Reviews (page 7 of 14)
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.
Fun album with great energy. A teir
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.
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’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.
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.
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.
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 ;-)
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.
Yeah…this rules. Not my favorite music ever, but holy shit, it’s so damn good. 4/5
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!
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
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.
the goodfather of hiphop albums
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.
That was fun!
YOU GOTTA FIGHTTT
First rap album I ever purchased and a genre classic
Brings me back
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
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.
In a clas of their own, even if that class sounds like the class clown sometimes
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
Liked it
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Just good ol' nostalgic fun, this one. It's so goofy.
Paul's Boutique is objectively the better album, but this one gets a big nostalgia bonus from me.
Starts weak, ends strong
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
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
Distinctive and fun, has some anthems. Not an all time favourite of mine but a great album and a must listen
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
February 21, 2024 HL: “Brass Monkey”, “Fight For Your Right”, “Rhymin & Stealin”, “She’s Crafty”, “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” That funky monkey
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.
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.
It’s silly and o love it.
I liked it
Rick and the boys made a super fun record.
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.
<3
A Classic.
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.
Listened to this album a ton when I was younger. Still a good album but doesn't quite withstand the test of time.
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.
Tasty beats but definitely an album made in its time. Girls was a low point. The rest of the album was fantastic.
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.
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
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
The first half is a drag, but once the bangers in the second half start showing up all is fun and well.
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.
Very 80s corny but classic
A classic but their other albums are even better
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.
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
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)
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
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.
i love this album lol
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.
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!
Iconic. Some of the lyrics didn't age well for this millenial gal, but hey, it was a different time.
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!!!
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
The best songs are the known songs, but overall great.
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
Big fan of beastie boys. They're their own thing 4
Embarrassed to say I just couldn't make it through after a couple tries. And I generally like the Beastie Boys. I found this one just a little too grating for whatever reason, but I'm sure in the right context I'd enjoy the heck out of it. Obviously has some classics on it, but altogether was just too much for me. Just gonna give it 4 stars for its historical significance.
Yeah, I like beasty boys and the hip-hop-rock-bass combo
CLAAASSIC
Definitely Beastie boys
I am not a huge fan, but songs are bangers
Least favorite album from one of my favorite artists. Still, it helped push along hip hop and introduced the genre to popular (white) culture. It's not as vapid as it's reputation, though. There are lyrical gems to be discovered if you're paying attention. The production by Rick Ruben is on point. Provided the same style beats that he provided to real rappers with "street cred" (black). Not bad for a bunch of young punks! They only grew from here!
Beastie boys lätt bästa album
This was a ton of fun, although at times it feels like being yelled at over music at a party for 45 minutes. Also, "Girls" is unforgivably stupid, but this album doesn't exist to be intellectually stimulating. Or progressive. (Although, sound-wise, it may be ahead of its time.) This is id music. Highlights: Rhymin & Stealin, The New Style, Fight For Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn
4.5
This album is a banger. It's silly, fun, catchy, and full of nostalgia. Without ever sitting down to listen to the album front to back, the number of songs that I know is impressive.
It's so dumb it's clever. The samples, the beats, the instrumentation are all really well done. Without the production and the infectious energy they put into it this album would be unbearable. As it is it's really fun. Strong 7
Generally just a laugh of an album. The lyrics were haphazard and often shocking; the music followed suit and frankly this was a great dose of energetic, erratic and rocking hip hop.
Young jewish New Yorkers yell at me the album. Girls and Fight For Your Right are fun. High 7
They really enjoyed making this didn't they?
Not my favorite Beastie Boys, but fun!
actually funny and entertaining, people who don't like this don't like enjoying stuff
one of my favorite albums in middle school, was fun to revisit it!!
I appreciate the album more when I remember it was 1986 and hip hop was still finding its way
Better than expected 4/5
Helt ok, eller slutten var egt ganske nice
Classic in my house growing up, my brother and I know the lyrics to almost every single song on this album growing up. 8/10
Licensed to Ill straight up punches you with the distinctive sounds and rapping of the Beastie Boys. You almost can't help but at the very least bop your head to the sounds. This has become a classic for a reason, and the Beastie Boys really know how to partayyy! Best: Fight For Your Right Worst: She's Crafty 3.5 Stars
Whenever I come back to this album I expect it to sound old or something only 20 year old me would like but it holds up so damn well. Whatever magic Rick Rubin puts into 3 jewish kids screaming absurd lyrics over a drum machine and guitar samples still fucking works somehow. Rounding down from 4.4
4.4
Biestige biester lessgoo Cover so schöö + Er luegt columbo "Girls" het chli en youtube kids type beat. "Fight for your right" isch en banger, i wünscht i wär en frat boy ide 80er. "Paul revere" loht eifach mol de ganz beat hinderschi laufe. Bevor die das au rückwärts singed bini nöd beidruckt. Fonki Monki. Lut, schöni Mischig vo Rap und mengmol geile Gitarre.
