lot of thumping catchy stuff which I love and smile to (its so out there as to be almost mock ironic and hence - for me - hilarously fun as well and pumping rock). Perfect shit silly for a middl aged man to krank it up loud. Fully. Music for stomping around the house when you're feeling too silly and to listen to RATM. :-) Oddly, I am having too much fun to be annoyed by his nasal pee wee voice. And I have always liked the cover art to this album. There's something in that, isnt there? Some fo their most entertaining lines /rhymes: "I don't mean to brag I don't mean to boast; but I'm intercontinental when I eat French toast" " 'Cause I'll be rockin' this party eight days a week " "I'm Mike D and I'm back from the dead; chilling on the beach down at ClubMed" "I’m a writer, a poet; a genius, I know it" "Well I’m a 6.7 on the Richter Scale. Got rhymes galore and then I never fail. Like gravy to potatoes, Luke to Darth Vader, I’m a souped up sucker and I’ll see you all later."
I have a lot to thank the Beasties for. Firstly, my kids grew up with a 1961 AMI jukebox living in the loungeroom (almost a third child). But it wasn’t until I put (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)/Paul Revere on the jukebox that they thought I might be anywhere approaching cool (for 5 minutes, anyway). Secondly, I have to thank them for their early indy 12” releases which I discovered one day, in abundance in one of those anarchist storefronts in Botany Road Alexandria(The Black Rose, maybe?) I would visit it every week & buy a few, take them back to the record store I worked in, & mark them up substantially. They were flying off the shelves, and then, one day, the guy behind the counter recognised who I was & refused to sell them to me. My argument that nobody else was buying the bloody things & at least I was contributing to the cause didn’t wash. Oh well. Anyway, it wasn’t long before my kids had introduced me to this album &, together with the great film-clips of many of these tracks that I saw on Rage, I became very familiar with it. Fight For Your Right & No Sleep To Brooklyn are outstanding. And I love Girls & Hold It Now, Hit It. I listen to these songs now & it immediately reminds me of what living with a teenage boy was like. “Best porno mags”? You’re telling me. Four Stars.
I was right in the zone for Licensed To Ill to act as a gateway drug to hip hop. I was a 16 year old suburban white boy in Australia when it burst onto the radio. Licensed to Ill was fronted by white boys and sufficiently rock and roll to be palatable to musically conservative Australia radio and record companies, making this one of the first easily available hit rap album in this part of the world (along with Run DMC's Raising Hell, which has similar crossover appeal). Within a year, I was devouring pretty much whatever I could lay my hands on (which was not a lot). I have teenage sons, and this album is the Beastie Boys album they first gravitate to. They have all moved on to subsequent (and superior) albums from the Beasties, but this is a gateway drug. Heavy yet agile, obnoxious yet funny, confident yet self-deprecating, smart yet dumb, strikingly original (rhymin') but sampling from the history of rock (stealin'), and always a heap of energetic fun. I didn't own a lot of records when I was 16, but I owned this and I played it to death. It's not a perfect album; the song 'Girls' and Kerry King's terrible guitar solos are pretty egregious. But I am surprised at how well it holds up. Some of the lyrics haven't dated well. I don't think anyone ever believed they were gangstas, but the frat boy sexism is occasionally grating. I will pay the Beasties the credit of being one of the very few bands ion history to actually come out and apologize for the sins of their youth. I highly recommend the Beastie Boys Story documentary for more context. It is a funny and highly entertaining retrospective look at their career that helps clarify that they were young and dumb and grew out of it. As, hopefully, most fo us did. I haven't listened to this album all the way through in decades, but totally enjoyed spinning it again. Other than 'Girls' (which was always shit), it stands up as a really great listen. Russell Simmons realised that, if he found some white guys who could rap and marketed it with Rick Rubin's rock style production, he could sell a bunch of records to a crossover audience. I think there was a certain amount of cynical opportunism behind the signing and production of this record, but Simmons and Rubin accidentally found a group of highly charismatic, funny and inventive musicians with a long career in them (not that Simmons really wanted that. He would have preferred some more cooperative flunkies that he could manipulate). The Beastie Boys are not _really_ rappers, but rather indie/punk musos who do a bit of rapping. Which is great, for what it is. I saw them at Selina's at the Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney in 1992, and they were awesome. They were mostly playing from Check Your Head, but they were energetic and loud and a heap of fun.
I feel I would have loved this record in my teens.
Interesting and vulgar and funny? You've gotta fight For your right To parrrrrrtyyyyyy
Most illingest B-boy, I got that feeling I am most ill and I'm rhymin' and stealin'! This album was kind of a shot heard 'round the world for suburban teenagers in the mid 80s. They were ridiculously obnoxious and would probably describe themselves even as stupid, but they were OURS! And they could rap surprisingly well and their rhymes were often hilarious with a variety of cultural references that hinted at a depth that said they were not your typical Adidas and Kangol bboys, nor your typical teenage idiots even. I still have my Volkswagen hood ornament medallion and would not hesitate to drop everything and bust it out if I saw the bat signal go up. The first time I heard "Girls" was at an unofficial cast party for our high school production of "Grease" and a girl put it on and when I saw all the girls dancing to "Girls" I intuited that the adult complaints about Beastie misogyny just didn't get it. That was also probably the first time in my life that I chose to dance. My only complaint is that it's a pain in the ass to be confronted with this on a Monday morning, as happened to me with this project, because now I have to blow off work and shotgun a six-pack of Bud tallboys and chase it with some of that funky monkey! NO SLEEP TIL BROOKLYN!
As I listened to this album, I realized that while I'd heard a number of their songs, I'd clearly never listened to the album start to finish. What a strange debut! They definitely refined and matured their style and sound over the years since, but I'm really impressed at how distinctive and wide-ranging they were on this album. I'm also impressed how few duds there are; the back-to-back tracks "The new style" and "She's crafty" aren't all that impressive, to me at least, but everything else has a great mix of bombastic energy. And pretty cool that they got Slayer's lead guitarist to play on "Fight for your right" and "No sleep till Brooklyn" (and apparently appear in the videos too). I think my favorite of the previously-unheard songs is "Hold it now, hit it" (and the video too).
Loved this album when it first came out and I think it's aged pretty well, some misogyny aside. I love the generational references, e.g. Abe Vigoda (!), the Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves chant, the line about White Castle fries. Unique and accessible--tough combination to achieve.
the guys love white castle more than harold and kumar
This is a lot of fun and makes me think of Fry from Futurama. Lovely
Have listened to the majority of this album before this project but forgot how good it is - overall quite liked it but felt as tho I didn’t want to really listen to it this day - second favourite beastie boys album next to Ill communication
Yes it's incredibly dated and fairly juvenile. But when this came out it sounded like nothing else. Rap and rock fused together made everyone take notice, and it screamed up the charts as a result. Arguably one of the greatest debut albums of all time.
