Ill Communication

Good time

Vanha tuttuni. Välillä tulee kausia kun tätä luukutetaan. RiP MCA

I use the word “confident” a lot in these reviews but you can just tell these guys are so in control of their vision and craft and are having so much fun because they know that what they’re doing works

Classic Beastie Boys album great hits, good in-between songs.

Heard some before; 3.5; I really enjoyed the diversity of this album, and especially liked the instrumental tracks as well as the hardcore tracks mixed in. A very easy-listening album in parts with the funk, but also still interesting enough to want to listen to it again. Favorite Track: Sabotage

Some generational bangers and had a bunch I'd never heard before. I really liked "Root Down" and "Sabrosa" plus "Ricky's Theme" awas cool. 20 songs and tons of ideas + creativity. I'm ranking this a notch below Paul's Boutique and License to Ill but still an awesome album.

Listening to this after Paul's Boutique was a little disappointing, but it's still an amazing album. 4.5 stars

Ok so these are the Beastie Boys

Such a good album with so much variety and depth of music, plus it has my favourite style of toe tapping rap.

The mix of genres here is so fun to listen to, big 4* for sure

Peak Beastie Boys. Sounds like the best of the 90s across genres, and they laid a blueprint for the next decade, too.

At long last, I get to return to the world of hip-hop and review an album. What did I think of this one? I surprisingly enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Going in, I knew that Sabotage was on the album, but otherwise, I was kind of on the fence since I’d seen a lot of Beastie Boys on MTV Classic and I didn’t really feel the need to dive into their catalog. However, once I put on the album, I was surprised by how much I got out of it. The main strength of the album is the sheer variety of musical styles on the album. They incorporate hip-hop, rock, funk, and other genres that makes sure the sound isn’t stale. They also include several instrumental tracks on the album, such as the violin driven Eugene’s Lament, and the epic Futterman’s Rule, two of my standout tracks. Another great part of this album is the use of live instruments, which creates a unique sound in a genre mostly defined by samples and electronic beats. It also allows for more exploration of different genres as stated previously, such as the heavy and powerful guitar and drums on Sabotage, another standout tracks. Finally, the rapping on this album is second to none, and being a new Beasties listener, I may not be able to pick out who’s who on each song, but I can at least say that the rapping(from I’m pretty sure Ad Rock) feels like a blueprint to Rage Against the Machine and Zach De La Rocha’s vocal style. It really shines through on songs like Sure Shot, and B-Boys Makin’ With The Freak Freak, my final standout tracks. Overall, a surprisingly impressive album, and one I highly recommend to those into 80s hip-hop.

i fear this ate

First album reviewing out of my usual genre, so I don't have much to base it on. But this album was a pretty nice listen. I feel like it was inspired a lot during its era with crunchy rock beats and strong instrumentals, but the rhythm was similar to hip-hop. I don't have much else to say about it other than it was a really good album and would rate it about a 3.5-4. My few criticisms were that it was harder to relate to this style of hip-hop, and there were a few cringey moments that I'm not used to.

A couple of excellent songs in a genre that's very hit or miss for me. Rating is really a of 5, 4, and 2

Como escreveu alguém numa review: "This isn't a rap album with jazz and funk influences, this is a jazz album with funky raps played over it." Embora não seja muito a minha praia, reconheço muito o valor. Conseguem fazer uma ponte entre "estilos de música de rua de metrópole" do funky dos 70 até o rap dos 90, conversando com o rock de perto. Grandes. Sabotage, Sabrosa, The Scoop, Transitions, são excelentes.

Very fun, similar to other beastie boys albums, I like the songs that show theor range. The second half of the album is great.

#410/1001. Basically on Check Your Head and this one Beasties changed from Sample-based production to live instruments, exploitation funk gives and even hc punk. And I guess that is what makes this whitey very happy. This probably is my favorite BB album. Will hard to choose between PB boutique and this one. But when they began their gig in Ruisrock with Sure Shot I was howlin' for Julie. ( Btw. Money Mark also performed - with them on stage and later with his own show which was great - at the festival, as did Björk - Jon Spencer unfortunately had to cancel). The album is a jam, features quite a lot of instrumentals and extended grooves, which is sometimes a relief since their rap delivery can get a bit annoying - well I suppose it is meant to add well.

Now here’s a beastie boys album I like. Really fun samples! They’ve straight up got a punk song on here!

