Licensed To Ill

Some classic songs like Slow Ride and Fight for Your Right but overall the record sounded old and dated. The production especially was a muddled mess at times. I also disliked their voices, one guy especially which made it hard to enjoy.

unseliges Gebrüll

Obnoxious, aggressive and absolutely not for me. Vocals are akin to scratching nails on a chalkboard.

I've never liked the Beastie Boys much, the vocals are grating to listen to.

WHITE BOY SWAG

Late 80s to mid to late 90s I disliked Beastie Boys and this album is why. It's full of misogynistic novelty songs. Much later, I think when Hello Nasty was getting a lot of radio play, did I revisit them. Hello Nasty, Ill Communication, Check Your Head, Paul's Boutique are all incredible albums with clear purpose and style. It got me to really appreciate the musical journey and maturation of the Beastie Boys. It also left me a little upset I missed out of 10+ years of listening to new music when it was new. I still dislike this album.

incredibly fun album and still a very genre-defining and breaking album - the combo of guitars with boom bap beats that were often too slow or too fast. very cool.

Partly heard before Saved 3/13 Top track: Fight For Your Right

gets a bit boring after the first half

Album 392 of 1001 Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill Rating : 4 / 5 Some awesome references. How can I not like something that references Abe Vigoda? I'm not big on the sampling and this is full of it but what they've done with it is pretty good. While it may not get my musical juices fully flowing, it is very entertaining.

This album made time fly and was never unpleasant. Favourite track: Slow Ride.

nein --- einfach nein

Very few freshman releases are this impactful. It all starts with three best friends and a fourth who knows something about music. The rest is history. The emergence of the Beastie Boys and Rick Rubin will change music and the accessibility of Rap music. 5/5

Schnoddrige Rhymes und Heavy-Gitarre - ich habe mich richtig über das Album gefreut. Dann noch die „Gassenhauer“ Fight For Your Right und No Sleep Till Brooklyn. Einfach gestrickt, viel gute Laune ;-)

Gute alte Zeiten! Welch ein Album, erinnert an die Startzeiten und ist immer noch Hammer!

Good

(Ascoltato per intero con la lettura di qualche testo) Tanta tanta roba. Album bello potente tra l'hip hop old school, l'hard rock e voci belle incazzose (a detta loro "we hot the kind of voices that are in your face). La mattina sta bene al posto di un bel caffè per essere pronti a scazzottare la realtà. Si sente la loro appartenenza alla New York di fine 80', visti i riferimenti alla famosa "forty deuce", oggi time square, al tempo lo "sleaziest block" per il magazine Rolling stones. Bella fusione tra i generi decisamente ben riuscita, grande l'utilizzo dei sample, particolarmente hard rock, specie provenienti dai Led Zeppelin. Interessante l'entrata in una realtà decisamente alternativa, ho apprezzato anche l'inserimento di due tracce deciasamente rock "Fight for your right" e "No sleep till Brooklin". L'alternarsi tra le voci dei componenti crea equilibrio e un ritmo più unito, incalzante e concitato, perfetto, assieme al tono che utilizzano, per la loro musica.

Look, I can't give a review on this, because I feel compelled to just say "Beastie boys are so Homestuck core" and I don't want to have to live with that

Catchy, and obviously a classic, but to me it's almost comedy music? The problem is the years and years between Licensed to Ill, the jokes at the Beastie Boys expense, and modern sensibilities. Used to this was more risque and now it's kids bop - in theme, not quality.

Of course the rapping sounds dated, this is seriously early in hip-hop's history, but it's undeniably influential. What the technical rapping skill lacks, they more than make up for with chemistry, humour, and the booming beats backing them up. A few serious classics in the middle of the tracklist, it makes for a fun listen overall despite the negatives.

I haven't been a 15 year old boy for several decades but this sure made me feel like one.

Admittedly, I had no interest in this when it came out, but the Beastie Boys have grown on me considerably over the years. They weren't really doing anything that others hadn't done before them, but what they brought to the table was a deep appreciation of a lot of different kinds of music, and a snotty punk irreverence that's still good natured at its core. You can't really not like these guys. There's a certain silliness to these songs and they would get much, much better on subsequent albums, but this one's a lot of fun. Fave Songs: No Sleep till Brooklyn, Fight for Your Right, The New Style, Brass Monkey, She's Crafty, Rhymin & Stealin

Great Production by Rick Rubin. So many classic samples. Superior Outing of the trio with tongue and cheek lyrics.

Yeah…this rules. Not my favorite music ever, but holy shit, it’s so damn good. 4/5

BRASS MONKEY. THAT FUNKY MONKEY.

This album is completely groundbreaking and then they toured with Madonna? Wtf. I still stand by my no more than 3-4 Beastie Boys tracks in a row for me, so albums are tough. I don't need 3 dudes taking turns hollering at me for an hour. Still rips!

I had a vague notion that I didn't like the Beastie Boys, but didn't really know anything more. This album confirmed it, but it wasn't as bad as I expected. I found nothing to enjoy until "She's Crafty" and "Girls", which were both catchy and fun.

First time through this one I didn't like it quite as much as I'll Communication which we did earlier. On my second listen after I learned this was their debut album, I liked it much more. This is one of those classic, laden with hits albums that once you know it you finally get all these references that you've been missing!

Minus 1 for misogyny and weak rhyme schemes

Illest to the max 😎

I mostly despise the beastie boys. I find them boring and obnoxious. Some of the hits are ok and save this from a 1 but man I did not enjoy this and I don’t get the hype.

These guys are so silly. Loved this album as a kid. Can still laugh and enjoy it now as an adult but I’m now slightly more doubtful of its musical quality. High 3

Immature and juvenile -- absolutely. Fun -- absolutely. Hard to believe 3 white Jewish boys could make such an impact. Most of the self-referential lyrics are pretty ridiculous but they did somehow come up with an all time great party anthem. That raises this up to a 4 from me.

Fun and another great use of sampling. Obviously this is intentionally goofy and their voices can be grating on the ears but the songs are well constructed. My faves are Brass Monkey and No Sleep Till Brooklyn. Would get a 4.5 but I don’t feel this really should have a 5.