I like their rock approach. Their rap is very in-your-face, which can be annoying. I'm feeling generous though.
Nostalgic hit!
Highlights: Fight For Your Right, Slow Ride, No Sleep Til Brooklyn. In a nutshell: TU0 T1 KC3HC-HC As far as hip hop debuts go, it's good. But their best was yet to come. I like their cheeky sample use here (from Viva Las Vegas to Low Rider). Overall: 5/10
Listened Before? Y This one is HOT. I love this early Beasties record. Only Paul's Boutique beats it out IMO. I love the original instrumentation mixed with sampling, something they did as well as anyone. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Girls, Paul Revere
So this album has a lot of nostalgia for me. Cosart and I listened to this on repeat driving from NC to Maine. Yes it is belittling to women though I think some is tongue in cheek. However, their rhymes are on time and clever. It is still a great album and was ahead of its time for hip hop.
I know this may not be their best but it is such a classic from top to bottom
Look it’s not their best album but it’s just so much fun to listen to. The energy doesn’t ever drop at any point. Each song leads into the next and makes you want to get up and go. Do some/most have questionable lyrics, sure. But the energy and wonky lyrics I think makes up for that. These guys don’t take themselves seriously at all which I think is what makes them so good and fun to listen to.
hands down by far their weakest album. yes, lyrics can be crass & demeaning but they are also pretty fun and tongue in cheek. love the sounds & samples. fantastic group
I liked it better than I thought I would
I listened to this everyday while in college. It brings back so many memories. Driving around in my friends rusty Cutlass with dual 12" Cerwin Vega subs and a 300 watt Pioneer amp.
1. rhyming - 1 2. neuu ztyle - 1 3. crafty - 1 4. pozze - 1 5. ride - 1 6. girlz - 2 7. fight - 1.5 8. brooklyn - 1 9. revere - 1.5 10. hit it - 1.5 11. brazz monkey - 2.5 12. louu - 1 13. time - 1
Fun party music at first but by the time the big hits off the album came around I was bored with it.
The band that terrified VW owners and spawned a generation of wiggas. Rappin through the injustices of white middle class Jewish life. Would have been completely tone deaf if it wasn’t for the tongue in-yer-face’s cheek. Great fun!
As the sample to Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks' (at least I think it is)kicks in, I realise I bought this album. Mainly to try and work out where those samples came from. And within minutes I'm humming 'all right now' expecting Ozzy's voice to come in over that monster guita riff. Lyrically immature more than infectious it was certainly popular. Now aged 55, six minutes in its hurting my head though.
I do like me a bit of the Beastie Boys. Three Jewish white kids made a place for themselves in a place they had no right to be. Rappers? Rockers? Yup!
First dude out of this book, loud, annoying, super basic instrumentals coupled with super basic lyrics, any other rapper after beastie boys does it better
I Beastie Boys sono un po' il tuo ex cazzone scellerato coglioncello leggermente sgravato con cui ti eri messa per il brivido ma poi hai lasciato per la mancanza di prospettive future anche se ogni tanto ci ripensi e ti dici "chissà dove saremmo adesso...su una motocicletta in giro per le autostrade? In prigione?" E quando si rifà vivo dicendo di non averti mai dimenticata lo inviti comunque dentro casa e gli dai un 5/5 come facevi una volta. Puoi dirti che è solo in amicizia o in onore dei vecchi tempi ma la verità è un'altra.
ahead of its time and fresh
Excellent, inventive, some what immature but exciting and clever.
Decent album.
fell asleep while listening, sounded alright, but don’t have enough to give a higher score 2/5
Absolute blast.
This might be the only true (definitely the 1st) punk rock rap album. The Beastie contributed to rap what it is today.
Their later work is better in my opinion
So many hits. So good. Love the samples. Love the simplicity.
These guys perfected rock samples into a hybrid genre that is almost uniquely theirs
I love the Beastie Boys but more of an Ill Communication guy, with that being said this is quality old school hip hop. Bonus points for the Kerry King feature.
Tremendous! I remember buying this on cassette on release day! A true classic
juvenile, grating, unpleasant. like what a mum in a british cartoon from the 90s would think of if she was told to picture rap music. the only thing saving this from being a single star is she's crafty because the idea of one of these chucklefucks bringing home a girl who then steals all their stuff is really really funny
Rhymin & Stealin, another legendary opening track from a debut. This is a very Def Jam recording. You can picture LL Cool J rapping over these beats. They were the clown princes of rap at this point, they leaned into it and it worked in the time before gangsta rap. She's Crafty really leans into the humor. Girls is goofy as hell, but I love it. Fight For Your Right is amazing, rap-rock at it's finest and way before it's heyday. Girls, Fight For Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn and Paul Revere is one of the best four song streaks on any album ever. Hold It Now, Hit It is a miss for me and I don't love Brass Monkey but if those are the worst songs on an album that's pretty impressive.
The beats are good, but damn, that flow gets annoying 3
5/5. Lyrics don't age very well but the production and rapping in general, plus amazing beats, keeps this a classic. Taking the best from groups like Run-DMC and providing just back to back bangers, everyone can have a different favorite song from this album and it's hard to disagree. The confidence from these white boys is definitely misplaced and offensive but it's hard to not vibe with them, they can rock. Best Song: No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn, She's Crafty, Time To Get Ill
Some lyrics haven't aged great but there are still some absolute bangers on here.
The album for when you're ready to stop taking everything so seriously.
Hip hop didn't work this time
License To Ill is the Beastie Boys' debut album, and considered by many as one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The single "Fight for Your Right" was particularly successful, and contributed to the success of the album. The Beastie Boys loop samples to rap around and with. Like most rap, their work lacks the melodic basis typical of other genres. That said, a few of these tracks - like "Girls" and "She's Crafty," as examples, successfully used melodic samples in a manner that helps to explain the group's widespread appeal.
Beastie Boys' debut. It sounds dated, a bit cringew8orthy, and no where near as good as their later work, particularly 'Paul's Boutique'. There's some toxic masculinity (which they later apologized and repented for), it was maybe the music of 1980s fratboys, and it ushered in an era of terrible rap-rock artists. Despite that, it was completely groundbreaking and undeniably fun. 'No Sleep Til Brooklyn' and 'Brass Monkey' especially still hold up as some of their best ever songs. Despite some filler, it's still ranked among the best debut albums of all time.
The Beastie Boys started out at their illest and wittiest and never looked back.
Beastie Boys took hip hop places no one ever imagined hip hop would go with Licensed To Ill.
They got a lot better later on 2.6
The B-Boys stylin' and profilin'. No one had heard anything like this in '86. Some of the songs' misogynoir reads much more cringy than it did back then. (Like slipping drugs in a girl's drink in Brass Monkey.) But it still kicks for the most part. Samples all over the place. And plenty of wit. Good stuff.