scho hert old school aber hässige rap isch geil. s led zeppelin sample im erste song isch cool aber find drum machines passed besser. sie sind huere new york und huere funny. sie hend no de früene hip hop nöd wüsse wenn schnuufe type flow. Posse in Effect het en freaky beat recht cool. sie mached eig nie meh als 4 bars am stuck pro person. Slow ride > low rider sample. goht dumm. beats mega rick rubin the reductionist. haha girls wa chunt etz. ok mega funny song, bambambam funny. sie nemed sich nöd ernst dasch hüt selte im hiphop. ok you gotta fight slappt. hobla giti solo. no sleep till brooklyn besti hook bis etz. BRASS MONKEY DAT FUNKY MUNKY. geils album
alte sie hend eifach scranton the electric city kopiert??? perfekts album für am morge LET ME CLEAR MY THROAT *808* "If I played guitar, I'd be Jimmy Page The girlies I like are underage (Shh! Check it)" GUEeeeeet 2:00 bi slow ride mega harddd girls mega dumms lied hahahahahahhaha oh lyrics devo au super ._. isches na hiphop, wennd kei fraue abegmacht hesch? I guess sie hend sich wenigstens entschuldigt und hend sich anschinend (spöter?) für frauerecht ihgsetzt aber jaaaaaaa Paul Revere isch jz s erste lied wo mich nöd so packt het, au wenn de beat intressant isch OK NEVERMIND sie hend s tape anschinend umkehrt und drum sind 808's verchehrt???? mit dem kontext findis recht sick de 808 gad dumm mit bassboost, han nöd gwüsst, dassmer de so früeh so dominant ihgsetzt het, allgemein mite höche hi-hats und snare iwie chli vorriter vom trap?? nüt mitem album z tue aber ihri punk lieder funny 4/5 mega funny und geils album, d samples passed, ihre Gsang/mengisch fast scho shouts sind sick und es macht eifach spass. ah und hani schomal de ❽⓿❽ erwähnt?
It's hard and fun and obviously there's fight for your right. maybe a little bit too long? Really good album.
enjoyed this album sonically more than i thought i would given how abrasive their combined vocal style is. but i really liked the way it sounded, i liked the way they used samples, and i appreciated the dynamics that were worked into it. i like an album that saves the singles until the back half.
Honestly better than I was expecting. I like how they didn't take themselves too seriously. I was familiar with more of the songs than I realized by looking through the tracklist. I could've done without a lot of the misogynist and homophobic lyrics, but I have heard that they have since apologized for many of them, so I guess that helps.
These guys really like White Castle huh Jokes aside, this one was really interesting. I started out excited because I knew that I enjoyed a lot of songs from it, but partway through The New Style I think my brain snapped into listening to the lyrics and I wondered: what on earth must this sound like to people listening for the first time in the 2000s? When they're rapping (repeatedly, across many songs) about pulling out a jammy, it's honestly laughable. And in some ways I'm sure it's supposed to be, but in others I'm skeptical. I think it's full of bangers I've known forever, but I also think that at this point it might read as dorky and opaque new listeners.
I grew up with them, and now I finally listened to their first album. It is quite good.
A fun re-visit after decades. Besides the hit singles this album and the Beastie Boys repelled me at the time in my adolescence (11-15). I was wowed by the time Ill Communication came out and held them in high esteem for playing their own instruments making funk. This debut is dreadfully puerile talking about parties, girls, sex and comedy gangsters, but the humour is fun and the mix of classic rock, punk and hip hop is excellent. Still don’t like their shouty style, but this is quite a delight.
goofy as hell. classic shit
“Dudes rock”, the album. A lower 4 stars for me, but it got pushed over because it’s from 1986 and I did enjoy it :) go white boys go white boys etc. A lot of songs and moments here I really enjoyed aside from the three songs I already knew! Really great: Brass Monkey (already knew it v well but it’s sooooo fucking good), Rhymin and Stealin (cute lyrics!! Love the led zeppelin sample for an opener), The New Style, She’s Crafty (speaking of Led Zeppelin samples!), and Girls Very good: Time to Get lll, Paul Revere, Hold It Now Hit It, Posse in Effect To be honest I enjoyed every song on here. Repetitive and sometimes awkward, yes, but the three of them have a real charisma in their delivery, plus some unexpectedly fun sampling moments! Me talking about [redacted (pre-boycott)] vs Kanye rapping about his car accident vs the Beastie Boys rapping about White Castle
Great production on this album, crazy it from 1986. Doing beat switches before anyone else.
I didn't mind this: at times it was a little shouty but I don't think the Beastie Boys are that bad. I found they had a solid flow and enjoyed some of the beats. At times the noise was a bit to much, felt a little like the "Walk this way" scene in The Smurfs, but I can see myself coming back to this and enjoying it.
Beastie Boys never disappoints
Pretty good
Nostalgi. Rick Rubin hörs. Intressant hur det hörs att senare band som Refused och RATM måste inspirerats av detta.
Groundbreaking.
Classic.
Ich mag die pace voll vor allem wenn man dabei geht aber wird auch recht schnell stressig und ist halt ähnlich alles. Aber bin bis nostalgisch geworden hat Spaß gemacht
It's the beasties worst record, the rhymes are cheesy the drum machine is simply dreadful, quite a lot of it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever unless you were in their direct friend group. Is it real, is it a parody? Does anyone give a damn? They don't that's for sure! They quit doing this pretty soon after it was released and it cost them a fortune to not do this any more and what they did instead was so much better, but despite that... It's brilliant; There's some cracking lines even if you don't understand them. "No Sleep" may not have invented RapRock but it nailed it so hard everyone forgot the Chilli's and RUN DMC for a short while. Stupid, refreshing, funny, rocking, busting. Ace.
A classic.
Some of these lyrics didn't age well. That being said, this album is brilliant. Their punk roots are evident. Their sound is iconic. This was my first time listening to this album and I wish I did it sooner.
Was legit not sure I'd be into listening to a whole album of the Beastie Boys, but it lured me in - by the time "Girls" played I was bopping along, and was straight up dancing in front of my dog to "Brass Monkey". Lots of familiar tunes from middle and high school days, when my brother Jesse would sing verses from this album on repeat. Definitely an album to party to while flipping off the older generation.
liked No Sleep till Brooklyn and she's crafty
Erste Songs voll unbekannt und dann ein Hit nach dem anderen !