Cool rhythms, vocals are very much of an era, samples from all over the place, led zeppelin drums? Hip. Iconic drums, scratches and orchestra hits Slow ride - brass! Rhyming and stealing - led zeppelin Girls - definitely a play on a song/style Fight for your right - that’s a hit! Fight for your right. To party! 🤣 guitar riffs are very 80s, kinda KISS No sleep till Brooklyn - this and previous original rap rock! Fun. Guitar solo feels like a play on guitar solos, making fun of them Paul Revere - great stereo sizzle! Some reverse clap? for a snare. Orchestra hits and scratches as they should be Hold it now hit it - 1001 word plays and references Brass Monkey - cool riff! Slow and Low - run DMC vibes, classic accents on Go, Low etc Time to get Ill - great ending, aggressive drums

Listening to them sing about girls turned me asexual.

Gets a little old but still some classics

fun and silly, not something i’d normally listen to but served a purpose for the gym. inoffensive and wouldn’t be opposed to listening again if the mood struck.

Heard of them. Hate the first song. Lyrics are interesting but I don't consider "rap" music!

An obvious classic tbh! I spin this regularly. The full album is FULL of classics but it’s one you can really sit down with all these years later. Sometimes the raps are a little bit cringe but this was their post hardcore, pre rapcore days so they were 100% in party mode here. First track hits HARD with a Led Zeppelin drum beat and it just takes off from there. Super dancey, super FUN stuff. Most of these songs use immediately recognizable samples (heavy on Led Zeppelin for some reason) but it works. For the time, this was groundbreaking work. The MC volley is one of my favorite things, the mic passing as it is. Honestly this is a massive record so I’ll cap it as a must listen for anyone.

Only the debut album by one of my all time favorite groups, no big deal. Everything instantly hits, but then peeling it back and breaking it down, they did their homework.

Took me almost 10 years to understand and enjoy this one, but it's something I listen to a lot. Originally I hated the party-boy vibe, before I realized it wast their schtick at this point. The lyrics and delivery are juvenile and snotty, but that doesn't stop them from being really catchy; arguably it helps. Stripped down beats and samples performed by Rick Rubin are as important (or more?) to this sound as anything else and showcase just how much Richer influenced hip-hop after this. Paul Revere has always been my fasvorite track, but other the "Girls", there are no stinkers on here.

Cool samples, cool vibes. Cocktail rap-rock détonnant, ces mecs là ont clairement annoncé la couleur de la décennie qui a suivi dans le monde du hip-hop ! La rythmique répétitive du chant me donne parfois envie de sauter quelques pistes pour aller directement à mes préférées, d'où la note de "seulement" 3 (3.5 si je voulais être vraiment précise).

the goodfather of hiphop albums

What an iconic album. Some good songs, definitely a notable moment in hip hop. A unique vocal style with punchy beats. Definitely a notable moment in music history. 3.5

I love the Beastie boys, particularly 'Check your head' and 'Ill communication', and always enjoy hearing Fight for your right and No sleep 'til Brooklyn. However, I've never heard the entirety of their debut album - until now. Sadly, apart from the aforementioned singles and Rhymin' and Stealin', the album's not great. It's all rather puerile and sonically lazy. They needed the musical kick in the pants of 'Paul's Boutique to really create their own cool and influential style. Disappointing, but a stepping stone to far greater things. Ps: if you haven't had the pleasure yet, you need to read 'Beastie Boys' Book'. Phenomenal stuff!

Forgot about some of these songs. The Boys stand up to time well. Their contributions to early hip hop are undeniable. This album is damn good work. I added Slow Ride to my playlist. That bass takes me bake to woofers in the trunk.

Prefect rap party album. I knew half the tracks just from the radio.

I think Beastie Boys suffer heavily from songs fatigue. Listening to one random BB song on a playlist - great fun, so many hits to choose from. Listening to the whole album in one sitting - please, just release me from the pain and send me back to hell. Great album, but after 10 minutes of this I'm at my wits' end. I think it's the style of rap, so much "in your face", with no holdback, that makes it unbearable to listen to in long strides. But the hits are still as good as they were 30 years ago.

That was fun!

YOU GOTTA FIGHTTT

It is a fun album but it is super dated and I don't hold it in high regard.

There isn't a bad song on the album. Fantastic!

I already knew this was a great record but listening to it again affirmed that even more. The beats are so creative and the energy each of them bring to the songs make it so easy to dance around to. Although my favorite part has got to be how absolutely amazing these lyrics are. They are telling full blown stories! I had no idea how many literary references there were until listening again today! My favorite songs besides the five main classics (girls, paul revere, brass monkey, fight for your right, and no sleep till Brooklyn) are “The New Style”, “She’s Crafty”, and “Hold it Now Hit It”.

Besides the obvious misogyny and other adolescent tropes that were “funny” in the early eighties, this record still holds up, to the point that I think it’s a seminal first record. And, like the Beatles before them, the Beastie Boys only got better from here. It’s astounding how every song on this record is so catchy in 2024.

First rap album I ever purchased and a genre classic

Beasties are always funny to me. I wouldn't classify myself as a huge fan, but their albums always go hard and this one is fire outside of a couple songs towards the end.

Brings me back

Listen, I’m an enormous Beastie Boys fan, but this is arguably their worst album. Give me Ill Communication or Check Your Head or Paul’s Boutique and we’ll talk about how much I love them and think they are underrated for how talented they actually were.

Still fun. In small doses.

5.0 + These knuckleheads put out one of the greatest party records of all time. I grew up with songs like "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (Too Party!)", and they're still fun and vibrant.

Not my favorite, but I respect it

Far and away the best Beastie Boys album. There’s some songs on here that haven’t aged super well, but that can be said for many albums from past decades. I was obsessed with “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” when I was a kid, and it’s probably still my favorite song on the album. So good!

No sorry I honestly just couldn't listen to this it wasn't my thing at all. I don't really get how you can enjoy it, though it might be for a certain mood that I just don't have often enough. It just wasn't my cup of tea so my rating unfortunately will be low.