This is a fantastic debut album. The Beasties were truly original and solid musicians on top of their legendary use of samples.
Goofy nostalgic fun. Yes it’s culturally significant and all that, I enjoy when their hits come on the radio. But I’d never deliberately put a Beastie album on.
Beastie boys are good but all their songs have similar beats to me
it’s like if hip hop and rock had a baby
Not my type of music tbh :/ Just listened to 2 before giving up unfortunately
Интересная музыка, очень крутые биты
Obviously already knew some but loved this album.
I can appreciate this in a historical context but to me it really just sounds like someone doing what Run DMC does but not as good as they do it. They are doing some really fun things with instrumentation I'll be exceptions are fight for your right to party and no sleep to Brooklyn.
Didn’t think I would enjoy as much as I did.
I enjoyed it
some of my favorite beastie boys songs are on this album, and i can see why it’s a regarded as a seminal piece of rap history. that said it does show its age at times, and not always in an endearing manner.
Pretty good
Rating: 8/10 Great album overall. Absolutely love the energy and sampling throughout, although this album is a bit obnoxious and has some underwhelming songs. The Beastie Boys improve with their lyrics, flows, and more interesting production later on in their career but this a great start to a great band. Favorite songs: Rhymin & Stealin, She's Crafty, Girls, Fight For Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Hold It Now Hit It, Brass Monkey, Time To Get Ill. Worst song: The New Style.
Great record with a lot of good ideas. I always smile while listening to it.
The Beastie Boys were groundbreaking and before their time. I was 8 but all the older cousins, big brother were all rocking the cassette. So good. And it still resonates 30 something years later.
Really good first album, they get so much better too.
For the longest time in regards to my fandom of Beastie Boys, I avoided this album. Its supposed juvenile styling and how basic and unrepresentative it seemed in comparison to the successive albums were good enough reasonings for me to not give Licensed to Ill the time of day. But there may have been another, more latent reason why I didn't listen to this album: it's omnipresence across hip-hop. Through bits and pieces, I would encounter certain soundbites from songs off here on other records, which makes me not only think about its influence on hip-hop but also its position for me as a listener. Is it the Beasties' finest hour? Certainly not but it is a worthy turning point for a genre not just honing the craft but finding its footing as a dominant force in the industry. There are plenty of instances throughout that showcase the innovative musical choices made that had no regard for copyright or sample clearance that would come to haunt the genre later on, despite it appearing rudimentary for modern ears. As for the Boys themselves, they would become pigeonholed by the jock idiot stereotype perpetrated by the album's biggest hit (still good albeit overplayed) and would work tirelessly hard to overcome which, fortunately for them and us, would allow them to bestow upon us their potential as one of the best groups of their generation. And that's all because of the new style. Favorites: Rhymin and Stealin, The New Style, She's Crafty, Posse in Effect, Fight for Your Right, Hold It, Now Hit It, Brass Monkey.
Thought i would like this more
This frat boy vibe is tough to listen to all these years on. While there are some hints of the Beasties to come it’s really just a less offensive Eminem record. Also not a fan of this Rick Rubin sound, on this record.
beast boys
Timeless classic.
The beastie boys make me laugh. The subject matter is only a little bit cleaner than the slim shady lp and straight outta Compton, but it’s just so goofy it’s charming. They just sound like kids. Like they belong in detention. Musically, they exist in a category all their own between hip hop and punk. Trading off words and phrases between members is an old school hip hop thing that they take to the nth degree. They’re yelling into microphones that must be turned all the way down. The production is raw, rough, and super catchy. 3.2
Not my thing. I am not an angry teenage boy
More misogyny, but I can still enjoy “No Sleep to Brooklyn”
Music for Beavis and Butthead. An album you must hear while you're still an adolescent so I guess that qualifies as "before you die." Most of it is a natural progression from the grade school, "DIck and Jane, sitting in a tree...." A drum machine, a few samples, and guys yelling does not music make. There are a few redeeming things. There is a sense of humor about them. Some of it is self deprecating and makes them seem self-aware. Girl is fun. Fight for your Right... is an anthem. And Brass Monkey is interesting. 1.4
Prob my fave album of theirs but that's because of the hits, their style gets too repetitive/annoying for me to consider this a 5/5.
remembered this as repetitive and rudimentary if fun...surprised to find its actually dynamic, muscular, playful...production somehow deeply of the late 80s but ahead of its time in willingness to get tacky/cantankerous...the Boys do their thing, never been more endearing 8/10
I had a hard time rating this album. There are some serious bangers in here but otherwise the songs are kind of annoying. Between a 3 and a 4.
Excellent, good fun.
I already know and love, but had forgotten just HOW good it is.
Good album. Musically simple, but fun. Has some of their best songs on it. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
There's a Beastie Boys 5 star album in here (I think, with reservations) but it's not this one. While "License To Ill" has every right to be on this list, and maybe my review should feature *context*, I go with what its music is doing to me at face value and boy, is it long.
Some guys who mixed everything at this time…maybe fantastic for 1986…but now not…3/10
Highschool!
its good, but not Paul's Boutique good. fun album, but was a little surprised how many hits I recognized off this one; Brass Monkey, Girls, No Sleep Till Brooklyn and Fight for your Right. Despite that I still feel its just an okay entry. Still enjoyable though!
This album is fine. Considering I recently got Paul’s Boutique this felt like a big step down in terms of quality. Cool 80s hip hop sound and it’s also funny to hear vocal riffs that they would sample across all their future albums. Lyrically it’s aged the worst out of their albums and I get that they’re playing characters or whatever but it still detracts from the listening experience
ja heel vet alleen ik hou niet zo van de beastie boys, not my cup of tea
Harddd
This was good fun!
Trois fanfarons qui ont un sens inné de la cadence et du punch. L’arrière-plan musical est très découpé, construit, réfléchi, au contraire de hip-hop de cette période, aux boucles répétitives
This is not their best album, but it is probably the most culturally significant.
Never been a big Beastie Boys fan. I never knew anyone who was until my partner mentioned knowing one of our friend's brothers being super into them, and that surprised me. Getting this album and listening to it (while eating Deadpool branded snack food from Jack in the Box, which felt fitting if I'm honest), didn't sway me. It felt very one-note - it's a fun note, sure! But there wasn't a ton of depth and the best songs on there were the singles, which obviously get a lot of airplay. They did some interesting things and maybe broke some barriers, but were there barriers? And did those barriers need to be there in the first place? Either way, it's clear why they're revered but the number of people who count them as their favorite band may be isolated to just Jimmy in 2002.
