Ill Communication

Shiiiiiiit. If this gonna be that kinda party, I’m gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes.

Sabotage was the biggest rock radio hit of the summer of 1994 Let that sink in...recorded while Kurt Cobain was still alive...the number one rock radio song of the summer... ...was The Beastie Boys. In addition, Root Down, Sure Shot, Get it Together, Flute Loop, Heart Attack Man, Tough Guy...? Look. I was 20. I'm biased.

I consider myself pretty well-versed with the history of hip hop and most of the old records, but this is a side of the Beastie Boys I'd never heard before. I was expecting something more along the lines of "Licensed to Ill" or "Paul's Boutique", but this is something completely different. This isn't a rap album with jazz and funk influences, this is a jazz album with funky raps played over it. When "Sabrosa" came on halfway through, I had to double-check that I was still listening to the same album. Five well-deserved stars here

I've never understood why The Beastie Boys' reputation as the ultimate frat boy party band, forged during the Licence To Ill era, stuck with them throughout their career. They knocked out "the hip hop Sgt. Pepper" in Paul's Boutique and still don't seem to get the credit they deserve as innovators. This album is all over the place in the best possible way. Hip hop to punk via funk and Miles Davis inspired jazz. An absolute classic.

Aujourd'hui, comme chaque jour ouvrable, synonyme de jour de dur labeur, je me dirige vers mon lieu de travail comme à mon habitude, ouvre mon ordinateur, et avant même de consulter mes mails, je me dirige vers mon générateur préferé, mon seul petit plaisir de la journée. Je me hâte de valider ma review de l'album précedent, ainsi que ma note, et laisse les frissons envahirent mon corps alors que j'attends avec excitation le nouvel album que je m'apprête à découvrir. Tout d'un coup, la page s'actualise et me laisse apercevoir de quoi ma journée sera rythmée. Seulement, c'est la stupéfaction: l'inscription "Anniversaire de Robpullvert" vient s'afficher digitalement sous mes yeux ébahis. En effet, aujourd'hui, nous sommes le 2 Juillet, et cette journée sera comme tous les 2 Juillet un véritable calvaire. Rob prend en effet le contrôle de l'intégralité des canaux de distribution musicaux. A la radio, on peut entendre Hugh Masekala joué tambour battant, dans les supermarchés, c'est The Crusaders qui vient polluer vos achats de vivres pour la semaine. J'ai tenté d'aggriper frénétiquement mon téléphone afin de jouer un peu de Ray Charles, mais le pistes avaient été effacées et remplacées par des hurlements de douleur et des appels à l'aide. Cette journée aura une fois de plus été synonyme de souffrance et de torture psychologique, ce qui est finallement assez representif de ce qu'il en est de cotoyer les 364 autres jours de l'année les avis musicaux desastreux de robcuillère.

I respect the Beastie Boys, but I've never really been a fan. This album fits that pattern. There's plenty of cool things going on, but usually too much or not enough on any given track. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy a number of songs, especially "Sabotage" of course. But this is the first album we've had where I skipped songs. It's longer than I would like to listen to the Beastie Boys. A lot of the beats are cool, but these guys are all over the place. Plus they use a lot of distortion, which I normally enjoy, but here it obscures to the point where I don't even care what they're saying or doing. Some of the world-music or jazzy-type stuff is interesting, but for most of the record they sound like a sloppy, unfocused Rage Against the Machine. The most memorable vocal performances were Q-Tip on "Get It Together" and Biz Markie on "Do It," which reminds me that (1) it's Black History Month, and we haven't had a black artist/album since Michael Jackson, and (2) this is our second "hip hop" album, and both were by white artists. I'm going to listen to Midnight Marauders as a palate cleanser after this--it came out a year before this, and it doesn't sound as dated. Hell, Illmatic was released a month before this! This sounds 10 years older than Illmatic. The audacity to release THIS, AFTER Illmatic, and to INCLUDE the word "ill" in your title.....seek help. This was gonna be a 2 until I learned that. In the words of James Brown, "I'm mad!" Favorite tracks: Sabotage, Get It Together, Sure Shot Album art: Uhhh....it's a guy at a drive through or something? Very boring to look at. He looks like he might have bad teeth. Maybe he's British? Maybe that's why this made the list? Oi, guvna, bugger off. Yeah, this cover sucks. 1.5/5

One of the better examples of those 90s records where the band tried a half-dozen different genres. Great sequencing - somehow the hardcore punk tracks don’t clash with the stripped-down sample-based hip hop. Lots of great jazz and funk instrumentals that don’t overstay their welcome. Because of this, in true 90s fashion, it sounds like a well-made mix tape. “Root Down” uses one of the best basslines ever to great effect. At times they drench their vocals in distortion and delay, reinforcing the focus on what sounds good over what would be conventionally expected of them. MCA is the MVP here, from his bass fills in “Sabotage” to the unique “Bodhisattva Vow.” Good stuff.