It’s shocking to me how much I like this album. I should not like this, but against all odds, I enjoyed it the whole way through. The album is just so fun. From the beginning right until the end, it just has so much energy, even on songs that I didn’t quite like as much (Brass Monkey). This is the kind of thing I was hoping for on this 1001 albums journey. An album that I would have almost never listened to, that surprises me with just how good it really is. Might have to check out some more Beastie Boys pretty soon. And obviously, No Sleep Till Brooklyn is my favourite. That’s THE Beastie Boys song. 9/10 Top 5: 1. No Sleep Till Brooklyn 2. Fight For Your Right 3. Rhymin & Stealin 4. Slow Ride 5. The New Style
I've never really listened to the Beastie Boys beyond the singles, except for Hello Nasty (I was 13 when it was released and my older, cooler sister got me into it). To me, this album is very sonically similar, but there are some bangers on here for sure. Favourite tracks: She's Crafty, Girls (that dope keyboard tone), No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Brass Monkey.
Classic
LISTENED GOOD
Their choice of samples lift the whole effort.
Love the beastie boyz
It's the one produced by Rick Rubin
Echt wel een goed album, bizar ook dat dit 1986 is. Toch twijfel ik of ik het zelf voor mn plezier zou opzetten, daarom geen 5 sterren.
Great album. Paul Revere is the epitome of the Beastie Boys. Fun storytelling, rhyming, and more await you on this gem.
Richtig satter Oldschool-Sound, der besonders beim Opener Rhymin & Stealin. Leider wirkt die erste Hälfte des Albums am Ende zu bemüht, bis die E-Gitarren bei Fight for your Right und No Sleep Till Brooklyn die beiden besten Songs des Albums rocken.
A fun album
Feels a bit similar throughout but the high energy keeps you pumped for each song.
I'm predisposed against this album. I've never really enjoyed this era of hip hop and found the style to be corny at best since I didn't grow up with it. I was surprised by how enjoyable I found this album. The second half seemed stronger with a better variety and more experimental beats than the prior. Humerous lyrics. I think the album has aged pretty well despite being a bit of a time capsule. I find it enjoyable in the context of an album but nothing is getting added to my favorites playlist.
Some great NYC rap. This has possibly most of their biggest hits so definitely the best of their albums.
Original style, classic sounds
Guf
Kova!
Classic 4 a reason
Listening to this after 30 years it still holds up.
The first-ever documented proof that white boys CAN rap. While future Beastie Boys releases would be a better show of quality overall, this debut breakout is undeniable. The balance between the heaviness of metal and the bravado of hip-hop made for a bold statement during hip-hop's awkward years.
Uplifting goofy aggression on a bad day.
I bought a secondhand copy of Licenced to Ill, it was my first time in Red Eye Records during my first expedition through Sydney as an adult. I loved this album. The beats hold up, the cow bell makes me smile. However the lyrics haven't really stood the test of time. Gave this one a double listen.
Solid album. Bra energi
Hard to believe this album came out in 1986. It was a joltingly fresh slap in the face to most of the saccharine pop drivel that played out on MTV at the time and hasn't lost a bit of its chops to this day. Now, excuse me while I go fight for my right to party.
Fight For Your Right is so much fun, from "Kick it" onwards. Several other great tracks on this, but the Beastie Boys would go on to better it by quite a bit.
manchmal anstrengend, aber grundsätzlich mega nice
Not generally a big fan of the Beastie's, but for my tastes I prefer this debut album which still has a punk energy that straddles the line of rock and rap. The songs are cringy at times, but what rap albums aren't? At the time, it was unique and somewhat barrier breaking. It's entertaining, creative and the beats are mighty fine and you can't deny, Fight For Your Right is a great song to introduce the band to the mainstream. Still my favourite Beastie's moment!
3 white guys rapping to rock beats sounds like my nightmare. But from the intro drums sampled from Led Zeppelini was hooked. Beastie Boys have a humorous undertone to their songs that I really dig. I also liked how they sampled Zeppelin and then dissed Robert Plant in the next track. Sure the rap isn't as technical as some of their peers but they make it up in clever wordplay and raw energy.
Ég hugsa til litlu unglings-Ásdísar sem var hædd fyrir að fíla þetta á sínum tíma. Minn innri rebel fékk á nærast á þessari tónlist.
Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys is a trailblazing album that brought hip-hop to new heights. Released in 1986, it melds rap with rock influences, delivering tracks like "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" and "Fight for Your Right." The trio's energy is infectious, and their brash lyrics and rebellious attitude define the era. The album's production is bold and innovative, merging samples and beats seamlessly. While it's celebrated for its impact, some lyrics have drawn criticism for their sexism and immaturity. Nevertheless, Licensed to Ill is a cultural touchstone that pushed genre boundaries, etching Beastie Boys' name in music history as pioneers of a new sound.
The B side rocks. I think the beastie boys are cool? But I still haven’t made up my mind. Academically, I understand that the Beastie Boys are largely satire, but I still have a hard time emotionally feeling the jest of the album. Maybe really good satire reads as sincerity?
I like Beastie Boys a lot, although this isn’t my favorite of their albums.
Hey what the fuck, I never put together that "Brass Monkey" was from these guys. Beastie Boys are fun, kind of feel like a joke band a lot of the time, but they're clearly in on the bit
The generator experience hasn’t exactly turned me into a Beastie Boys mega-fan - I’ve been a bit underwhelmed with the albums I’ve sampled so far. Turns out though that it’s their earlier, cruder, guitar-heavy work that still appeals to me the most. This is good, silly, fun, especially the run of tracks in the middle (I didn’t realise that Lizzo’s track ‘Girls’ was built on a Beastie Boys sample). I also suspect that behind the juvenile facade it’s quite sophisticated in the way it’s put together, both in terms of the rock music samples and the interlocking vocals. Admittedly, at times I wonder if it’s actually intensely irritating and completely devoid of substance… But there’s something about these loveable scamps that I can’t stay mad at. 3.5
The ammount of the samples I recognized from that album is unexpected and amazing. That album got a place in worldwide music culture and it definitely deserves a place on this list.