Licensed to Ill is an iconic Hip-Hop style, and I’m not really sure why. It feels bizarre and out of the genre. In my opinion, this attempt to mix rap and rock sounded off-putting and terrible for the first half of the album. On the later half, you had more rap-esque beats and production, which led to a better flow and delivery in my opinion. Still, a disappointing listen for something so iconic. All in all, Licensed to Ill is a bad album.
Yeah nah. “Fight for your right…” is a fun curiosity, but the rest is just yelling over beats and the occasional riff. I’d much rather listen to the original songs from which some of these samples came from. Sorry, gotta go swallow a Panadol or two.
I'm gonna be honest, I don't think I'm a Beastie Boys fan. I've listened to three of their albums now. The first two that I heard, 1994's "Ill Communication" and 1989's "Paul's Boutique" were alright. I respect those albums and they have some good songs, but they're not really my thing. As for their 1986 debut, Licensed to Ill? I just don't like the album. The juvenile parts of this one really make me appreciate the more mature elements of those other albums. Don't get me wrong, there are things to commend with this album. The production, courtesy of industry legend Rick Rubin, was quite revolutionary for its time. But that's what this album is... a product of its time. The lyrics are just bad. If you drank a shot for every time they say the world "girls" on this album, even if you were to exclude the song "Girls," you'd still die of alcohol poisoning. And don't even get me started on how many times they say each other's names. I swear if I hear the names Mike D, MCA, or Ad-Rock ever again, I may just hurt someone. Anyways, I feel like the Beastie Boys are at their best with this album when they lean into their punk influences more and combine it with hip-hop instead of just going with straight hip-hop. This is why songs like "No Sleep till Brooklyn" and "Fight for Your Right" work for me, while all of the other songs don't. Overall, while this album may convince me to revisit their later work eventually, I don't think the Beastie Boys started out on a very strong foot. 2/5.
3.5☆/5 07.04.2024
"Licensed to Ill," the debut studio album by the Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, stands as a seminal work in the evolution of hip-hop. It holds the distinction of being the first rap album to top the Billboard 200 chart, marking a pivotal moment in the mainstream acceptance of the genre. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album merges hip-hop with rock elements, creating a distinctive sound that has influenced countless artists. Here's an in-depth review focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with an analysis of its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrics on "Licensed to Ill" are a mix of braggadocio, humor, and irreverence, reflecting the youthful exuberance of the Beastie Boys—Michael "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz. Tracks like "Fight For Your Right" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" are anthems of teenage rebellion, capturing the defiant spirit of the mid-80s youth culture. - **Pros**: The lyrics are catchy, memorable, and full of witty wordplay. They showcase the trio's dynamic interplay and their ability to craft verses that are both humorous and provocative. "Paul Revere" is a notable example, telling a fictional tale of the group's formation with a backwards beat that complements the narrative. - **Cons**: Some lyrics haven't aged well, featuring themes and language that would be considered offensive today. The juvenile humor and occasional misogyny reflect the era's cultural norms but might alienate contemporary listeners. ### Music Musically, "Licensed to Ill" is a groundbreaking fusion of hip-hop and rock. Rick Rubin's production emphasizes heavy guitar riffs, booming 808 beats, and innovative sampling, setting the stage for future rap-rock collaborations. - **Pros**: The album's genre-blending approach was innovative for its time. Tracks like "Rhymin & Stealin" sample Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks," showcasing the group's knack for recontextualizing rock classics into hip-hop frameworks. The use of live instrumentation on tracks like "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," with Kerry King of Slayer providing the guitar solo, adds a raw, energetic edge to the album. - **Cons**: The reliance on rock samples can make some tracks feel repetitive. Additionally, the heavy guitar riffs and aggressive beats might not appeal to hip-hop purists who prefer more traditional, sample-based production. ### Production Rick Rubin's production on "Licensed to Ill" is minimalist yet impactful, characterized by its clean, hard-hitting beats and innovative use of sampling. Rubin's influence is evident in the album's rock-oriented sound, which distinguishes it from other hip-hop records of the time. - **Pros**: Rubin's production is crisp and powerful, giving each track a distinctive sonic identity. The album's raw, stripped-down aesthetic allows the Beastie Boys' personalities to shine through, creating a cohesive and engaging listening experience. The use of samples is creative and varied, ranging from classic rock to funk, enhancing the album's eclectic sound. - **Cons**: The minimalist production style might feel dated to some listeners accustomed to the more layered and polished production techniques of modern hip-hop. Additionally, the heavy reliance on rock samples can overshadow the group's lyrical and vocal performances at times. ### Themes The themes on "Licensed to Ill" revolve around youthful rebellion, hedonism, and humor. The album captures the spirit of the 80s with its focus on partying, defiance, and a carefree attitude. - **Pros**: The themes resonate with the teenage experience, making the album relatable and accessible. Tracks like "Fight For Your Right" and "Girls" are anthems of youthful exuberance, capturing the spirit of rebellion and fun. The album's humor and irreverence add a layer of charm and personality, setting it apart from more serious hip-hop records. - **Cons**: The focus on partying and hedonism can come across as shallow and repetitive. Additionally, some themes, such as the objectification of women on tracks like "Girls," are problematic and reflect outdated cultural attitudes. ### Influence "Licensed to Ill" has had a profound influence on both hip-hop and rock music. Its success helped pave the way for rap to be accepted by mainstream audiences and demonstrated the commercial viability of the genre. - **Pros**: The album's innovative fusion of hip-hop and rock has influenced countless artists and genres. It opened the door for future rap-rock collaborations and helped legitimize hip-hop as a commercial force. The Beastie Boys' success also paved the way for other white artists in hip-hop, challenging racial boundaries within the genre. - **Cons**: The album's influence on the commercialization of hip-hop has been a double-edged sword. While it helped bring the genre to a wider audience, it also contributed to the commercialization and commodification of hip-hop, leading to concerns about the genre losing its cultural and political roots. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros 1. **Innovative Sound**: The fusion of hip-hop and rock was groundbreaking and helped distinguish the Beastie Boys from their peers. 2. **Catchy and Memorable Lyrics**: The group's witty wordplay and dynamic interplay create a fun and engaging listening experience. 3. **Impactful Production**: Rick Rubin's minimalist yet powerful production gives the album a distinctive sonic identity. 4. **Cultural Relevance**: The themes of youthful rebellion and humor resonate with the teenage experience, making the album relatable and accessible. 5. **Influence on Music**: The album's success helped pave the way for hip-hop's mainstream acceptance and influenced future rap-rock collaborations. #### Cons 1. **Outdated Themes and Language**: Some lyrics and themes haven't aged well and might be considered offensive or problematic today. 2. **Repetitive Elements**: The reliance on rock samples and heavy guitar riffs can make some tracks feel repetitive. 3. **Shallow Content**: The focus on partying and hedonism can come across as shallow and lack depth compared to more serious hip-hop records. 4. **Minimalist Production**: While impactful, the minimalist production might feel dated to listeners accustomed to modern production techniques. 5. **Commercialization Concerns**: The album's success contributed to the commercialization of hip-hop, leading to concerns about the genre losing its cultural and political roots. ### Conclusion "Licensed to Ill" is a landmark album in the history of hip-hop, blending rock and rap in a way that was innovative and influential. The Beastie Boys' dynamic interplay, catchy lyrics, and Rick Rubin's impactful production create a memorable and engaging listening experience. However, some themes and lyrics haven't aged well, and the album's focus on partying and hedonism can come across as shallow. Despite these drawbacks, "Licensed to Ill" remains a significant and influential work that helped pave the way for hip-hop's mainstream acceptance and continues to inspire artists across genres.