6.5 or a 7 out of 10 I think. It reminds me of something Michealangelo from the Ninja turtles would listen too or dole merchants from the 80s would act. They pretty much say the same 10 things repeatedly but I think it’s honestly pretty catchy and the guitar riffs go hard. Would listen to a few songs again. Favourites were shes crafty and No sleeo till Brooklyn

YOU GOTTA FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY!!!

Didn't like it as much as I thought I would outside the singles

Help, I think I've died and I'm stuck in fraternity hell. I wanted to like this more than I did. I get that a lot of what the Beastie Boys did was (allegedly) satirical and comedic, but if you don't have that historical context, a lot of this album has aged like milk. If by the time you get to the second track and hear the lines "If I played guitar I'd be Jimmy Page/The girlies I like are underage" and don't realize they're taking the piss about Page being a creepy predator, you're probably not going to have that great of a time. As the philosopher Harvey Dent once said, "You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain," and I think that became true for the Beastie Boys. They started out lampooning frat culture and hair metal bravado. And while many of their fans were in on the joke, a whole lot more weren't, and this music became the soundtrack to their lives. Aside from that, a lot of the songs are just really repetitive. How many songs on this album are about hooking up with lots of girls and carrying around a gun at a party? I lost count, but there are too many. Some of the wordplay is clever, but it's not enough to counteract the stuff that gets repeated over and over. The music also isn't that interesting. "No Sleep till Brooklyn" and "Fight For Your Right" are pretty good, but most of the other tracks are pretty basic beats and loops played incessantly, with the occasional poorly done record scratch overlaid (again, I know this is kind of the point, but it's boring). I also forgot how incredibly annoying "Girls" and "Brass Monkey" can be — ear worms in the worst way. I will say, I didn't realize how many of the songs from this album became hits. I think 95% of the songs I know by them are on this album. So, that's kind of impressive. I think I just generally prefer my comedic music to be more along the lines of Tenacious D or tongue-in-cheek sendups like the Darkness. This crank yankers sketch set to crappy music stuff isn't really my thing. I suspect if I went back and listened to the Marshall Mathers LP now I'd feel similarly. That kind of stuff can be funny at the time, but as you grow up and the culture changes, it just seems cringe. Crap, I've become my parents haven't I? 3/5 from me. I recognize the historical impact and influence of this album, but that doesn't mean I want to listen to it again.

haha! An old frat party staple.

I’ve never been a big fan of the Beastie Boys, but “Fight for your Right to Party” and “No sleep til Brooklyn” are such big hits along with “Brass Monkey.”

So many classic hits on this one- "Fight for your Right", "Paul Revere", "No Sleep Til Brooklyn" are all ones I would hear blasting from dorm rooms in college (two decades after this album was released). Lyrics that would be juvenile or cringey from other artists just seem funny and charming coming from the Beastie Boys.

dang there are a lot of bangers on this album. We were prolific at this time.

Very disappointing. I had ill communication a while a back and thought it was ok at best. Rapping style got a bit tiresome after a while but there were a few good tracks on it. This one...rapping even more annoying and no good tracks. 1.5*

I dunno, I never really got into Beastie Boys. Just too much shouting. Nothing about this relisten changed my mind. A lot of people love them, but I just can't wrap my head around it.

Didn't age amazing, has multiple classic tracks

Well, more shouting than anything else, innit?

Did not realize how many of these songs I knew. Also did not realize how problematic the “Girls” lyrics were…

This was more enjoyable than I was expecting, with some nice use of samples of songs I knew. The flow of their vocals seemed fairly similar across a range of these songs, however. Probably no need to hear them again, but my opinion of them is higher than it was last week.

It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to this all the way through. I think I’ve grown and the album has definitely aged. And the group has disavowed much of it, if I remember correctly. What would have been a strong 4-star, bordering on 5, in high school is probably just a 3 now.

These guys check so many boxes, and this album is filled with so many great songs.

heh...whimsical lyrics... paljon sampleja rock-tyyppisestä musiikista... zeppelin referenssejä, heh pedofiilejä.. olipas kiva albumi tänään.. ei kuitenkaan mitään mitä normaalisti menisin pistämään kuuntelemen, 80-talet puoliväli rap rock fuusio. listan ensimmäinen albumi oli näiltä kavereilta, annoin sille 3 tähteä. hyvä että objektiivisuus oli alusta asti, sillä tämä parempi mutta ei 5 arvoltaan.. goofy ass.. capricious fellows no sleep till brooklyn

Спасибо Стражам Галактики 3 за то, что я наконец-то ознакомился с Бисти Бойз. Ставлю 4, т.к. пятерочки полетят за следующие альбомы, где они переизобретали сэмплирование, делали музло на инструментах сами и просто разъебывали. Тут они просто в жанре тусовщиков из хардкора

👌🏻👌🏻🥰🥰🍺

Phenomenal debut from true trend setters. No other group like them at the time or to date.

Young, dumb and still quite a bit of fun. You do listen to this album with a smirk all the way through.

In a clas of their own, even if that class sounds like the class clown sometimes

They were cooking

I was a sophomore in a new school when this came out - so many people were into this album, but being a new waver that was familiar with Run DMC and a few other rap acts, I didn't quite get this, partly because of my dislike of metal when I was younger. A few years later and Paul's Boutique comes out, and I could totally groove with it and subsequent albums, and never felt the motivation to listen to this album in its entirety. Today's the day that changes. The more funk (and maybe to a lesser degree) punk oriented albums Pauls Boutique. Check Your Head, and Ill Communication appealed to me more, and having listened to those end to end in the 90s, I can look back and have more of an apprciation of what they presented in their debut. Definitely more rough around the edges music-wise with all the sampling and scratching, and with Rick Rubin at the helm it was perhaps inevitable that there would be a more harder-edged sound. But their clever wordplay was there from the beginning (and perfectly fits in with subsequent albums) with most of the songs - Fight For Your Right kind of being an exception - but it took me this long to have the perspective that the song I wasn't impressed with was meant to spoof the very audience it was the biggest hit with. My faves are Rhymin and Stealin, Posse in Effect, and Hold It Now, Hit It.