Interesting style, more rap like than expected

Yep

Instrumentais incríveis. Toda batida é ótima, uso criativo de scratches e samples, escuta bem divertida e cheia de vida. 4/5

An excellent mix of hip hop and rock influences. The lyrics can border on cheesy at times, but that is part of the fun. Also, I know this isn't exactly breaking any new ground, but sabotage is a banger.

This is a pretty good album and kind of sets the template for all their future work, but they can never quite reach the brilliance of Paul's Boutique again. Bonus points for Q-tip.

Lots of good and interesting stuff here but nothing as surprising and ground-breaking as Paul's Boutique or Check Your Head. Also, a bit too much flute and various other noodlings.

Simply for the joy it has brought us

Great

Get it up ye

When Sabotage came on I got so hyped up I was tempted to drive into a ditch out of excitement

85

Plutôt sympa

Sabotage est un putain de classique, et le reste de l'album a vraiment des sonorités très intéressantes et du bon flow rappé. Un peu dommage c'était long sur la fin

Stone cold banger. Funky, jazzy, fun.

- oh hell yeah, this shit rules

not much to say. great record

Listened previously. Expectations: HIgh - Verdict: Great - The Beasties are just awesome. An incredibly cool sound with the real instruments coming into such a chaotic hip hop sound. The opening 8 tracks are fantastic. Some of the instrumentals are really, really good. Sabrosa and Futterman's Rule are both brilliant, as is Eugene's Lament. Ricky's Theme continues the trend of excellent instrumentals. Shamble into Bodhisattva Vow is a great section. Overall a great album that pushes in so many directions while remaining cohesive.

Had this on cassette back in the day! Fun sprawling album, are these guys any good at rapping? I don't know. When Q-Tip shows up, he easily outclasses them. Bloated for sure, but the nostalgia is strong with this one. Zero memory of the last few tracks though. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes, 88/334 (26%) Will I get: Already have

Futterman's Rule instrumental is sick Faves: Sabotage

Man, definitely not the "Licensed to Ill" B-Boys, decent stuff.

Damn I knew they used to play their own instruments but I had no idea they had such funky MMW music. So much more than sabotage!

Liked it. Way more instrumentation than I thought back in 94. Didn’t realize Sabotage was so old. Covers a wide array of beastie boys styles.

I thought I'd sorta like Beastie Boys but I ended up sorta really, really liking it. Did not expect a Buddhist bent to it.

On of my favorite Beastie Boys albums, although the Heart attack Man hardcore songs could go. I know it’s a callout to their roots, but feels a bit out of place. Sure Shot is a particular favorite, love the flute sample: https://www.whosampled.com/Jeremy-Steig/

I love this record! The opening with Sure Shot is gold. Sabotage takes me right back to loading moving trucks at Dan’s Van in Somerville. It may be a couple songs too long but almost all the tracks are bangers.

Beastie Boys - Ill Communication Hadn’t heard this one before other than the singles sure shot and sabotage. Enjoyed it on the whole especially the instrumental jazzy tracks and the Tibetan throat singing! Average song score 3.75 Standouts: Sabotage, Shambala ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This record has such an interesting start, seamlessly shifting right from rap to punk to funk. It keeps you on your toes. "Eugene's Lament" had a really cool 60s vibe to it, adding a nice vintage texture to the tracklist. Of course, "Sabotage" is an absolute powerhouse and stands out as one of their all-time greats. The energy on that track alone is unmatched. It's awesome how they can pivot from heavy, distorted live instruments right back into old-school hip-hop without missing a beat. They really mastered the art of making a chaotic tracklist feel completely cohesive. It's a fantastic, sonically diverse album that shows just how versatile they can be. Favorite song: "Sabotage"

ayyee oldschool rap

This album is so good. While listening I felt pure energy and fun the whole way through. The Beastie Boys nailed the fusion of genres again — mixing hip-hop, punk, funk, jazz samples, and that signature raw attitude into something that feels completely natural and cohesive. The lyrics are raw, clever, and full of personality, and everything on the record is done really well. The beats hit hard, the flows are tight, and the whole vibe is confident without trying too hard. In general, the Beastie Boys just never miss. They’re one of those groups that are consistently great, and Ill Communication is another strong example of why they’re legends. It’s fun, creative, and full of life.

I really love the energy the beastie boys have. It is such a nice pairing of punk and rap and not in the terrible way. Some of the instrumentals on here are sleeper hits, some of them are sleeper boring. Obviously Sabotage is an all time song but Sure Shot has been on rotation since I was like 12. Great album but not tickling that masterpiece status for me.