Bloody hell that was painful. Absolutely shit from start to finish. Can we give 0 stars?
Not my first outing with the Beastie Boys, it’s a bit enjoyable but Ill Communication is the better album. This album still has some good songs though.
Wish i had heard this first time round but thought that they were some sort of novelty boy band ( thanks The Sun) This is a lot more wider ranging musically than i every realised.
I made it through a little more than twice before I had to bail. Cool album cover though.
Not necessarily my favorite beastie boys album but undeniably awesome.
8/10. The beats are awesome. The rapping can be super fun/funny - but overtime their voices can be a bit much/annoying for me. But very fun album.
Probably a top 3 favorite album of all time for me. Can pretty much recite every lyric to every song. Every single song is memorable. Money has changed the ability for artists to sample so freely but this entire album is the pinnacle of sampled music. Lyrics are silly and genius. I can remember in 5th grade, standing in the recess line singing Paul Revere with a bunch of kids in the class. It’s one of those anthems that anyone of a certain age will suddenly want to sign a long to. “Did it like this, did it like that. Did it with a whiffle ball bat”. I’ve personally burned through 3 tapes of this song and still get fired up hearing it. I get if I put this on with a bunch of younger kids today, they would be amazed and think it was great. Rest in Peace to Yauch. This album gets 12 stars
Classic
A *third* album from Beastie Boys......? WTAF are you playing at, List. I have a pavement to jet wash so I'll listen to this at the same time. The jet washing will provide a better soundtrack & way more spiritual nourishment.
Seminal
45 minutes of three guys yelling at me over a drum machine, is not really my thing. Some of the tracks that have actually music on them are not bad, though. Fight For Your Right is a classic, but I can't listen to No Sleep Till Brooklyn without thinking of Morris Minor and the Majors.
Really not sure what to make of the Beastie Boys; they’re objectively bad, but they don’t seem to take themselves too seriously. Or at least I hope they don’t! Wouldn’t choose to listen to any of these apart from No Sleep Till Brooklyn.
Possibly helped by the fact that I listened to this on the coach to Glasto, but sooo good! Simpsons: not even looking it up, just assuming yes
I've never really thought about whether or not the Beastie Boys are any good, have always just considered them a bit of a 'joke' band. Don't think that's actually their intention, although I guess it's meant to be fun music not taking itself too seriously. Objectively the music isn't very good, although it has a fun vibe, so I was unsure how to rate this. Marking it down based on how repetitive a lot of these songs are. No Sleep Till Brooklyn was the standout track, and another classic Guitar Hero tune.
Middle of the road album, all the tracks are similar, but I love the attitude and the vibe they put across
I didn’t like this. Then I did. I don’t know, it was alright I suppose but it just didn’t appeal to me even if there are a few great tracks on here.
Surprising amount of Led Zeppelin samples in this album.
Very much enjoyed a re-listen of this classic. It hasn't aged as much as I feared and for the most part* is still a very fun listen. * But 'Girls' is still an insta-skip for me. Just terrible.
She's crafty Run DMC en moins bien et plus rock. Très répétitif.
This was fun listen but I didn’t appreciate the sexist lyrics. Also, some of this felt like that one episode of The Office where Michael and Dwight sing Straight Outta Scranton
Important but hit and miss. Firstly I can't be the only one who can't stand Ad-Rock's stupid whiny shouting. Also some of the songs on here are just weird. And of all the copycats in Hip-Hop these guys started out as the most bandwagon jumping of all, but... you can sort of hear the obsession with original samples and more experimental ideas coming through which led them to be totally original in the end. Patchy but catchy.
Listening to it was great. I had a hard time not giving it a 5 for nostalgia's sake but rated it honestly and attempted objectivity. There really needs to be half stars.
classic
Streetrat vibes
mmm, lots of yell rapping, I get the influence but has corny vibes
Po pire
Had hoped for more from the songs I didn't already know...found them underwhelming.
It's been a while since I've listened to this one. Interesting that it's the 2nd Rick Rubin production in a row. Still fresh and funky. Although certainly not perfect, almost all of it works. I admire its try-anything approach and the assured production. Hip hop has moved on and hit new heights but this album is foundational. "White Castle fries only come in one size"
Some days I think this album deserves 4 stars, but other times I think 2.
Quintessential. This was one of the cassette tapes that I wore out listening to this album. Such a great album. And such a great group.
Funny how this seems entirely concocted to appeal to young suburbia teens. With allowance money. How cool is it that? Did you notice that 3MTA3 (above the engine) is Eat Me backwards? How cool is that? I suppose it is an accident of birth that kept me off this bandwagon. Just lucky, I guess.
This sounded all a bit repetitive apart from the anthemic classics. No Sleep and You gotta fight were fun but listening to a whole album is no party.
Fun album of my youth. Complete nonsense but still fun.
Name me any other group who mentions white Castle as much as the Beastie Boys do. Or at all, for that matter.
From the shouting to the stealing, I found this unenjoyable in every way. Not my kind of party.
Yeah, I don't know. I can handle the Beasties for a few songs, but only from Paul's Boutique and beyond. It's their voices. They drive me cray-cray. Also the beats are boring and their flow is the same on every song. I'm kind of amazed at how much respect this album continues to get.
I had the good fortune of a long solo drive to focus on this album. As familiar as I am with these tunes, it felt like I was hearing it fresh for the first time but with the comfort that nostalgia brings. Kick it!
Already listened.
Not my cup of tea. I enjoyed some of their later material. I could listen to Sabotage on repeat all day long.
it's all OK fun but i just cannot take the beastie boys seriously like ever.....
Enjoyed
Girls might be one of the most annoying songs ever made and why do they say their names so much? 4 stars
All time classic. 10th grade me is happy I had this one.
Can't argue with the hits but a whole album is just a bit much 💀
4-
Moronic yelling. Pretty important
good
This was a fun one, good vibes with lots of memorable tracks and I was really impressed with how they pulled off the mix of genres in a unique way. “Fight For Your Right” stood out for me but they were all really good to be honest.