Will need to get back to it

Bangers on bangers. Brass Monkey is fun. Girls is also funny

I still hate "Girls" and I can only listen to 10-15 minutes at a time before I begin to hate it and need to take a break But damn it I still had a great time

Childish

Liked it

This is the debut studio album of the American hip hop group Beastie Boys. Deemed as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, "Licensed to Ill" crushed record sales, and was wildly commercially and critically successful. Heavily syndicated, this tremendous album birthed such long-lasting hits including "She's Crafty," "Girls," "Fight for Your Right," "No Sleep till Brooklyn," "Paul Revere," and "Brass Monkey." On another note, it is highly advised the reader explore "Fight for Your Right Revisited" for a pop culture shock of epic proportions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evA-R9OS-Vo

Great album. So many bangers. Problem is when I think about it, I’m not sure it’s even in their top 3 albums? Or maybe even top 5? But how many of them will appear in this list? Consistently brilliant albums! 4.3

Love it, raw and energetic

Tons of hits on here but sounds dated as hell

Unlistenable

I recognized a lot of songs on the album and I see the connections for where hip hop began. Ultimately it wasn’t really for me.

Had a lot of the hits and some I didn't realize I knew. Those songs are dope. Otherwise a little repetitive/not totally my scene. Even the songs that weren't for me were fine though

This isn’t really meant to be thought hard about, or maybe you can think hard about it after half a case of piss flavored light beer. It’s stupid and fun and stupid fun. We were all young, sweaty, and cringeworthy as hell at some point.

My aunt let me buy this cassette tape at a yard sale when I was about 8 years old (1994). I vividly remember listening to it the first time and just thinking "what the heck is this?" in a good way. Such a unique record. Awesome word play, great use of samples and amazing chemistry.

wish i hadn't got this and ill communication back-to-back, because they kind of just blended into one another. did find this one more fun though! felt like you could hear their joy through the record

Man, a classic that I had never listened to all the way through. Loved it. Interesting to hear all the classic songs sampled in there.

Surprisingly really didn't enjoy this! Thought of myself as quite liking them but maybe I'm thinking of some later work. Found it to be largely very grating and without the self-awareness required to pull off such lame lyrics. Still some fun to be had. Fave track: No Sleep Til Brooklyn

Maybe I missed the humour, but these lyrics seem so wack at times. Cool beats and samples, but maybe just a little bit let down by this one. Two and a half. Fave track: Time To Get Ill

A classic, though Beastie Boys style has become somewhat of a nerdy/lame characterization of itself. No Sleep Till Brooklyn and Fight For Your Right remain classics.

This album is a 5. ALL of their albums are 5’s. I own them alll. Psyched to listen to this one in the car with the whole fami

Some songs are great, other make me nervous.

I am amazed that this album is from 1986. So many of these songs played a big part in the soundtrack of my high school and college years. It is my first time listening to the full album, but it is a pure classic.

I'm biased as i'm a huge BB fan.

Energetic east coast hip hop/early rap rack. Beastie Boys are always a load of fun to listen to. Humorous lyrics layered onto fun beats and samples makes it a blast to listen to when playing a game or something, but listening on it's own can get old. Brass Monkey is timeless, and many of the other songs on this album are great, but it's pretty apparent this was their first album. It's quite, I don't know, stuck in its time. Their next few albums are way more enduring. Somewhat of a classic, in that its the first album from a legendary group. May revisit a handful of songs.

no.(.

I didn't really like the other songs but ofc love for no sleep to Brooklyn

Just good ol' nostalgic fun, this one. It's so goofy.

If Columbia Records didn’t stop them from using the original title we would’ve seen articles with zingers like no sleep till hate crime and hold it now, hit it(ft mark wahlberg). Kurt Loder would’ve had to say it on air. This album is a child in the backseat of a car asking for McDonald’s(Run DMC) only for the parents to say they have food at home. Rick Rubin will never get enough credit.

let me clear my throat... kick it over here baby pop and let all the fly skimmies feel the beat mmm, drop top 3: she's crafty, rhymin & stealin, fight for your right honorable mention: brass monkey

Don't love the whole shouting thing

lots of shouting, I can see the need for angry music like this, I think they appeal to a younger generation. Not me though

Beastie Boys let the beat... mmm... drop! Yeaa this album is great. So many bangers and classics, and the lyrics are hilarious, like some sort of twisted origin story of how the three met and how cool they are. Considering the only other old school rap I've gotten here through Run-DMC, this is streets ahead.

Definitely prefer their later stuff, but some fun ones on this.

Yep, pretty awesome.

Godsamme, ik ben gewoon echt echt echt geen fan van de Beastie Boys... De combi tussen punk, rock en hiphop werkt voor mij niet, waarom zou je punk enzo bij hiphop voegen? Is toch nergens voor nodig? Je maakt alleen maar hiphop minder vet... Vind het geschreeuw van de Beastie's gewoon niet vet. Dit album is wel beter dan Paul's Boutique, dat vond ik gewoon helemaal niets... Ik irriteer me gewoon echt aan deze gasten Fight for your right is wel ok I guess, maar ook niet fantastisch. Moet zeggen dat ik er op terug kom, dit album is zeker niet beter dan Paul's Boutique. Het is net zo kut. Ik hoop oprecht dat dit het laatste beastie boys album is zeg. Mijn favo nummer is Slow Ride, omdat daar een lekker sampletje in zit. Ik kan niet meer naar een stel zeikerige gasten luisteren die opscheppen over hoeveel sex ze hebben. FAVO:

Not a fan…sorry/not sorry… not into rap music in general… just not my style…I had to give it 1 star to vote. In truth I would give it Zero stars… if I want “nails on the chaulk board” perhaps but that is annoyingly Awful and hurts my eardrums which start to bleed after just the few seconds of this ….

Interesting first lp. Not their best work. Somewhat juvenile. 2/5.

This was their debut album! I'm not even a little bit of a Beastie Boys fan but I knew at least three of these songs. They sound like they're having so much fun. I want to give them 4 stars but a whole album of their thin yelly voices got tired after a while.

Paul's Boutique is objectively the better album, but this one gets a big nostalgia bonus from me.

Not bad, but I've never been a big fan.