Mega aż mi się nóżka ruszyła i poleciałam w tany! 8.6/10

Beastie boys can do no wrong.

Very nice

11-year-old me was obsessed with Sabotage when this came out. 43-year-old me also digs the shout out to Jimmy Smith. There's a lot to like on this record. I had no idea they made songs like Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule, or Eugene's Lament.

Tough Guy was honestly pretty good. Always a fan of Beastie Boys if the mood is right. Obviously Sabotage is premium song too. Unexpected had never heard Heart Attack Man before, exceptionally good it even made my liked songs.

Funky rap type shi

Interesante descubrimiento, sinceramente por la portada pense que iba a ser otro tipo de musica, hubo una cancion que ahora no recuerdo el titulo que me hizo recordar al estilo de Nujabes, muy buen descubrimiento sinceramente.

beastie boys are ALWAYS a hit

Best wel vet

This reminds me of my school years! A good one.

Some absolute bangers on this album. Maybe a few too many musical interludes.

You know this is way more funky, experimental and expansive-sounding than I was expecting. The actual music and production on this is excellent, and I’m glad that they do so much across the album. I wasn’t expecting actual punk-rock (or Tibetan Buddhist chanting over 70’s funk-wah pedal either to be fair)… but it works! Big respect to the Beastie Boys. I’m starting to understand just how influential they were, and also how justified that was.

This is another album that I know the singles, but never listened to the entire album, despite having heard the previous album many times. My initial impression is that this is not a dramatically different album than Check Your Head in terms of its basic aesthetic palate: we're getting some straightforward hip hop, forays into funk oriented hard rock and punk and some instrumental moments that explore elements of soul and r&b. Like its predecessor, the album tends to get a bit more eclectic and experimental as it goes a long, bringing in more instrumentals and oddball tracks. A couple later tracks bring in an interest in Buddhism, that on paper feels like it might be a bit cringy, but the mix of sounds actually works pretty well. Transitions is not a bad track, but is an oddly downbeat ending to the record. I tend to find myself feeling the same way about both albums, having a feeling that this album could have been a little shorter, without really being able to label the track that really needs to be cut. This represents the band continuing to build on its strengths and leads to a very good album.

Beastie Boys' energy is unmatched. This is a rap-rock fusion album done right. 8/10

Some of the lyrics are juvenile, sure. But nothing else sounded like this in 1994. And there are so many bangers here. If “Sure Shot” and “Sabotage” won’t get an album to four stars, what will?

Sabotage still rocks

I was pleasantly surprised with this. Don’t except them to have songs that didn’t sound like their typical thing

White boys need to get in the garage and start making music like this again

Really liked the jazz songs. Iffy on the rock ones but still a great album

Classic punk hip-hop, I rock with it Fave track: Sabotage

My first time listening as an album. Very eclectic with many different instruments and styles. I do not see how they fit together. Minus 1 for that and being rap. 0 songs added to playlist.

Diverse sampling. 4.3/5

Still holds up!

Love this album. Heavy rotation.

Not my fav, but a lots of good tracks on this one.

This album has a great feeling to it that just makes you want to drive around with the windows down. Its atmospheric, while still having that edge to it that youd expect from a 90s hiphop album. Best track: The Update

really awesome samples with unique music videos, grear flow but their voices can get a bit much after a bit

Really fun, always like jazz and rap fusions

Ive heard about the beastie boys but ive never actually listened to their music, though i did learn that apparently ive already liked one of the songs off this album lol. I like this a lot tho. Ive learned im a big fan of the classic 90s rap, something about a good beat. I also really dug the different musical tones in this - i read on wikipedia they were influenced but a lot of different artists incl miles davis. Didnt love all the distorted voice effects but i did appreciate that there was variety - it didnt all sound the same. I think i saved three songs: sure shot, alright hear this, and sure shot. Already had sabatoge in my liked songs.

Au début j'étais peu impressionné, du rap un peu générique, et la voix des gars m'énerve. Je suis pas non plus le plus grand fan du rap basé sur les loops. La 2e partie m'a plus intéressée, j'ai l'impression que c'était plus funky/groovy. Et j'ai compris que les gars savaient jouer de leur instrument. On va leur donner un 4.