Well, if there was ever an album of anthems for teenage boys, this would be it. It does have it all...fullin testosterone. Sadly, I am not a teenage boy anymore. I am more than a few years past that point. Target audience aside, this aged music lover does see the rhythm, groove and exhuberance in this album. Still, from the perspective of being on a list of albums to hear before I die...the best I can do is give a rating of 2.
Great album, holds up with a lot of bangers still to this day
Iconic album but disregarding the context of it, I don’t like it as much as their later albums. Rating: 3.3
Timeless songs. Some I knew well and didn't realize they were from their debut album. Crazy samples, hilarious lyrics.
liked. More upbeat. a bit shouty
Influential but not great
Party till the break of dawn. Fun album, but there are better albums to come from BB. I can’t wait
Some bangers on this one!
This was so hard to get through that I just stopped listening to these albums for several days. It's like a parody of itself. This is so dumb.
The album and songs of my senior year in high school. Love the Beastie Boys. This album is all about fun, cool rhymes, great samples, and partying. MTV was at it height and the Beastie Boys were made for that channel. To me, these are some timeless songs. Love this album.
#251. Like Saul Trujillo said; the Beastie Boys are like Taco Bell, everyone knows it's not authentic, but there's no denying talent. 3/5: silly Song added to playlist: No Sleep Til Brooklyn I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
3.5⭐️
on the surface, just guys being dudes, having fun and rapping about white boy shit. Some serious bangers in here, really remarkable for a debut. It's kind of ass but also there is a lot of skill and talent when you take it more seriously. Don't love the BBoys but have to give credit where credit is due on this one.
Onhan tämä tällainen humoristinen räppiklassikko. Ei tämä listan kärkeen mene mutta ihan hauska. 3/5
Onhan tää energia tarttuvaa vaikkei ihan lempi-räbää ookaan
Tavallaan fiilaan tätä energiaa mut toisaalta en. Arvoin kakkosen ja kolmosen välillä, mut oon ehkä paremmille levyille antanu kolmosta joten kakkosella mennään.
Rhymin & Stealin - 4 The New Style - 4 She's Crafty - 4 Posse in Effect - 3.5 Slow Ride - 3.5 Girls - 3 Fight for Your Right - 5 No Sleep Til Brooklyn - 5 Paul Revere - 5 Hold It Now, Hit It - 3.5 Brass Monkey - 5 Slow and Low - 3.5 Time to Get Ill - 3.5
License to Ill by Beastie Boys Thursday 6/20/24 8:43 S Tier————————— Fight For Your Right No Sleep Til Brooklyn A Tier————————— The New Style Brass Monkey Girls B Tier————————— Paul Reevere She’s Crafty Hold It Now Slow Ride Rhymin and Stealin C Tier————————— Slow and Low Time To Get Ill Posse In Effect
Even their good songs are bad. I don't Wana think about the bestie boys for a little while
lovely
Realizing it can be difficult to put things into their time and perspective, but at this point just feels like a bad white dude hip hop skit.
aged horribly
Sorry, es erweist sich immer wieder, dass mir Hip-Hop nichts gibt ...
For whatever the Beasties are more fun than eye rolling to me. They still have questionable lyrics at times but there’s this ever present sense of goofiness that I enjoy. 4/5
[explitive deleted], my 2nd Beastie Boys album in a week. Oh my, how clever they are with the “punny” album title. And bough tough and manly with the “daring” 3MTA3 in the middle of the cover. Sheesh. However, I was an actual grown-up when this album was released, and the hit “Fight for Your Right” struck me as an infantile bit of drivel. That had been the only song of theirs I’d (knowingly) heard before being subjected to them a few days ago. So it is with really low expectations that I dive into this.well, this sucks as bad as I expected. It’s all a bit mind-numbing, which dulls the pain, at least. I wish I could give this 0 stars, but 1 is as low as it’ll go.
I don’t know. I like their song in SSX tricky, but I had a really hard time listening to this album. Skipped most of it.
Rad rap album I've heard in a while.Too many cool beats were made throughout the album
Rhymin & Stealin, Fight For Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Slow and Low and Brass Monkey
brzmi jak wszystkie hiphopy The Lonely Island, Jon Lajoie i inne bekowe. Wszyscy chyba ten album samplowali, Step Up, i inne filmy. Malo w sumie tutaj muzyki, duzo krzyczenia. Na pewno jest kultowy ale nie do sluchania
Great
I'll probably listen to this a few more times for it to really sink in. I've only ever listened to Beastie Boys singles and their Anthology back in 2013 super casually. This was a really fun listen. I can't list favorites yet, need a few more listens. All the tracks are sick except maybe Paul Revere. Maybe it will stick on a second listen.
Great album from my youth. I have heard it a thousand times but can listen a thousand more!
It’s the beastie boys. Good for 3 or 4 songs but gets repetitive quite fast. 3 stars
I find myself a bit ill-equipped to really judge this. The hits are familiar territory, of course, but I was never hugely into them. In fairness, it's easy to appreciate that this was groundbreaking, mixing rock riffs and rap, all produced by Rick Rubin, no less. And it hasn't aged as badly as a lot of other 80s stuff. Some clever lyrics at times as well. That said, there's a lot of cringey stuff there, too, and the constant shouting voice and persona get old really quickly. Lastly, Fight for your right doesn't get any less obnoxious with time.
Solid album, great lyrics. Slightly too little emphasis on the music; I prefer their later albums where the beats get a larger role, but nevertheless enjoy Licensed to Ill.
Unlike a lot of rappers from that era, the Beasties don't come across as entirely full of themselves; that is, they don't exhibit the puffery and self-absorption common to many of their fellow contemporary artists. That said, the songs are often puerile and misogynistic. If I were nostalgic for the 80's, I would just call it harmless teenage-boy fun and leave it at that. But I am not nostalgic for the 80's.
First song is super fun with a good beat (if you ignore all the gun lyrics lol). The New Style again is just so fun. Good beat. Fun lyrics. Dang, why do all these songs have such a good beat, but the lyrics are like focused on guns or misogynistic? She's Crafty is so good, but has a lot of slut shaming. Maybe I just need to put myself into the mindset of someone in 1986. Ok this has gotten funny now, so I think I might like it :) Posse in Effect is another good one. All great beats. Loving the vibes because it is funny and laid back. I always thought Girls was kind of a yucky song, but I know they are trying to be funny too. This entire album is juvenile (which might be what is holding me back), but still good and fun. I really had fun listening to it overall.
These boys are so beastie
It’s kind of fun to listen to but it seems very lyrics driven and I’m not sure I love the lyrics. Get repetitive.
Fricken Awsome! I never knew. I love the Beastie Boys!!