Big change sonically from licensed to Ill and Paul's Boutique but still has the unapologetic Beastie Boys vibe. Punk rock influences shine through on a handful of tracks. Essential hip hop album that made Beastie Boys the trail blazers they are. Top tracks: sure shot, Sabotage, get it together, Futtermans Rule

Holy shit this album. I had the misfortune of being born after the Beastie Boys heyday but I still felt their influence in pop culture throughout the entirety of the nineties. I don't know what I USED to think about them, but I do know it wasn't a critical or thoughtful opinion. This is the first album of theirs that I've seriously listened to all the way through and I'm just fucking blown away. The influences and styles they've managed to wrap up in this album are just wild - every track feels completely new but still connected to the previous track. I've seen complaints about the runtime but honestly it feels perfect to me. Through this album alone I've been convinced not only of the magnitude of the Beastie Boys' impact on hip-hop, but of the sheer sickness of the group itself.

A classic. I always forget how eclectic this record is, and how many instrumentals it has.

Ill Communication is like the Beastie Boys threw a party, invited punk rock, hip-hop, jazz, and funk, and things got wild. While this 1994 album offers head-bobbing tunes like "Sure Shot" and mosh-worthy jams like "Sabotage," it lacks the cohesion of their other iconic works. Their lyrics still pack a punch, serving up wit and humor in each rhyme. But let's face it, it's not the lyrical goldmine of "Paul's Boutique." Though not their magnum opus, Ill Communication proves the Beastie Boys' unstoppable creativity and genre-defying skills. Not their pièce de résistance, but a funky-fresh, genre-hopping adventure worth a spin.

Am I just hearing loudness or is there some real punk je ne sais quoi here? Either way, it's welcome and massively elevates the raps, which fade into the production in a way that is hard to do enjoyably. Length-wise the project seems a little bloated, but the instrumentals break it up enough to keep things fresh. Ending on one is an especially neat trick. There's clearly fun being had in the studio, but also what seems like genuine experimentation, deftly executed.

J'avais beaucoup d'estime pour cet album jusqu'au moment où j'ai compris qu'il ne s'appelait pas "Three Communication" mais "Ill Communication". Sans ce couac et je dirais même ce tollé provoqué par l'équipe marketing, le projet aurait pu bénéficier d'une étoile supplémentaire.

Great album. Beastie Boys have a special place in my heart despite the fact that I've never owned one of their albums. "Sabatoge," especially, puts this album over the top for me. 5 stars!

Stone cold classic! Will never not be 5 stars. Perfect blend of original 90s hip hop and punk, essential to any collection.

Follow up album to Check Your Head. Saw the Beastie Boys at Col Ballroom on Aug. 13, 1992. One of my favorite albums. 1 of 1001

Very familiar. One of the best hip hop albums of all time - followed up Check Your Head in the BB’s progression into more mature / thoughtful themes (religion, domestic violence, music history, social issues, etc) while also remaining funky as hell and super funny/fun.

Nobody has managed to do what the Beastie Boys did. Hip hop/rap with a noticeable rock/punk history that isn’t annoying.

Classic

It does like 12 different genres all amazingly well. Awesome album.

Nice energy, Beastie Boys are classic, well.

Groovy!

What a musical masterpiece. Really loved this one.

sabotage!

Good example of something I never would have listened to without this, maybe this isn’t a futile task after all

Good thing the Beastie Boys weren’t a thing when I was in college because I would have been really fucking annoying about it

Rockin' as hell, and rich in beats throughout. Sabotage is obviously an all timer, but Root Down, Sure Shot, Futterman's Rule, and Flute Loop are all favorites as well. I love the musical ending.

One of the great rap groups and albums of all time. Ageless...

Great album upto and including "get it together". After that song, not so much. It meanders on a bit. 5 stars first half 1 star second half

Isn't as good as their other one.

Annoying squeaky shouting over really dull and instantly forgettable music. Unfathomably popular. In terms of 'Boys' bands: Beach > Pet Shop >>>>> Back Street >>>>>>>>>> Ordinary >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Beastie. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: Sabotage Date listened: 16/02/24

Banger.