Wicked album

I like it

This album was surprisingly awesome. I'm familiar with their hits like Sabotage, Brass Monkey, No Sleep Till Brooklyn but I assumed they were kind of a one trick pony and a whole album would get old fast, but boy was I wrong. It's hard to catch every bar, but just the diversity in styles and beats make for an interesting listen. Love the funky/jazz instrumental tracks between hyped rap songs, shows they put thought into curating this album as a full experience. Q-Tip knocks it out the park with the feature.

Quite an impressive range on this album. Not everything hits, but most of it is pretty good.

great exploration of a lot of genres, i liked paul's boutique when we got it but i like this way more. awesome guitars / awesome funk sound

Love all the genre bending on here. Licensed to Ill being the big one (kind of) gives a very skewed perception of what this group was actually capable of.

Learning that Beastie Boys used to be punks explains a lot about their musical style. I ended up liking this a lot more than I expected, but I think it has more to do with the jazz breaks than their raps.

Good old Beastie Boys. Wasn't really into them at the time, but they've weathered quite well. A bit of fun. Can't believe it's 32 years!

It's been a while since I poured through this one, and it's such a fascinating record. The Beasties had gone from the biggest frat band in the universe to suddenly pushing the limit of live band rapping and teaming up with the impeccable Mario Caldato on the production. There's a LOT going on and it doesn't always work, but at its core this is the Beastie Boys mixing all their favorite music in a blender into a beautiful concoction that helped other producers explore deeper hip-hop territory.

Great production, fun listen

Great album, and it would be a 5 if it was about 6 or 7 songs shorter.

It’s funny how a single record can anchor you perfectly in time. The Beastie Boys dropped Ill Communication in May of 1994. If you're hitting the big 5-0 now, you were 19 when this came out—right in that chaotic, thrilling window of starting college, leaving home, and trying to figure out who you were. For me, the DNA of this album is permanently tied to dorm rooms, surviving upstate New York winters, and feeling completely invincible. Looking back, the genius of the Beastie Boys is that they grew up right alongside us. We had the obnoxious, beer-spilling anthems of Licensed to Ill when we were in middle school. But by the time '94 rolled around, Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock had fully transformed. They weren't just shouting into mics anymore; they were picking up their instruments and creating something entirely new.

Another surprise from the list. I thought I knew what the Beastie Boys were all about, especially after getting License to Ill a couple months ago. But this was a bit of an eye opener. It spanned quite a few genres and showed a lot more depth than I would have expected before listening. As someone who was already a fan of Sabotage, my favorite segment here was surprisingly the three song span of Sabrosa-The Update-Futterman's Rule, which I found really interesting. The tracks were unexpected on what I figured would be a straight up hip hop album, covering more subtle ground and including a lot of instrumental sections. Expanding on that, I think the instrumentation plays a big part in why I like this album as a whole. It's less sample-driven and more real performance, with those performances stealing the show most of the time. There's rock, punk, funk, jazz, and more. The vocals are there, but feel more equal with the music rather than trying to outshine it. The way it comes together really works for me. On the other hand, my biggest issues with this album are first that it is very long and second that it never really attains greatness. It runs just under an hour and contains 20 songs. I wouldn't really call anything on here filler, but it still didn't feel like that length was necessary. Instead, it made it feel a bit disjointed, almost like there were two albums forged into one. Part of that also probably comes from my second point, as most of the album hovered around good without really going beyond it. If there was a more pointed focus, they may have had more high-quality moments. There is a lot here to make me say this is a really strong album, especially given how different I found it from my expectations. At the same time, I don't think it reaches the level of a great album, and the length makes relistens a little unlikely. It sits on the edge of good/very good for me. Overall: 3.7/5

I really liked some of the songs

Me gusta mucho la mezcla de estilos que tiene. Es como una aventura por la ciudad acompañada por diferentes tribus urbanas en un solo disco.

Got very jazzy at the end but I liked it

I liked them all. But somehow the whole was less than the sum of its parts. I dont know why. I would happily listen to any of them again, just not all of them together.

This really rocked. I liked the Ocean's 11 vibe that some of the instrumental songs gave off. Sabotage is a Elite song as well. What a classic.

Buncha bangers

Oikein menevä levy, kuten Beastie Boysilta voi odottaa. Hämmentävä sekotus hiphoppia/räppiä ja punkkia. Tuskin menee suuresti kiertoon muuten, mutta mukava tämä oli kuunnella.

The weak link in tr Greatest 5 album run in music history, but it has Sabotage.

Yes! My favourite Beastie Boys album! A brilliant start to my day. Loud, audacious, fantastic.