Fucking FINALLY!!!! This album is iconic, first and foremost. You get the guys playing the most cartoonish and outlandish caricatures of themselves, hamming up the frat boy stupidity 24/7. The songs are outrageous, ridiculous and obnoxious in the most goofy fun way. It’s so stupid, it goes beyond stupid and then comes full circle back to amazing again. I just love it! Is there a more hype inducing opening riff than No Sleep til Brooklyn?!?! No, there isn’t. And! It’s an incredible landmark for reflection and growth, which I love even more. These guys are a wonderful example of how artists can find fame in a super gimmicky niche and outgrow it in a thoughtful way to continued success. I love that these guys grew to loathe the idiocy of what they were doing and rose from the ashes reborn as mindful and caring artists, feminist champions and peacemakers. I love that they can look back on their past and acknowledge how problematic it was without excusing it. They’ve given us all the best gift in doing so, because we can continue to listen to this album fondly. We can see the stupidity and smirk and appreciate how this moment in time was simply that, a moment. It’s good to learn. It’s good to grow. These guys are so fucking cool for that. And for just always going against the grain. I still mourn MCA. I know a ton of us do. I wish he was still here, making music and touring. What a huge loss. Rest in power, my dude. You were the illest.
Alloooora, purtroppo non mi sono piaciuti tantissimo. Talmente confusionari che non riuscivo a seguire nemmeno il filo logico dei miei pensieri
Dimenticabile come l'altro
tra tutti i sottogeneri di hip hop, l'ibrido rock è senza ombra di dubbio il mio preferito. c'è da sottolineare però che questo album mi sembra molto simile all'altro dei Beastie Boys che abbiamo già ascoltato, e in proporzione ho preferito l'altro, forse per l'effetto novità, chissà. comunque figo e capisco l'immensa infulenza che ha avuto negli anni successivi nello sviluppo della scena hip hop. ah, e Fight For Your Right spacca i fondoschiena.
Bravi Beastie Boys, mi siete piaciuti anche questa volta :) 4/5 perché non me la sento totalmente di dare 5/5. (Comunque amo alla follia la recensione di Dade)
I Beastie Boys sono un po’ il tuo ex cazzone scellerato coglioncello leggermente sgravato con cui ti eri messə per il brivido ma poi hai lasciato per la mancanza di prospettive future anche se ogni tanto ci ripensi e ti dici “chissà dove saremmo adesso…su una motocicletta in giro per le autostrade? In prigione?” E quando si rifà vivo dicendo di non averti mai dimenticatə lo inviti comunque dentro casa e gli dai un 5/5 come facevi una volta. Puoi dirti che è solo in amicizia o in onore dei vecchi tempi ma la verità è un’altra.
It's fine. They just got better and better
This music is a lot of things. Massively influential, irritating, obnoxious, fun-loving, etc. A friend of mine and I got Beastie Boys banned from our band room in high school for repeatedly playing Brass Monkey and Girls on the xylophone and bari sax.
It's better than it should be and better than what they put out after. It's a fun party album even if the vocals are annoying
Neither Rap nor Rock it looses in both ends.
4.6/5 listened 2x. great album and some of the first i listened to on the elementary school bus as a kid.
reminds me of my childhood. classic album
This had a significant negative impact on my mood.
Brass Monkey has more significance to this guy than entire genres of music. Its silly, but true. I can't say I want to listen to the Beastie Boys most of the time, but they did change the direction of music and changed the rules for rap and rock music. Plus they're really so NSYNC with one another it went on to influence other genres.
fun, sometimes funny and some great energy. But glaringly an often outdated, one-trick pony. probably better if listened to in its historical context.
It's so good and fun to listen to.
ég er mesti beasti boys haterinn, þetta er eitthvað skibidi toilet síns tíma
This one one made me crank the volume!!!
Certainly not every lyric survives almost forty years, but this remains an impressive album -- one I've appreciated more over the years.
Middle school me gives this a 5. Adult me gives it a 4. Listened to this album a lot as a kid.
Oh yeah. Now we’re talking!
Not my favorite Beastie Boy album but solid.
Another user asked, “Is this good, or is it just nostalgia?” To answer their question, it’s definitely nostalgia, not quality. This album has not aged well; in fact, it’s downright obnoxious and grating to listen to today. Take a song like “Girls”—it’s impossible to consider it a classic with any lasting value. The whole album feels childish, filled with shallow, surface-level lyrics that lack any depth or thought-provoking content. It’s a relic of its time, best left in the past.
The progression of the Beastie Boys from hardcore and joke punk songs to become pioneers of hip-hop is laid bare on these 13 tracks (and the album that followed) - from picking out the samples that range from Led Zeppelin to 80s television characters to tracking the beats and snippets that were subsequently sampled by the future hip-hop greats, it's very clear to see where this absolutely vital album sits in the history of the genre. It's a phenomenal record that takes rock and rap and forces them to play nice. Sure, some of the lyrical content is dated, but the Beasties were literally boys at the time, and the production is many years beyond its time.
Big surprise for me how much I loved this as an album.
It’s crazy how good of a debut album this is. The relationship between the beasties and Rick Rubin soured after this but they’re bringing the best out of each other. That being said, as we’ll see with ensuing albums, they had a whole different level of best ahead of them. But that never happens without this album and all the fame and attention which followed.
Among the first masterstrokes for Rick Rubin as a producer! Compare this kind of fun-loving old-school rap with the Slim Shady LP and it's aged so much more gracefully. It's rough around the edges, sure, but it comes off as playful grinning rather than antisocial, aggressive, and cringeworthy. The Beastie Boys were much more astute in the game than anyone saw at the time - this was only two years after Run DMC hit the scene. License To Ill is the ultimate Just Guys Being Dudes record and a ton of fun to spin.
Good album. Very influential for its time.
Of course I knew many songs off this album and immediately I could see the influence and popularity of it. I think the Beastie Boys are a band that is something I’ll always listen to if it’s on but I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen and search for the music. For some reason it’s just sometimes not what I’m looking for, however when it’s on it’s definitely a jam.
Almost immediately generates high school memories. Teachers in the 80s must have hated hearing "Fight for Your Right" so much and most probably never heard the original, instead just a bunch of idiots shouting it in the halls, cafeteria, etc etc. At times kinda funny (although 99% of "funny" in music sucks) but that doesn't always hold up. I have always liked their rapping style - annoying voices and all - it's definitely the clever interplay between all 3 of them. I was smiling while listening to this entire album but it's more a nostalgia trip than something i actively like; sounds are dated (drum machine sounds, processed guitar) and the music doesn't really hold up in many of the songs - contrast this with their next few albums which are fantastic. The perfect high school album - equal parts nostalgia trip and embarrassing. 6/10 3 stars.