Amazing album

They're not great rappers and their voices are annoying, but this album is outstanding

has sabotage on it

Did you ever eat a bag of party mix? This album is the musical equivalent. Random pieces that don't seem to go together but as a whole are amazing.

this album is like a best friend to me

“Sure Shot” is a great intro. Then “Tough Guy” brings the punk blitz of early (and later) Beastie Boys and makes it clear that there’s no telling what to expect on “Ill Communication.” I love “Root Down,” and it makes a great 1-2 punch with “Sabotage.” The latter is the Boys’ most famous song. But I don’t feel like I can fairly evaluate it anymore. It has such deep roots in my psyche that I can’t disconnect from to be objective. I can’t not see that music video play through my head when I listen. But I’ll try… The song deftly weaves the Beastie Boys hip hop and punk leanings. The multiple breaks each work so well to build anticipation and hype. It’s brash and in-your-face, without the crassness and immaturity that plagued “Paul’s Boutique.” It might be peak Beastie Boys? And then “Sabotage” is followed by a Q-Tip feature, which cements “Ill Communication” as an evolution of the Beastie Boys’ style and sound. More variety follows with the instrumental “Sabrosa” and “The Update.” The rest of the album keeps the listener guessing, shifting styles and genres relentlessly in search of… something. I said in an earlier Beastie Boys review that “Ill Communication” was my entry point to the group. I now realize that was a lie. The first 7 tracks on “Ill Communication” was my entry point. I had no recollection of the rest of the album. Perhaps that is because it is so scattershot and without hooks that it doesn’t leave a lasting impression? The second half of the album is diverse and interesting, and points to professional and personal growth for the Beastie Boys, but ultimately fails to make the most of their potential. For me, “To the 5 Boroughs” is underrated, but still their best.

Its a lot of fun. Would probably be 4 stars if it was 40 minutes versus 60.

This was fine, but I didn't hear anything here that would bring it above 3 stars.

Just all sounds the same…I do like Sabotage though.

First 3rd of the album is amazing, then gets pretty dull

Objectively good, but not my thing (fantastic if you like 90s rap). A few quite good songs on there though.

Just not my cup of tea

Good vibes, fun. Some odd songs that weren't quite my jam.

This album samples lots of jazz and FUNK Then it goes all hardcore PUNK Beastie Boys rap in a group of THREE Pretty corny now, but it works for ME ok I'll stop. This album is good when it's a hip hop album - the BB's and guests' verses are all at a really consistently high level, with inventive beats and sampling, and distinctive cadence/flow. The punk stuff is like C-tier Minor Threat, the jazz stuff is kind of pointless. Favorites: Sabotage, Update, Get it Together, Do It

First half is really good. Starts to sound very samey and pretty bad during the middle/end.

meh except for sabotage

White people ass hip hop.

No. 214/1001 Sure Shot 3/5 Tough Guy 2/5 B-Boys 2/5 Bobo On The Corner 2/5 Root Down 3/5 Sabotage 2/5 Get It Together 3/5 Sabrosa 3/5 The Update 2/5 Futterman's Rule 3/5 Alright Hear This 2/5 Eugene's Lament 2/5 Flute Loop 3/5 Do It 3/5 Ricky'sTheme 3/5 Heart Attack Man 2/5 The Scoop 2/5 Shambala 2/5 Bodhisattva Vow 2/5 Transitions 3/5 Average: 2,45 I get that this was innovative & cutting edge, but I just didn't enjoy that.

Ooohheee. I knew this from my sisters playing it when i was young. Thought i would like it, but didn't think it would be this good. Really progresses well through the album, never gets boring.

A classic.

Fuck yeah absolutely amazing sound

Beastie Boys always a 10/10.

Todella kova levy tämäkin

Awesome. So much different musical styles in there.

I just love this style (I first discovered Ice cube, which I love, and now this !)

though one of their earlier albums, by far one of the best.

A couple songs were kinda medium, but mostly bangers!

My favorite Beastie album is Check Your Head, but Ill Communication is a close second. Amazing lyrics, samples, and they doubled down on the cool funk jazz stuff. 5/5

Pour vrai, c'est malade cet album ,ca s'écoute tellement bien et leur style est incroyable. Vraiment je n'vais jamais écouté les beastie boys et je suis charmé par leur musique de plus en plus. 5

I knew some of the classics on this album but hearing the album cuts for the first time was great. The interludes were amazing, features were great and the BBs were getting it in at the time.