This had so many songs I knew and loved, and I had no idea they were all on the same album.
I was 10 years old when this album came out, & I was just branching out into developing my own music tastes beyond my parents' (Beach Boys, Beatles, Monkees) or Top 40 radio (Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Cindi Lauper). I remember there was a lot of parental anxiety over this album (& hip-hop & heavy metal in general). I can't remember if I wasn't allowed to buy it, or I had merely assumed the outcome of that conversation before it was had, so not only was it one of the first albums I acquired that was "my" music, this was the first tape that I copied off of a friend. Since Check Your Head came out (& completely blew my mind), I have hardly listened to License to Ill. I'd say "Girls" & "Fight for Your Right" are the two weakest tracks on the album, and the deep cuts were refreshing to revisit. I'd still take Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, & Hello Nasty over this one. 4/5 - a flawed classic.
Having listened to Ill Communication two hours earlier, I was pretty excited for this one. And it did not disappoint (aside from Girls). Solid. Favorite track: No Sleep till Brooklyn
Nothing quite like the audacity of beginning your debut album with the drums from When The Levee Breaks, but if you've got the chops to pull it off, you might as well go big. This album is pretty strange to listen to now. It has the same thin 80s drum machines that a lot of rappers were using at the time, but combined with these massive guitar riffs and other famous samples. It's one of those albums that it's easy to understand why it hit so big (in a country that may have been afraid to bring Run DMC into their living rooms). There's a lot of attention to the production that makes for a really hard hitting sound. Their rapping is...well it's good sometimes. It's an early rap album, so it's going to sound dated no matter what. They try a lot of things here, and some of them work really well. The lyrics are pretty shallow, but it's not like they get really deep later in their career. This album is a touchstone, but it doesn't hold up nearly as well as their other albums, though there are precious few hip-hop albums from this era that do hold up 4/5 Legacy is pulling a lot of weight here, but there are also some hard-hitting songs on here that really work as well
How are you gonna come out swinging dropping Zeppelin samples? But hey, it works. Although I think the group would go on to improve in what made their sound work best, this album is definitely not a bad start. It’s goofy but pretty fun. Plus you have No Sleep Till Brooklyn, so I can’t fault it too much.
Pretty cheesy, pretty grating, yet still pretty ill, which I suppose describes the Boys pretty well, doesn’t it?
Man, what a fun listen.
This is fun
Дальше альбомы более мясные и крепкие (4-) Алкоальбом: темный стаут с горьким шоколадом
Undeniably classic, referenced and recognizable. It's a shame is so juvenile.
very nice, very familiar adlibs and features to contemporary probably inspired 90s hip hop
The Beastie Boys defied conventions, combining rap, rock, and punk influences. This is well represented in this album, groundbreaking and entertaining. The energetic and infectious beats, coupled with the group's clever and often humorous lyrics, make for a truly unique listening experience. Tracks like "Paul Revere" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" showcase the Beastie Boys' ability to blend hard-hitting rap verses with rock-infused instrumentals, creating a sound that was exciting for its time but comes off as a bit dated in today's ears. One of the standout tracks on the album is, of course, the legendary "Fight for Your Right." Its catchy chorus and rebellious lyrics propelled the Beastie Boys into stardom and became quite an anthem. However, it's important to note that "Licensed to Ill" is more than just its hits. Tracks like "The New Style" and "Girls" demonstrate the group's lyrical dexterity and clever wordplay, while "Slow Ride" and "Time to Get Ill" showcase their ability to create infectious party anthems. What sets "Licensed to Ill" apart from other rap albums of its time is the Beastie Boys' ability to infuse their music with a sense of humor and playfulness. They embrace their bratty personas, often toying with stereotypes and expectations, and create a sound that is simultaneously rebellious and fun. While some may argue that the lyrics on the album can be seen as juvenile or offensive, it's important to view them in the context of the time they were released, much like other hip-hop albums from the same era. "Licensed to Ill" pushed boundaries and challenged societal norms, but it was also a product of its era, reflecting the youthful exuberance and rebellious spirit of the 1980s. The album's sound is raw and energetic, with heavy guitars, booming drums, and samples that add depth and texture to the tracks. The production complements the group's witty and aggressive delivery, resulting in a cohesive experience. The instrumentals are not exactly top tier, but they do a good job of laying the backdrop for the rap performances. Overall its a groundbreaking mix of hip-hop and rock that surely deserved its place on the list. Just reaches the 4.
this old man digs this old shit!
ALBUM RATING: 3.6 ALBUM GRADE: B- TRACK RATINGS: 1. Rhymin’ & Stealin’ - 4.0 2. The New Style - 3.5 3. She’s Crafty - 3.5 4. Posse in Effect - 3.5 5. Slow Ride - 3.0 6. Girls - 3.0 7. Fight for Your Right - 3.5 8. No Sleep Till Brooklyn - 4.0 9. Paul Revere - 3.5 10. Hold It Now, Hit It - 3.5 11. Brass Monkey - 3.0 12. Slow and Low - 3.5 13. Time to Get Ill - 3.5
Love it. But I don’t think it’s their best album
We zijn back! Goed begin. Wel een stijl op zichzelf. Rock, hiphop en schreeuwen
A pretty great listen. Lots of classics and fun songs. It is at times too derivative of the classic rap rock Run-DMC sound, but quality music nonetheless. 8/10
Beastie Boys just before they became legendary, and yet still a damn awesome album.