A really solid album and I really enjoyed hearing them start to utilize live instruments along with the samples to give it more of a rock feel.

Better than I expected, could listen to it as background whilst on holiday. There were quite a few foot tappers.

This is what NYC sounds like in my mind.

This album was so much more diverse than I was expecting, and I particularly loved a lot of the instrumentals - they had a fun vibe and good groove. Not sure what I can add to Sabotage except to say it deserves all if its fame and probably more. I wanted to keep playing it on loop when the album finished because what else could bring more fun to my saturday night of school work. Unexpectedly punk album? The Update and Sure Shot were especially cool

Not quite as good as Paul’s Boutique but pretty damn good!

damn bboys i was not familiar with ur game

Not my usual genre at all, but I surprisingly enjoyed my time listening to this one. Very rhythmic and flowy.

Bon et de bons souvenirs! Un 4 +

High energy and a lot of fun, wasn't always vibing with the lyrics but all in all this was pretty good

Not for me. But I can see the importance of it

Muy bueno

Sure shot - 5 Tough guy - 4 B-boys makin' with the freak freak - 4 Bobo on the corner - 3 Root down - 5 Sabotage - 5 Get it together - 5 Sabrosa - 3 The update - 3 Futterman's rule - 4 Alright hear this - 4 Eugene's lament - 4 Flute loop - 4 Do it - 3 Ricky's theme - 3 Heart attack man - 4 The scoop - 4 Shambala - 3 Bodhisattva vow - 3 Transitions - 4

26/04/2026 I never gave Beastie Boys a chance before until this challenge. This is my second album of theirs. Fuck a duck, I really like these guys. Spotify listeners: 8.2 million

I was introduced to Beastie Boys with "License to Ill" and this is a very different album. Much more old school rap, with some punk and musical interludes that I didn't expect. Definitely showcases their talents as one of the great rap groups of our time in a a slightly more serious way than "License to Ill" Highlights: "Sure Shot" and "Sabotage"

basic хип хоп альбом, мне нрав, но треков перебор для меня, не вывоз

Okey, bra start med sure shot. yea though guy va litt for bråkat, ikkje så bra. B-boys making with the freak va meh ok, høres ut som hiphop blanda med lydian bestikket lage når du skrape det på tallerkenen. Bob on the corner va grei - ingen lyric. Root down høres bra ut, mer hiphoppy, men ikke det beste æ har hørt - oh litt jazz ellr? Sabotage høres bra ut, yeah resten hørtes bra ut, rydda rommet til albumet og skippa bare en sang.

este disco representa a mi yo de 15

This is a classic and iconic album that transports me back being a teen in the 90’s. I was heavy into grunge at the time, but the Beastie Boys were such an integral part of popular culture that’s it’s impossible not to have been influenced by them. There’s so much creativity and depth to this album, and I love the jazz influences. The vibes are fun and funky and I couldn’t help but smile and bop along. Great album!

Τέρμα καλό

Can’t go wrong with the beastie boys

A banger of an album.

Getting an album you love makes you feel bad knocking any other album While it contains some of the Boys’ most iconic songs, Ill Communication is disjointed. I wish they put it out as 3 albums, a higher energy rock/punk album, a sampling album like Paul’s boutique, and a funk album like later, mid 00’s boys. This album overall doesn’t feel like it works as well as an album as each song individually. It well demonstrates their expanding sound, and they’re clearly still the Beastie Boys, but it feels rushed in a way their other work doesn’t.

for me, the album is a 3, but "Sabotage" alone is a 5, so we'll call it a 4 and move on

I've never really listened to anything Beastie Boys aside from No Sleep, but a video of them performing Sabotage on some late night show popped up for me a few days ago and it made me interested in listening to them. Lo and also Behold they were the album of the day not even a week later. I had a good time with this one and will definitely be checking out more of them in the future

The shrill, scream-y Beastie Boys sound has never really been my favorite, so I did not look forward to this album. I ended up being pleasantly surprised, however. Loved the jazzy samples, percussion, and instrumentals on this one. I checked to make sure I was listening to the right album 3-4 times around the middle of it. This one will need another listen.

The best Beastie Boys album, IMO. Hard to find a bad Q-Tip feature, but damn this one is good.

A bit too long but Beasties are stellar.