Starts weak, ends strong

The cultural impact of the album is strong and there’s a few iconic songs on it. BUT - much of it hasn’t aged super well, either lyrically or sonically. It doesn’t sound as timeless to me as other revered albums. In addition, my hot take is that I hate how the Beastie Boys shout all their lyrics. It’s grating. People like to talk crap about Geddy Lee and Billy Corgan - I would put the Beasties up there in terms of sheer annoyance levels.

https://youtu.be/xUsOJrw5PJE :D

I have my ups and downs with this album. The idea of listening to it comes across as uncomfortable given the fratty-boy vibes and lyrics. But when you press play and listen to all the samples, the delivery, the energy, you really enjoy it. Love Paul's Boutique even more, but this one is not bad: 7/10

It's not bad, but also not my favourite kind of music

There are a few songs here that I really enjoy, but most of the album features beats that feel too thin. A lot of the beats are just drum machine, with no interesting samples or synths to accompany the percussion.

awful

Not for me

To my shame, despite having been listening to the Beastie Boys for years, I still can’t tell Ad-Rock and Mike D apart. License To Ill is a great record, it rocks hard, the braggadocio is infectious, and it’s just fun to listen to. However, it’s a good showcase of an artist still trying to find their feet. They were trying to parody unthinking Jock Jams with tracks like Fight For Your Right, but it was the jocks who initially adopted them, which I think always bothered them, because they were a weird weird group of people, artsy and funky and more sensitive than they let on. I mean, what jock would have the balls to mix the Mr Ed theme with a Led Zep song? They went on to better and more representative things, which is the only reason this is only getting 4 stars. It really should be a four and half. This album’s great, but it’s an origin story, and the later instalments were even better

Claaaaaaaaassic

A masterpiece of rap and rap rock and the immediate precursor to rapcore, License to Ill contains some of the Beasties best work. Staples of fratboy and party music abound here including, No Sleep till Brooklyn, Brass Monkey, and the most famous of Beastie songs, Fight for Your Right. All were mainstays of MTV back when that mattered, especially the video for Fight for Your Right. Let's be honest, the Beasties made rap and hip hop cool for white people. Was that good? Perhaps. It did open up the genre to a wider audience, paved the way for many of the white rappers today, and creating the mainstream popularity for many Black artists. Could it be seen as cultural appropriation? Maybe but at the time it wasn't. No matter how you look at the Beasties, these rap rock songs are amazing and have helped popularize the rap genre to the point that it is still around and popular almost 40 years later. Without this album, rap may have devolved into a niche right now. If you want a more authentic OG rap/hip hop experience, listen to Public Enemy. If you want fun, chucklehead, party music, Licensed to Ill is just about as good as it gets.

That's a moment in time right there. Still a fun listen coming up on 40 years later in all its ridiculousness

Distinctive and fun, has some anthems. Not an all time favourite of mine but a great album and a must listen

This was a great listen. I'm a little more familiar with their later stuff which I prefer. Great fun for a debut album!

Peak Beastie Boys is mid-90s for me - so while I absolutely love them and their fun and playful antics, Licensed to ill is not my favourite album. I appreciate this album carries much more over from their hardcore punk band days, plus making beats was pretty different and experimental when this album was made (mostly on cassette tapes). I've always loved that they are musicians rather than only MCs - so it's still a great album and there are some incredible tracks for a debut! Fave track: No Sleep til Brooklyn

Solid album, very nostalgic

Just phenomenal. I didn't really understand how good until later (too busy grumbling about how it wasn't "real" music unless it was a drums / bass / guitar / vocals - possibly keys at a push - combo)

so good

February 21, 2024 HL: “Brass Monkey”, “Fight For Your Right”, “Rhymin & Stealin”, “She’s Crafty”, “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” That funky monkey

6/10

3.4 - I actually have always really liked beastie boys. I find them fun and silly. I think this album is a bit too much of them being screechy but some bangers for sure. I get why people hate them but I just can’t lie to myself that I enjoy it.

Sounds like a Led Zep sample off the bat to me. I have two problems with this album, its boring and annoying. The only songs I enjoyed were Fight For Your Right and Time to Get Ill. 2.1/5

I didn't like anything about this

Yo

This album may feel inevitable now, but in 1986 it broke down the last door separating Hip-Hop from mainstream success. The Beasties would build a legacy light years more evolved than the juvenile hijinks catalogued here, but they surely never equaled the sonic impact of “Licensed to Ill”—the beats and production still jump out at the listener. Their follow up, “Paul’s Boutique,” already showed next-level innovation, but if that record was their New Testament, then “Licensed” was their Torah, their stone tablet offering on which their legacy was built. Some of the content is indefensible and the group themselves have disavowed parts, but the intentions aren’t malicious even if misguided and the beats and flows are fresh. They became better men and artists, but the brash youngbloods on this record captured lightning in a bottle that helped kindle a hall-of-fame career.

about as good as I thought in the 80s. I.e. not very good,

Groundbreaking. 5. RIP MCA.

genius

Remember finding this quite fun at the time. Prefer the more guitar-y ones. I had a sense of humour failure over "Girls" - can't be bothered buying into it these days. But it sounds like they had fun and there were some grooves. I think it was always going to be two stars.

A bit conflicted with this; on the one hand it’s shouty, a tad one note and the casual misogyny hasn’t aged well. On the other hand, Fight For Your Right is an absolute BANGER.

I can’t help my foot tapping along and I know this is ground-breaking and technically v clever in an analogue 80s world…but it’s hard to take a whole album of this. Just sounds so samey.

great

When I was 12, this was a constant tape, along with RUN DMC. Both are equally responsible for why I love noisy guitars. It's weird to think how I got from this to the VU in five years (Bowie!). The Beastie science is totally present, but the knowledge in much of it is the lizard beer brain of it's time. Still, the samples and beats slam, and hint at the riches to follow. Bust it.

Great sounds!! Also didn't know they made Girls😭😭 its crazy to think this came out in 1986!!! Awesome debut☝️

Ltvsll stdtted sounding similar after a few songs. Love the energy

It’s silly and o love it.