My only memory of this album was getting pissed at lunchtimes as a 16 year-old whilst working on the record stall in the market. The local low dive boozer that specialised in under age serving had a video jukebox. The lead singles from Licensed were on rotation. Three pints of lunchtime lager, some Beastie snarling and I was KING OF THE WORLD and ready to take on the afternoon shift with added bile. How very Beastie Boys. Oh, it’s a bloody good album btw. SO much fun.
it's actually kind of irritating how good this record is lol, as a lifelong beastie boys hater it sucks to finally confront this record and realize yeah, its great lol
4.5 chillllllllll
First song starts out with a sample of When The Levee Breaks by Led Zepplin, never knew that but great kick off. This was a fun one to finish out the week, fight for your right and no sleep till brooklyn are classics. Finding some other gems on here like the first song, and I also liked Paul Revere.
This album is so dumb and so fun, absolutely great Dudes Rock vibes
- Opening 3 tracks all go hard. - Slow Ride and Girls are both super goofy but catchy - Fight For Your Right and No Sleep Till Brooklyn are both iconic - Paul Revere is a pretty cool song with a fun story - Brass Monkey Slaps Can see myself coming back to this album in the right mood for sure.
Solid debut. The voices still bug me a bit but the songwriting is clever and often funny. Masters of sampling.
Classic album. Still sounds good.
By far not my favorite Beastie Boys album, but they had to start somewhere. Funny how they grew out of this thing that worked really well for them, but if a group like this came along today, they just would've leaned into it and we would've had to endure a decade of party boy bro anthems instead of getting to watch them evolve, take risks, and change the culture.
A classic rap album, the first one that went to the top of Billboard charts. A lot of songs are cool and fun to listen to, but musically they are so repetitive that it is a bit too much by the end. The mysogynistic lyrics are also a no.
I really vibed with this album, and I never realized they were a yell rapping group. They suffered a bit of the problem of their voices sounding similar since you lose some of that inflection ability since you're always yelling, but their beats really always held strong. Not many strongly stood out, but I would totally listen to this again if I want good beats.
All their lyrics are the same but I enjoy enough of the songs to let it slide
Licensed to Ill is definitely a debut: The Beasties' sound isn't as refined or experimental as later releases, and there's a vein of casual misogyny. But you can feel the freshness, the energy, and I love the way it moves so fast. It's like being machine-gunned to death by rhyming couplets.
Woulda been 5 stars except for that pedo line in the 2nd song. Sus
Classic. Love the beats and style, and the humor
Well, that was fun!
This is great for what it is. A dumb, fun hip-hop and rock hybrid. The BBoys will top this, and almost all other recorded music, with their next album Paul's Boutique. Cant deny the classics, which is damn near every song on this album. so im giving it a 4
Can't argue it's not unique for 1986. I always think that they need to turn the vocals up though. 3.5
Beastie Boys’ debut is a lot more punk-rap than rap-rap, but it’s still littered with bangers. The production is so crisp for a 1986 hip-hop album. You can tell Rick Rubin had his sausage fingers all over this. Tickled a 5 you know
I was almost ready to give this album a 5 but then it seemed to take a dive after fight for your right (which is easily the best song along with she’s crafty). All the intense guitars and stuff seemed to disappear and it felt really repetitive. Overall thought it’s still some really fun white boy rap.
I don’t know if they’re the first ones that blended rap with rock, I’m assuming they’re not, but they’re the ones that stand out for me
I enjoyed this album and liked to imagine myself back in the 80s when this came out, what the response would have been. Sad that I will never get to see them live, but theme the breaks.
More than a few cringy dated lyrics, but otherwise influential, interesting, groundbreaking, entertaining.
It's classic hip-hop week for me on the generator and this sounds better to me now than it did when it came out. I didn't quite know what to make of it back then but I really appreciate it now. A fun frenzy of white rap. What a band.
It was a fun album. It was relatively short and I would listen to it again.
Weet niet zeker of ik dit tof had gevonden als ik het nu voor het eerst zou horen, maar op basis van jeugdsentiment is dit gewoon geweldig. Wat een beats, sfeer en attitude.
I always thought that these guys were a bunch of fakers. I know the songs, lived through the music in high school at the time and it never clicked. It was dumb and frat boyesque. I have to say, WHOA! It clicked this time. So much so that I pulled my wife's Check Your Held off the CD shelf and hit it and then Paul's Boutique. I'm now a fan. Thanks 1001 Albums Generator.
Iskreno me čudi što ovaj album nije bolan na rym, al razumijem. Nije toooliko dobar ko njihov ostatak diskografije, al opet.
This is a great debut album by the Beastie Boys. Lots of fun hits on it. I do think they only got better from here though. I had this album growing up and listened to it a ton. It's a great intro into their music and vibe. Standout Tracks: Rhymin' & Stealin', Slow Ride, Girls, Fight for Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Paul Revere, Brass Monkey, Slow and Low
This is very fun. Makes me wish I could dance like a cool New Yorker. There’s a hell of a lot I recognise, either from samples of other songs or having been sampled on others. Fight for your right brought back nice nostalgic memories from a random casette I had as a kid - me and my sister used to play that on repeat circa 96. Never properly paid enough attention to these, but glad I have now. Very iconic, can instantly recognise their sound, and a lot more layered at times than I expected
Ridiculous and fun, they sound like American chavs at this point and it's class. Prefer later beasties, think the music and lyrics get better, but still some brilliant tracks on this.