Great album. Some really addictive beats. Some Beastie albums are hit and miss for me, but this is a classic.

Sure shot and sabotage are jams. The album is eclectic, fun. Very listenable. Didn’t appreciate the whole album when it first came around.

This is one of my all time favorite albums.

Un classique. Selon moi c’est le plus authentique des albums du groupe et probablement le plus populaire grâce entre autre à Sabotage. Et en terme de montage de chansons avec des samplings, Sure Shot, Root Down et Flute Loop sont des réussites en tout point. Un album auquel je reviens régulièrement.

Love it. Always have

Obra maestra.

Een heel gevarieerd album inderdaad. Van duidelijke hiphop naar steenharde rock naar een beetje funk. Ook de instrumentale nummers zijn zeer aangenaam om naar te luisteren. Ik kon dit album ten volle smaken!

ES SABROSO!

The only album so far where I've intentionally listened to the "extended" version.

It was a five even before "Sabotage" hit. Everything about it is fire. This is the best Beastie. Fight me.

This album hit the spot like a slice of New York pizza. I'm a Beastie Boys fan from beginning to end, but I think this and "Hello Nasty" are their absolute creative peak. They have matured a bit here, and are slightly more reflective in places, but they haven't lost their playful spirit. They bring so many styles together - even going back to their punk roots for perhaps the best example of a rap-rock hybrid ever with "Sabotage." One might argue that the instrumental numbers slow it down, but I think that it showcases their versatility as musicians and I appreciate the change of pace. This album is kind of all over the place but it just keeps moving. Played this alot during the summer of the boombox in the backseat.

I listened to this album several times. SO up beat. SO fun. was very surprised. I hadn't listened to this gem before or wrote off the beastie boys way to early.

My favourite Beastie Boys album 💗

Stunning and energetic

It is of course a classic. Maybe a few tracks too long but it's the Beasties at their peak

already loved it!

lots of tracks and about half of them are bang on, way too cool for school

A perfect album - always wondered why the beastie boys are three white dudes with so much cred in hip hop - besides the Rick Rubin connection - they are artfully awesome at this - organic and honest hip hop to who they are - not white boys trying to be black

Time to get ill

No brainer

Bom pra pilhar

Gem

This is one of the best albums I've ever heard in my entire (and short) life! Jesus, its perfect. Every single take is memorable, breathtaking. Simply *d o p e*!

This is straight fire, Some absolute bangers here, Less towards the end. 9/10

Used to listen to this all the time back in the day.

This was the first beasties album I really listened to. Super groovy instrumental tracks really highlight the boys' musical skills.

geiler mix, old school hip hop mit nicen jazzy samples und geilem Kontrabass, und recht starken effekten auf stimme etc. Recht experimentell aber immer auf die Fresse. Plötzlich ein Punk song, plötzlich Cypress Hill, SABOTAGE wir immer geil sein - das Verzerrte Bass Riff (*Smacks Lips*). Gleichzeitig Old School (mehr als andere in 1994), aber auch modern und experimentell. Auf Dirtchamber Sessions zwischendurch da

Listened before? Y Another amazing beginning to end album. These guys were so talented as a group. I hope we get some music from the remaining two someday although that looks like a long shot. RIP MCA. Added to Library? Y Songs added to Playlist: Sure Shot, Root Down

THE best Beasties album by a country mile. Love it.

Un album de Rap comme ça, aujourd'hui, c'est impensable. Prefs: Sure Shot, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule, Alright Hear This, Heart Attack Man, Bodhisattva Vow Moins Pref: Flute Loop

Love it, great to hear real instruments playing real funk. Another album from my prime youth of the early 90s that stands up well today.

Love this

This is the first album they made living in CA and you can hear the influence and it sounds awesome.

I've been a big fan of the Beastie Boys for many years. I'm not sure if this is my favorite, but its up there. It does admittedly lose a little steam after Get It Together but it's still good and is a very creative album. Its probably a 4 star album overall, but it gets a 5 from me for the bold choices made.

Eclectic and gritty sound. Unique and innovative style. Says early deez nuts joke. Fave songs: Sure Shot, Sabotage, Get It Together

What a musical masterpiece. Really loved this one.

Nostalgic. Grew up 2nd hand listening to these albums from parents and older siblings. They had fantastic taste.

finally, the first five star album of this list