If you know the Beastie Boys, this record is their sound very amped up. Lots of scratches, yelping and classic rock sampled guitars all chopped and screwed up. There are some funny lines and generally good beats and some of their most classic songs.(Sabotage, Brass Monkey, and one of my favorites, No Sleep Til Brooklyn). Paul Revere's beat is okay but doesn't hit with me and Girls has not aged very well. otherwise I like the new style and time to get Ill as a closer.

I liked it

Rick and the boys made a super fun record.

als Persiflage...

Räppi ja hiphop ei vaan maistu, etenkään näin sämplerikkaana. Mut hei, Columbo mainittiin!

Can't help but love the Beastie Boys. They never take things too seriously and always sound like they are having a good time. Great album with lots of good songs.

Very obnoxious, would give it one star but I know its very influential

Cheesy beats, cheesy rhymes, samples where the original is infinitely better than the resulting song, it gets an extra star for the iconic cover.

My journey with Beastie Boys have ended. :’(

No. Just no.

Friends moved this. Went to the concert repeatedly. Threw lyrics at me. I was bemused. It's rappy and white boy preppy and gang language and cultural riffs and all the stuff that did not see growing up in white Australia. I enjoyed a couple of the tracks while at the gym, I worked out a bit harder than usual, it was kinda nice and kinda naff. I'll probably listen again now I know what the album experience is. individual tracks, they have weight and quality. I do feel a bit shouted at by strangers though. It's all a bit odd. 2 stars. No more, no less.

ci sono un paio di canzoni che spaccano, tipo "No sleep till Brooklyn", ma non è il mio genere. Anche "Brass Monkey" però...

very sorry to say but that's a no from me

<3

A Classic.

3.5

Great album, the sinergy between these boys is brutal

Sick album. Can't understand how it was produced in 1986. Addictive hooks and lines. So fun to listen to. Towards the end, energy goes down a little bit, so I'll drop one star.

License to Ill is no Paul’s Boutique, but it’s my understanding that most albums aren’t.

Listened to this album a ton when I was younger. Still a good album but doesn't quite withstand the test of time.

This was a high school mainstay for me (this is in the early 2000s). My friend Alex had this on CD and always played it in his car when we went out for lunch. Tons of nostalgia for Girls and Brass Monkey

One of my favourites. Whole album is just fun as hell.

ANOTHER AMAZING ONE!!

Classic

Easily the best gym album I've been suggested so far. Again, I had this tape when I was a kid and fucking loved it. It still slaps today. Three goofy white boy rappers shouldn't be this cool, but Beastie Boys definitely are. The most impressive thing on this album are the guitar riffs. Iron Maiden only wish they could shred like these fellas. Plus, the lyrics are hilarious (even if sometimes a little homophobic, but that's a sign of the times). "I seen her just the other day, Jackin' Mike D to my dismay." Brilliant. 😂 I love everything about this album. 👍👍

Scream rapping white 80s’ people are not my type for music at all, but you have to appreciate their desire to steal my nonexistent girlfriend.(Written in Valentines Day)

This album came out when I was 16. You couldn't escape the Fight for Your Right video. It was great stuff back then. Now it's a bit like 3 Jerry Lewis's yelling 'hey lady' for 45 minutes. Not their best but still worthy of inclusion on this list.

Lots of classic tracks, but not something I would listen to a lot.

Very fun album to listen to. Not a fan of the more rock-ish ones, and it can tend towards a lot of the same material, but it's just playful and goofy most of the time. I enjoy storytelling, and a big fan of the instrumentals, scratching, and vocal interplay.

Beastie boys are overrated. All the songs sound the same. 3 for a couple classics tho

The Beastie Boys are a one-trick pony that managed to stretch their unremarkable style into an entire career. Although this album contains some of their greatest hits, songs that have permeated popular culture, it’s hard to argue that every track on this album, along with their other releases, sound the exact same throughout. The formula is simple: AA BB rhyme scheme with lyrics out of a children’s dictionary, and most importantly, SHOUT the last word of every second or fourth line. This is noise. Leave rap to rappers.

brass monkey, that funky monkey

I got this for Christmas when I was 13 and have loved it ever since. Great mix of rock, punk, and hip hop. Beasties are legends. Notable tracks include Rhymin & Stealin, Slow Ride, Girls, Fight for your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Brass Monkey.

Enjoyable listen, especially tracks melding hip hop with rock, Fight for Your Right being the stand out. The other tracks are perhaps not quite up there, but overall a strong debut

A very fun, albeit repetive, style of rap.

Tasty beats but definitely an album made in its time. Girls was a low point. The rest of the album was fantastic.

It’s only 3 days since the last Beasties album III Communication,arrived on my list. I hated that album and gave it 1/5. I said on that review that I quite liked the two singles which I knew appeared on this album - Fight For Your Right… and No Sleep Till Brooklyn, so I was bound to give it a higher score. It was an advantage to be able to compare both albums whilst the first was still in my mind. Listening through this album I was immediately struck that it was a lot more melodic than III Communication and found myself actually liking most of the album. To my ‘English white male in his 70’s’ ears I could actually hear the lyrics so could tell what they were on about. Very clever and amusing most of the time which I enjoyed. I also liked the sampling and good guitar riffs used throughout the album. The samples gave the impression of familiarity with the songs and the guitar riff on Fight For Your Right is up there with the best guitar riffs ever. Although not my type of music I could not help but love this album. It was a pity they could not take this to their future albums but I know they were/are not making music for people like me, so what do I know?

A classic, that's what it is

Awesome, irreverent, and sassy. However, while pretty good, it’s not nearly as good as Paul’s Boutique, which is a classic

I really didn't expect to rate this one so highly, I'd heard bits of it back in the day and didn't really enjoy it but now I can appreciate what a fun album this is.

More metal, less funk, same belligerence as was to come. Loved it at the time but a bit one note now and probably hasn’t aged great

Phänomenal damals.

This is one I've listened to 1001 times myself! Great album, beats. Gotta love the Beastie Boys!

I grew up with this album. Absolutely love it! Hits from front to back. Definitely my favorite Beastie Boys album.