I've listened to Paul's boutique before but not this one.... I know it's all tongue in cheek but a lot of it is a bit silly and I wouldn't generally think to go back to this. I think the Beasties sound best when there's guitars (guitar sounds) involved and it's a bit heavier. Fight for your right and no sleep till Brooklyn are the highlights here. And obviously can't forget brass monkey! In fact, the second half of the album is much better than the first. Was going to give it a 3 but the latter half brings it to a 4
Juvenile, ridiculous and a ton of fun. Definitely one of those albums where they captured lightning in a bottle. Their goofy lyrics and signature shouted vocals are only part of the equation though. The music is fantastic and a lot of the credit for that goes to producer Rick Rubin (though the Beasties are credited as producers too). Crisp, hard-hitting drums, blasts of fiery electric guitar and a lot of fun sampling. Some of the samples are just long enough to register in your brain but too short to figure out what they're from. It's almost a game to try and guess them. (The closing track "Time to Get Ill" goes wild with that.) "Fight for Your Right" and "No Sleep till Brooklyn" are mega hits and personal favorites but there's a bunch of other great songs here. The album is pretty close to being a masterpiece but some of the childish lyrics hold it back a little for me. Still, it's definitely a classic and I had fun revisiting it. Jeez, so many White Castle references. Between that, Budweiser and Chef Boyardee, I hope they got paid for the product placement.
Good album, brings me back to high school.
love it, a bit dated
Much of this sounds dated, but Fight For your Right still hits hard.
I can dig this! This album is greatly crafted. How these guys bounce off lines off eachother is just insane! Had a few good laughs with the lyrics in front of me. And then there's the music! Very dope beats and some great sampling! 8 out of 10
Man, this is extremely sexist, but I can't help but enjoy it? Perhaps it's because I know by the next album the Beastie Boys were apologizing for the lyrical content of this album, but even after listening to stuff like the Chronic and the Marshal Mathers LP, this one feels even more apparent than those, even though it definitely comes off as more delinquent-y in this album than those. Just something to note before I praise the rest of the album. The absolute joy the (albeit cheesy) lyrics, the flow between the three, and the samples/beats really bringing it all together makes it super clear why this album is so important to rap, especially for the era. I could totally see comparing this to anything modern and laughing (as I said, it's almost childlike in it's attitude), but it really adds to the whole mood. Not to mention how many lyrics here I reference without even thinking about it constantly, just because they stick in your head so easily. My only fault here as mentioned before is the lyrical content, but it's such a stellar groundwork for more Beastie Boys albums to come that it certainly won't keep me up at night. It's also extremely good at blending genres, bringing in a lot of hard rock influences that I can only assume helped the album really take off, being the first rap album to be on the billboard top 200. I don't think this is my favorite rap album (I don't think it's even my favorite Beastie Boys album), but it certainly is very good. Very, very high 4 star. Would get a 5 if not for lyrics and perhaps not changing quite enough near the end (they kind of use all of there metal influences in one fell swoop in the middle). Both of these I think will be addressed in the other albums by them on this list.
3.5, giving them the 4 out of respect. Brass Monkey was great, but a lot of it was not good, doesn't hold up from that long ago.
These guys like White Castle and Beer. Just started listening to the podcast on No Dogs in Space about these guys.
Este me gusta incluso más que Paul’s Boutique, pero es claro que ambos pertenecen al listado
All time classic, beastie boys at their best
Enjoyed this album. Definitely in their own genre. Rebellion and partying is their motif.
Hype! This is what should be played at all parties. Even for people who are unfamiliar with most songs (like myself), you can't not like at least a few songs from this record. Rock & hip hop blend so well together to create something that's just fun. It's not what you can call a mindblowing record with masterpieces or anything, but it's an absolute joy to listen to - and sometimes that's all an album needs to be. Standout tracks are Slow Ride, No Sleep Til Brooklyn, Fight for your Right (duh), and Brass Monkey.
Felt like being a cool kid in a 90s American highschool movie
Great album, surprised it has such clean lyrics for a groundbreaking rap album. They don’t make ‘em like they used to.
Great debut, full of classic tracks
I have to be in a very specific mood to enjoy this, still better than Paul's boutique
Punk combines with the newish genre of hip hop to introduce a fresh and exciting fusion of sound to the world, particularly important for pulling in white audiences into hip hop. It's loud and exciting with hard guitar sounds and hollow beats. The quality of the album is certainly carried by the group's fun and hilarious attitude, with select hits that really work. However, the beats are hollow and the riffs aren't impressive. It's the samples and production techniques that are interesting in some areas... but repetitive and underwhelming most elsewhere. The tracks do evolve, so there is variety, but it often feels gimmicky and tiresome upon repeated listens. The reason for my high score is because some tracks do work incredibly well. It's a mixed bag at the start, carried by the novelty, but it picks up with "Girls". "Fight for your Right" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" are the best songs, with interesting riffs and an exhilarating performance. It's my least favorite of their first 5 albums, but still enjoyable all throughout. Favorites: She's Crafty, Girls, Fight for Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Brass Monkey, Time to Get Ill
Fun and consistent, I can see why this group is so influential.
If you want to make me feel good about your record, there are worse ways to start it than by sampling Led Zeppelin's When the Levee Breaks. The lyrics are silly and often sophomoric. I definitely don't feel like I'm the intended audience. And that's a bit of a shame because there were lots more fun samples and catchy delivery. Another band that's better when I can't really hear the words.
Classic, half the album has hits that are still played today. How often does that happen.
I remember this album being a huge phenomenon in my teens. The Beastie Boys somehow managed to come out legit, somehow earnest and fully committed to hip hop and while failing to take themselves or hip hop culture seriously in the best way. I haven’t listened to this album end to end probably for decades and it holds up, though I don’t think it’s their best.
No sleep til Brooklyn
Love it
A really fun, and clever, album.