REALLY hard-hitting 80s rap rock that's either so unbelievably loud you'll thrash your head like a maniac or you'll cackle at how silly it is, it's both. seriously if they ain't shoutin' some sick bars they're just having a lot of fun. the way the beastie boys rap is like a whole bunch of sarcastic middle school skater boys and i love it.
Their stuff (some) is good for working out to I guess. Shouting same part vox isn’t my thing. Drums are fun. Nothing else here for me.
Rad album, I really dig the use if samples and the production in general is not crazy intricate but very hard hitting. The vocal delivery is iconic.
I had fun
Beastie boys are Laidback as fuck 4/5
Total classic album, awesome to hear all those old-school Zep samples. Just fantastic.
They did better albums, and they did smarter albums, but this is so much fun.
Frat hip-hop/hard rock by excellence. Some of these songs have aged terribly, but they keep their teen-like energy levels. Also, the samples and original instrumentation are just right.
i have beastie fever, and baby it’s incurable!!!!!!!
A great debut album that has admittedly very dated and juvenile lyrics at times. There is a certain charm to it that can’t help but laugh at.
I know they were one of the firsts to introduce showing into music, but I couldn't like them no matter how hard I tried.
Not too bad considering it’s older hip hop
it’s okay I guess
definitely not their best album but it is still very fun. 7/10
Not bad
My dad loves beastie boys and Kerry king (who did the no sleep till Brooklyn ) is part of slayer which is my favorite thrash metal band. Its Very retro which i like. The level of NYC its giving that it makes me want to go to my local NY Pizza shop. this was a great album. not perfect but great. Favorite song: Brass Monkey Least Favorite song: Hold it now, hit it 8/10
Beastie Boys do one thing and one thing only, yell over a backing track. So if you like that one thing, this album is for you.
I didn’t realize a few things: 1) this album is as old as I am 2) it’s a really hot debut 3) I don’t dislike them/this album as much as I thought I did 4) the whole backing track approach is basically classic rock Please forgive me. I know I was wrong/uninformed before.
5 stars. Absolutely a legendary album and might be one of the best ever.
Oddly enough, the Beastie Boys have grown very heavy on me. I visited this album not too long ago after doing an Eminem revisit, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one. Now I will say that a lot of these songs sound very sameish.. but, there’s still some good content that’s easily digestible here. I like songs like she’s crafty where it blends hip hop and rock a lot, I wish there was more genre fusion on this record because that’s where they are at their best!
WOW WOW WOW THIS IS HYPE AF! I LOVE THIS THE 90S IS BEING SOLIFIDIED AS MY FAVORITE ERA THIS IS FUCKING AWESOME GIRLS IS AWESOME NO SLEEP TIL BROOKLYN IS SO SO ICONIC AND STILL SO COOL FUCK YEAH!
Det här kan bli kul! Det blev det inte. Det är töntigt. Kraftig vit dude som dricker öl och röker weed vibe. Fight For Your Right är inte bra. Jag är inte impad över varken text, rap eller produktion. Jag lyssnar inte mycket på Hip Hop men det här är i min mening inte bra. Segt och trist. Jag är besviken.
Det är ju inte dåligt. Men rätt enformigt. Det är samma sound låt efter låt (iaf tre första :) ) det fortsätter genom hela albumet. Blir faktiskt för mycket. Tröttnar på deras skrikande. Blir nästan en parodi på sig själv. Fight for your right och no sleep är bäst. Det visste man. Fyller en funktion, på fest. Men totalt blir sisådär.
Krädd för att det här var banbrytande när det kom, men personligen har jag aldrig varit något större fan av Beastie Boys eller metal-rap-genren generellt för den delen. De är inga vidare rappare och ett helt album med det här soundet är rätt utmattande. På minuskontot också att de är såna töntar.
Fun album with great energy. A teir
The immature beginnings of one of the most important hip hop bands of their era. I hate to play the race thing, because they’re a great group in their own right, but this album opened the genre up to a whole new audience and made it okay to listen to rap for a lot of white suburban kids. They even got a got bit of play on rock stations. While this isn’t their best album, it did break them into he scene and laid the groundwork for some great stuff. It’s also a good example of old school hip hop being fun, before it started to take itself too seriously. All in all this is just a fun album, quite a bit goofy, and all intentionally so. Also, before getting angry at the misogyny, etc, remember they were just dumb kids and grew up. They have since expressed remorse at how awful they were and have changed accordingly.
Aw yeah, this shit is fantastic. More of a rock and roll album than a hip hop album, it doesn’t matter, it’s all fantastic to listen to. Every song on this record is great, many of them have been staples of my road trip playlists for years. Even though I’ve listened to this album tons of times, one thing that didn’t strike me until this listen is how much they talk about White Castle: they bring their dates to White Castle, get kicked out of White Castle, sneak alcohol into White Castle, praise White Castle’s fries, and juxtapose White Castle and the Nile. Actually, “Slow and Low” is a cover of an unreleased Run-D.M.C. song where the only lyrics they changed were to remove self-references to Run-D.M.C. and replace them with Beastie Boys and White Castle.
My favorite Beastie Boys album. Totally fratty and silly but idc, still sounds so good.
Two decent tracks, the rest a little infantile. But they are just boys.
Dated? Yes. Classic? Yes. A time capsule into the 80s you will happily trap yourself in.
Experimental and fun.
Lil samie but a lot of fun
Although I think they improved with later albums, I'm never going to give the Beastie Boys less than 4
I don’t think hip-hop is really my genre…
I didn't mind this one. Liked all the zeppelin samples, would listen again.
Didn’t like it as much as Paul’s Boutique, but the last half of the album is filled with heavy hitters and makes up for the first half.
I have a true appreciation for this music’s place in my life during my formative years. However, I think I like Beastie Boys songs in small doses. Individually, the songs are fun; but after a couple in a row, the Beastie Boys style just sounds sort of shrill and relentless.
I got this album on cassette and still have it somewhere. I listened to it a lot and think I remember really liking it. I still use phrases like “no sleep till’ Brooklyn” and for everyone who has lost the freedom to party “you got to fight for your right to party” Now this kind of rapping just really kind of annoys me, I guess I’m just old. I enjoyed it mostly as a nostalgia listen but don’t remember it bing so grating.
Awesome.
I’ve never quite understood why the Beastie Boys are held in such high regard. At least, that is, until now. It’s not because I haven’t heard half these songs a million times, but rather because going through this list has put context around them for the first time. I always assumed this album came out in the early 90’s. When it popped up, and I saw 1986, it made me realize that, at the time this came out, it was so fresh and different and way ahead of its time. Ultimately, it’s still the same old whiney and grating Beastie Boys, but context is everything and that makes me appreciate them more. And No Sleep Til Brooklyn will Always be a banger.
Not my genre. Numerous songs not heard due to explicit lyrics which I choose not to listen.