Very sick album. I had heard the classics but not many of the songs on this album. Rhyming and Stealing was just awesome.

“The girlies I like are underage” - wtf

On dirait la voix de Sum 41 mélangée avec du vieux rock, c'est étrange (et pas vraiment ma came).

It's fun to revisit this record so much later in my musical education now I know where loads of the samples are from. Straight off, ah yeah the drums from When the Levee Breaks....ahha I didn't know they had sampled themselves much later on Intergalactic...etc. Beasties did loads better than this record in the time that they had, and you can level all sorts of criticism at this album now, but this was a good start. De la soul came on immediately after which reminded me how much better 3feet high and rising is.

Not my preference but not bad enough to turn off. Some interesting beat patterns.

Some OK songs but really never saw the appeal of these guys. Way too unrefined for my taste.

The punk community, being one of the first to embrace the upcoming Hip Hop scene in New York, shares quite a lot with its neighboring genre. This is greatly highlighted in this 1986 Beastie Boys record. The production highlights the punk and hip-hop elements in some of its best moments "Party for your Right" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" as well as the first two tracks. Weak drum machine beats (like the reverse 808 on "Hold it Now") and mediocre scratching are unfortunate flaw I have with this record. MCA, Ad-rock, and Mike-D have distinguished and enjoyable vocals. MCA has a more raspy cadence while Ad-rock (RIP) has a higher pitched, more nasal, "whiny", and sarcastic delivery. They're almost constantly bouncing off one another on these songs. Songs often burst into messy, college-dorm-bumbling drunk-like chants...not complaining it adds to the charm and it's what makes the Beastie Boys, the Beastie Boys. Yelling while delivering these lyrically witty, snotty, and "rebellious" lyrics about partying and girls is the reason you may love (or detest) this record. "Party for Your Right", may be the most notable song on the album. Despite it leaning more towards its punk origins with snotty lyrics sounding Descendents-esque, the hook and riff make it a unique hip-hop track. The short solo is also strikingly enjoyable. Certainly a highlight. Same sentiments for "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" My favorite song has to be "The New Style", the way they rhyme here is incredible over these electric guitar interjections. I love the way the beat switches near the end with the howling-chant vocals. It also has one of the chunkier beats and is riddled with hilarious one-liners and punch lines (that one Jimmy Page line). The biggest flaw would be some of the weaker and more repetitive and uninteresting production and sample choices like "Girls", "Brass Monkey" and "Slow Ride". The closing "Time to Get Ill" on the other hand has a colorful mess of samples while still managing to sound cohesive and enjoyable. 7/10

rocky hip hop cool

This takes me back to the younger days of my generation!

I do not have time for this... I listened all the album... But I hope I don't have to listen to another one.

Like 3 songs are bops but mostly I feel old listening to this bc it sounds like noise. Maybe I’m just not in a beastie boys mood today?

I like the instrumentals, and I giggled a bit. But this is just a bunch of immature white boys talking shit. I’ve been one myself, but still…

På låt nr. 4 nu. Känns som att jag har lyssnat på samma låt i 20 minuter. Prel. betyg 2 / 5. Jag är glad att det är över

• bargain-basement Beastie Boys • 3MTA3 = "EAT ME" spegelvänt • Lustiga instrumentkombinationer, xylofon & elgitarr • Låter lite som Mickey med Carola Betyg: 3/10

Some awesome tracks but shows it's age a little. Not as mature a record as Paul's Boutique.

One of my fav listens so far. I like their later stuff more, it's more mature but this is still a great listen.

The energy, the absurd observations, wacky rhymes, irony, and sounds that make you feel hoppin. It may not be everybody’s thing but man, what a hip, rangy vibe. Loved it.

Love the unique percussion throughout

Saved 9/13 of the songs. I’m not too familiar with Beastie Boys but this album was incredible and will consider listening to their other projects in the future because of it

80s Hip-Hop

I didn't much like The Beastie Boys back in the day, and having listened to this album several times my opinion has not changed. Essentially this is three whiny ranty kids bellyaching over nicely produced beats, and enlivened by some nice samples. I found myself enjoying the samples more than the Beastie Boys. Now to go and listen to some Led Zeppelin! I'd be quite happy not to listen to this album again.

The first half is a drag, but once the bangers in the second half start showing up all is fun and well.

The singles were great. Some of the other really felt like filler to me

About as good as you can get without having anything meaningful to say. Funny, high energy, endlessly dynamic. Its a party album and it does its job right.

Turns out I just can’t get into the Beastie Boys. They’re just not great with bland mixes and pretty garbage lyrics.

7.1/10

Very 80s corny but classic

A classic but their other albums are even better

Hell yeah

Not so much for me

Haven't finished the album yet, but it's a lot of fun. I like their rhythms and the kind of dorky way they rap, very expressive and not flat or overly "gangsta." I can hear their influence on just about every other hip hop artist I know.

Paar echte hitjes, maar de rest beetje matig 2 - 3

Hated every moment of it

It's a good album the highs are very high. However there is still quite a bit of filler. Enjoyable overall just if there was more quality it would be a great album. 7

The beats were nice. The content hasn't aged well but I guess it's meant to be tongue in cheek to an extent. Didn't like the verses or the delivery for the most part. It was ok overall. Decent 5

No sleeep till Brooklyn.

Cool cool cool

Good energy, I could see myself running or working out while listening to this. Very repetitive lyrics. Overall, I can tell why people like it but I don't think I would regularly listen to this.

I mean…classic

4/5 An extremely catchy breakthrough album for a white hip/hop group, lots of trash talking and good vibes from the beastie boys (and theres a boeing 727 on the album cover, so +5 points)

Good, but not their best by far.

Fun if unmemorable. They were really ahead of their times in the 80s, huh?

I knew and enjoyed a few of the songs in the second half of the album. The first half felt like a middle school talent show

Classic, so good

It'd be so easy to dwell on the juvenile, offensive lyrics - "the girls I like are underage" - and there really is no excusing their crass, misogynistic wordplay. It would be so easy to point out that the lyrics almost take a back seat to the infectious riffs, beats and set-ups. What becomes tricky is having to balance these two things. I mean, this album was great, but it is definitely not without flaws. If you are, like me, a white guy, it's probably quite difficult to detach yourself from the vicarious distaste for what's being said, but you know what? I can't imagine it's any different to being a black guy and detaching yourself from the distasteful narrative of Gagsta life when listening to Snoop or Easy E. So put it out of your mind and enjoy it in the spirit that it's intended - as something that's a whole heap of fun piled up into a little hillock of silly pastiche.