8/10. Classic. Not the best rhymes but excellent vibes. Excellent energy and attitude. Rick Rubin really did his thing on production. Lots of nostalgia since I grew up listening to this album
4.5 Love it.
Bästa albumet nånsin!
This is what you love to see, just guys being lads
Bästa skivan någonsin?
Ya know I got rhymes like Abe Vigoda.”
Solid album
A really solid album. I forgot how much I liked these songs as a kid.
Classic Hip Hop
Not my favorite Beastie album but iconic non the less. I love the Beastie Boys but this isnt a 5. Everything past this album for them is.
it was good
J'ai mieux aimé Paul's boutique, mais je commence à vraiment embarquer dans Beastie Boys. Définitivement l'un des sons hip-hop les plus unique et intéressant. L'inclusion de beaucoup de sample rock est vraiment cool.
This is a very in your face album… Their whole sound is shown off in the opener rhyming and stealing it’s a very loud track that shows the listener exactly what they’re about. The new style has a really great start that bounces off perfectly from the first track and the breaks with the samples work well too. The first two songs lacked quite a bit direction though but song 3 she’s crafty is a banger a perfect blend of rap and rock styles. Posse in effect gives the vocals a slight echo and lots of random songs electronic noises that create quite a good song but not a favourite. Slow ride contains horns and tribal sounding drumming which I definitely remember from the one listen I had before hand the verses are just a bit meh though. Girls has a really playful rhythm it’s a really different song to the rest of the album lots of fun. Fight for your right is an attack on frat boy culture in the US but while I like the song I don’t necessarily think this attack seems genuine coming from such an in your face group but still good. No sleep till Brooklyn is definitely one of the rockiest songs on the album it’s a killer track love those fuzzy guitars. I love the chopping sample mixed with the shaking maraca noises in Paul Revere very good track. Hold it now, hit it isn’t a song I like all too much it reminds me too much of the directionless in your face attitude of the first few songs. I really don’t like brass monkey it’s just so in your face, the chorus is shit and the beat is rather boring in comparison to the rest of the album. I mean slow and low is in your face but it’s quite a good track I don’t why though. The album closes with time to get Ill it’s a good song but I don’t get why this closes the album off. Yeah it’s good just in your face.
Out of the first five Beastie albums, this has to be the one I like the least, but I like it very much nonetheless. This one sets the table for what was to come so yeah it's a bit primitive compared to the incredible talent they would display in the next few albums, but it's still really fun and it's definitely one album everybody should hear once in their lives.
No sleep 'till I listen to some Beastie Boys!
I though I didnt like Beastie Boys, but I was surprise at how I knew every song and was happy to hear them. Wish I saw those guys in show.
An album that became an instant classic. I can't say that I'm deeply attached to it, but I like it, always fun to listen to.
Cool, damn cool and straight forward, great flow and some of the sickest beata i've listened in a while
8/10. Good album for the Beastie Boys
Similar to the Pavement album earlier insofar as I feel like a college kid in the 90s listening to this. Except where Pavement was like drinking a beer on a Sunday this is like pregaming a shitty frat party. 7/10
Very shouty
Classic album still referenced today. Some of the samples are really crazy. Rhymes are a little elementary but still fun.
Meer punk dan dit wordt hip hop niet
I recognize more of the samples now than I did in 1986. Reminds me of picnics at the Jersey Shore.
3.6 - Solid, if a bit sophomoric album - but that just makes it all the more fun. Great mix of rock and rap. Girls, Fight for Your Right, Brass Monkey, etc.
your mom threw away your best porno mag! some songs were hits, and some were misses. but their creativity shines through with their raps and guitar riffs. the sampling throughout the album! the iconic "fight for your right"! it's a fun listen and i always enjoy fighting the man. it's evident the beastie boys had fun creating this album because the excitement is infectious. how else do you explain "no sleep till brooklyn"? 3.5 but rounding up to 4.
This album is cool, but far from the best Beastie Boys album.
The Beasties album that started it all. Still some great tracks on the album, a few that feel outdated topically like Brass Monkey and Girls. Still a good album overall.
What a fun group. I really enjoy Beastie Boys and how they've managed to meld the worlds of hip-hop and rock. They sample all of my favourite classic rock riffs from Zeppelin, Floyd, Stones etc., which automatically peaks my interest. Specifically on this release, Beastie Boys come out in 1986 and establish themselves as something very new and creative. The start of a fresh sound & era. I can't praise these guys enough for their production and sampling; it's especially impressive for a debut LP. Anytime I need to hype myself up for something, Beastie Boys are one of the bands that immediately come to mind. Tracks are always so full of energy. They lose one star, but only because I know that there are albums released by the Beastie Boys after Licensed To Ill that get exponentially better. Fave tracks: Rhymin and Stealin, No Sleep Til Brooklyn, Time To Get Ill
My last several albums have been a sampler of beautiful music from different times and places. I guess that streak is coming to a spectacular halt with License to Ill. This debut album starts out very strong with Rhymin' & Stealin which is catchy and creative and infused with the sense of humor this project has taught me to expect from Beastie Boys. This is not my music, though of course I'm familiar with the hits, which by itself speaks to the monster success of this album. To my relatively virgin ears this whole thing is very 80's but also fun, funny, listenable, smart, energetic and I appreciate the clean production allowing me to hear and understand all of the lyrics. In a nutshell: a cultural quilt of genius samples gleefully stitched together loudly with clever rhymes.