Me falta más base, cuidado para una escena de reparaciones

A solid 10. This album is awesome. Every song on the album is GREAT! My favorite so far.

forica, not for me tho

Kako koja stvar, mozda da poslusam jos koji put bi sjelo kak spada.

so ill

Bangers. Really fun album. Beastie Boys were truly pioneers of Brooklyn Rap

Beastie Boys owned this genre so hard that if any other white boys try to do rock/hip hop like this it just sounds like Beastie Boys. I love this album and have since I was a kid so it's hard to review/rate this album without any nostalgic bias. It's fun and innovative. One of my biggest gripes with this album is that it's pretty misogynistic.

At a surface level, it's easy to write the Beastie Boys off as silly or even obnoxious. And frankly, there is some merit to that. They are "silly rap." However, their is so much variation and cleverness in this record. "Rhymin and Stealin," is so sick. I never noticed that they are literally "stealin" samples and music from other artists and pulling it all into one awesome song. Its deliberate and intentional. The first half of the record is filled with attitude and brash rap, where the second half is littered with all of the singles that we grew up with. Not sure why, but X96 played Girls, Fight for Your Right, No Sleep to Brooklyn, and Brass Monkey. All. The. Time. I love all of those songs. Also, interesting that no one else has really made a record like this since? The Beastie Boys are kind of an anomaly, they don't get copied very often.

Three of the most harmless guys from Brooklyn show the world a whole other side to hip-hop with this 5 star album produced and engineered masterfully by Rick Rubin. A classic!

Really did not enjoy this. People like this music?

Love the beasties boys. However this does have a lot of stuff that didn't are that well. Still love it though

i love this album lol

Love it. Always a great album.

Pues me ha molado el rap este, mezcla curiosa ya que en su canción más popular parecen más rockeros que raperos. Remarcable la canción "Girls", no se por qué pero la base me ha encantado.

Awesome

Mid

Great music and lyrics - completely brought an original sound to the nature of rap at the time. With guest guitar spots like Kerry King from Slayer, they drove through like the existing market like a Mack truck.

Always a great album, with a variety of music styles/mixes. Rick Rubin is a master. Without this album, who knows if rap would have been accepted mainstream. And special cameo from the muthaf***ing Kerry King of Slayer!

Hey das sind die Beastie Boys - damals revolutionär für mich.

This is why Eminem should never have been a musician.

Not for me. It's interesting if you like this style of music.

Epic hip-hop album

Not my favorite Beastie Boys album but it's definitely got some good tracks on here.

Iconic. Some of the lyrics didn't age well for this millenial gal, but hey, it was a different time.

You gotta fight! For your right! To paaaaaaaar- tay! Yeah, I good-mommed it by letting my kids holler this one out in the backseat way back when. NOT going back there. 😑

Voted favorite album, band, song (fight for your right...) for my HS graduating class, and I couldn't stand it/them. It wasn't until after being encouraged to listen to Paul's Boutique that I even gave them a chance. Then realized they were making fun of all the people I went to HS with who voted for Fight for your Right to Party as their fave song. I def like this album but PB is my go-to.

kick it!

Licensed To ill might be the most shockingly impressive debut in Hip-Hop history, in all of music. Tons of energy, raw and exiting. There was nothing like it before and nothing like them after. 8.8/10

No sleep till Brooklyn hits

Bangers bangers bangers!!!

Not my cup of tea

Memories is all this album is worth to me now. Not an easy listen. Real primitive and lame, but love the rock hooks.

The switch in the ruthenium an

It's hard to explain how mind blowing this album was when it came out. Rick Rubin deserves his rep - if for nothing else - for recognizing the possibilities from making a rap album with a punk band and using a heavy dose of Zeppelin samples. Is it an album of music worth listening to forty years on? It limps along in several spots. Super clever - to be sure - but now standing in the immense shadow of Paul's Boutique it feels flat. Then Girls - as good a novelty song as any, and Fight for Your Right which, in spite of its teenaged-meathead theme, just f@#in rocks. So I'd say, in retrospect, this is a solid debut album from a truly unique act.

This album feels really dated. Never been a Beastie Boys fan and I'm still not. But I can appreciate it's place in music for what it is and was during the era.

A couple of bangers but it felt frozen in its time

Classic album. Reminds me of my dad. Would blast a couple of songs from this album all the time growing up.

The production of this album I didnt like when I started listening, but each songs production is so crisp when you listen to it. Each riff, each instrument sounds so good together. It initially sounds like a cacophony but it really comes together. This album has high highs with 'fight for your right' and low lows with 'Paul Revere' Best songs: New Style, Shes crafty, Fight for your Right, no sleep till brooklyn, Hold it hit it, Brass monkey

meh not really my jam the 3 iconic ones are the best

WTF is this. Has not aged well.

The best songs are the known songs, but overall great.

I know this is a 'classic' album, but the lyrics have not aged well at all. They are rapping about a lifestyle that I don't understand, because I have never experienced it, and doesn't sound enticing from their rhymes. The standards work well, but outside of those the album felt very repetitive, monotonous and shouty. Not something I will listen to again. The 'highlight' (?) was hearing pieces that had been sampled elsewhere or were from standard soundboards.

SELVOM det har nogle af ders største hits - No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Fight for Your Right osv, så synes jeg faktisk ikke det som album rammer lige så godt som nogle af deres andre. Det er sådan lidt råbende (ved jeg godt de altid er, men endnu mere). Lyden er mere rå, men ikke nødvendigvis på en god måde

Honestly pretty mediocre screaming with minimal change in cadence. Stand-out: Rhymin & Stealin

Big fan of beastie boys. They're their own thing 4

A few songs in the beginning were fun but some was insufferable

Very irritating. All sounds the same.