Album essentiel à connaître, super important dans l’histoire du Hip-hop, mais pas mon meilleur du groupe. Ces petits punks ont vu un nouveau courant arriver et ont décidé d’y plonger. C’était nouveau, tout était possible. Leur humour juvénile est là, leur façon de rapper à trois très typique est là et les beats de Rick Rubin avec sa boîte à rythme amènent une sonorité caractéristique qui restera attachée au Hip-hop Old School. C’est probablement le premier album Hip-hop qui a enclenché l’émergence du style vers la masse, grâce à Fight For Your Right.
brat rap
At the time my daughter loved it and I hated it..that still stands but I’ll give it a 4 because a lot of people appreciated it…just not my style
I have to admit; I didn't pay too much attention to this album when it came out. Sure, I kind of liked "Fight For Your Right" but thought it gimmicky and didn't go any deeper than that into this album. That was a song that was played in between timeouts at a basketball game. And then "Paul's Boutique" and "Check Your Head" came out and I thought a little bit differently of these guys. This is the debut from the Beastie Boys and was produced by Rick Rubin. It's funny; this is the first time I've listen to this album. Yet, I've heard all of these songs a lot. A lot. Gimmicky? Yes. Silly lyrics? Yes. Tongue-in- cheek? Yes. Misogynistic lyrics? Well, yes at times. Great sampling? Yes! Great production? Yes. Do these songs rock? Absolutely, most of them. The sampling and production are outstanding. In "Brass Monkey, " they took a sample of a small part in the intro of Wild Sugar's "Bring It Here" and focused a whole song around it (and apparently a dance). "Paul Revere" was inspired by a weird meeting with a Run DMC member who later helped write the song. Also, an innovative use of a drumbeat played in reverse. Great sampling of Led Zeppelin in "Rhymin & Stealin," "She's Crafty" and "Time to Get It." Also, I counted no less than four songs where White Castle is mentioned. This album is fun, is innovative, and was an album I did miss in 1986. Although, I'm not sure without the hindsight, I would have thought any differently at the time than it's a gimmick.
Muy bueno
The album is a bit dated now, compared to their later stuff. But NO SLEEP TILL BROOKLYN will always get me cranked up and in a good mood. The band has disowned "Girls" which was pretty big of them. Hard to believe they went from being so sophomoric to what they became. I don't listen to this one a lot, but when I do it's put very L-O-U-D.
It's been awhile since I listened to the Beastie Boys but when I re-reviewed the track listing I thought, this is going to be good but juvenile. It is better than that. Sure, She's Crafty, Girls, and Brass Monkey are more fun than they are profound but there are some incredible tracks too. Rhymin & Stealin and No Sleep Til Brooklyn just have to be turned up to 11. The beats and energy are awesome and the lyrics have just enough depth to them. Fight for Your Right is similar - sometimes I'm torn on this one (overplayed) but it is just as big a stick it to the man 80's anthem as We're Not Gonna Take It. Did not realize they used to be a punk band before this. Definitely appreciate the extra bit of rock to their rap - love that tracks 1 and 3 sample the last tracks on Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy (and awesome real guitar work from Slayer on tracks 7 and 8). Pioneers, and a very good debut album.
Fun, classic album. I know the hits, but I'm not sure I ever listened to the entire album. The Run-DMC influence is very clear, and not just because of Paul Revere (co-written with them) or Slow and Low (Run-DMC cover). The combination of hard rock and rap is what makes the album. Run-DMC was also doing this at the same time, which could lead to questions of cultural appropriation, but it sounds like Run-DMC had mutual respect for the Beasties and they toured together, not to mention Rick Rubin was producing and co-writing for both acts. It's a great album, but I'm giving it a 4 rather than a 5 mainly for many moments of cheesiness and some homophobia and misogyny. Favorite tracks: Rhymin' and Stealin' (love the combination of When the Levee Breaks and Black Sabbath's Sweet Leaf), Fight for Your Right (classic - funny to read that it was meant to parody party songs and became the ultimate part song), No Sleep Till Brooklyn (cool track + Kerry King from Slayer), Paul Revere (love the backwards groove), and Slow and Low.
Funny and enjoyable. Clever lyrics. Generally upbeat.
Every time I hear this album it takes me back to grade 10, Environmental science class and a guy who brought his brother's tape in and would sing along to it. Never heard anything like it before, left a huge impression on me. And so many classic tracks on this.
☠️☠️
Genre: East Coast Hip Hop 4/5 Throughout the early history of hip hop, there were certainly hip-hop collectives who may have been more technically talented than the Beastie Boys, but what they may lack in technical side of things, their attitudes, their contagious energy, and their willingness to change the form propelled them to the top. Their unique blend of punk, rap, and b-boy spirit made Licensed to Ill the first ever #1 rap LP in the history of music. Did them being white help their case here? Well, certainly! But is this album also filled to the brim with absolute classics? Indeed. From start to finish, Licensed to Ill is a hoot and a holler. From the initial blast of Rhymin' & Stealin', a hilarious knockoff of "more violent" hip hop equipped with a group chant of "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves", we're taken on a hip-hop journey that may seem unfamiliar and strange at first, but continues to reward you as you listen. The mega hits Fight for Your Right and No Sleep Till Brooklyn are both tremendous crossovers that helped establish their "New Style" in a big way, but with cuts like She's Crafty, Girls, and Brass Monkey, we're continuously reminded of their unique sense of humor, and constantly engaged throughout the project. I forgot how good this album was. It's one to spin on any occasion, any day, as long as you feel like having a good time.
Classic
I definitely prefer their later stuff more, and haven't previously given this album too many listens. There's a fair amount of cringe, but also a lot of fun, and I didn't find it too grating. If they took themselves more seriously it would be a much tougher listen. Fave track - "Fight For Your Right" is an awesome collaborative karaoke tune - gets the whole room shouting along! "Rhymin & Stealin" was great fun - probably my new fave that I haven't heard a million times before...