The most unique, all-encompassing hip hop album out there. Here, the Beastie Boys have made it to their late 20’s and are seeing the bigger picture of music and how they fit into it. Ill Communication is a love letter to the genres that inspired them, and a gift to the next generation. We’ve got punk tracks that bring us back to the group’s roots. Some core Beastie Boys raps with Sure Shot and Root Down. Sabotage fuses these genres together, and is why it still makes me want to run through a wall. Tons of great samples. Collabs with Q-Tip and Biz Markie. Inventive hip-hop techniques. But what’s even more unique on this album are the instrumental jazz, funk, and world tracks like Sabrosa, Futterman’s Rule, and Shambala. They’ve used a bunch of samples throughout, but these songs are creating new hooks to sample and rap over. What makes this record so special is hearing an iconic group putting out hits while also generating fresh and unexpected stuff.

One of the best hip hop albums

It's pretty good. Beastie Boys obviously have good flow, but some of the tracks are far too overly stylized, beyond the point of recognizable words. It has little to do with the vocals, but more-so the vocal filters. It like the beats and most songs, there's just the rare song that doesn't quite hit for me. The style is undeniably East Coast, which is not my preference, but this album is probably nearer the top of the pile for me as far as EC rap goes.

Muito divertido

Love the jazzy parts!

distinto muy burno

Classic that I have not listened to in ages. Some real bangers that I completely forgot about. A bit too long since their schtick can get repetitive but I feel that way about every Beastie album.

Much better than I expected. Several songs I thought: these guys are really good. And most of the he songs I liked. The ones with more rock content I didn't like that much. So, overall, a pretty good album. 4/5.

Amazing album, so much stuff happens there: punk, hip-hop, funk, jazz, samples, noises, flutes?

I enjoyed quite a few of their songs. I relisten to some of them actually.

Strong showing from the Beastie Boys. You can tell they have a lot of love and respect for hip hop as a genre, and brought their own unique sound and perspective to this album. Overall- good album. Probably in the 3.5-4.0 range

wo..wow!

Good album I liked it. The beastie boys sound like you're listening to them underwater and has a slightly edgy vibe feel to it. Sabotage is a great song, but most of the songs on the album hit well. 8/10

Argument to be made this is their best work from a creative standpoint but I do think I'd choose Paul's Boutique over it if pushed

Sabotage is the only one i had heard from the album before reviewing.. Sure shot : The sample definitely carried the song throughout, but its not a bad hip hop track - After which we switch up to more of a punk rock / hardcore vibe; decent but not too memorable. Root down: Funky track with nice instrumentals, the vocals dont really do it for me though, a bit too repetitive for me. Get it together, great hip-hop track, nice lyricism. Overall I liked the hip hop and instrumental parts better than the punk-y tracks. 4/5

8/10

Comes out with some bangers before tailing off at the end.

I completely underestimated the Beastie Boys for, like, my whole life. I always liked a few tunes, but assumed they were just sort of fun white dude hip hop in that traditional 80s basic 2-and-4 flow style. Nah, these dudes were innovators and true artists. Great album.

Found this site and the book through listening to Streets 2nd album again after a conversation w my friend on the bus. Disinterested in this way of listening to music but never hurts to explore stuff so and craving a schedule during my dissertation period. Have already listened to this album numerous times; big Beastie Boys fan the bridging of their earlier Punk sound with the Hip Hop sound into this cool hybrid album makes an awesome listening experience. Finding out Adam Yauch was buddhist really added to my listening when I came up to Bodhisattva Vow. My thesis and general philosophical ouvre is founded upon much Buddhist thought and I think it will stick with me through my future career and eventual scholarshiphood.

Nostalgic and maybe a lil corny but still a great listen with some surprisingly diverse tracks

Rap, groove, and Buddhist chants

the attitude, the eastern influences, the genre bending... A classic. love it when they let the music doing real communication.

Stupid fun.

Best: The update Overall rating: 8/10

Einige Songs sehr sehr geil. Wenige gar nicht

Favorite Track: Sabotage

It’s alright, it’s beastie boys

4.5

Pretty good

This is a Sure Shot. Get It Together and listen to this album. Do It.

So I like the sound, i loved the mix of rock with some good synts and a touch of techno (how i see it)

Fun, nostalgic :)

veel bangers ma ook af en toe een liedje da k echt ni bien vind

4,5

This is an iconic album from my youth, and I think it holds up with great beats and hooks. Remembering the legendary "Sabotage" video certainly doesn't hurt

I had heard of Beastie Boys before, but knew very little about them. I had no idea what their genre was or what they really did in the music industry. This album was a pleasant surprise and a great introduction to the group. I enjoyed the versatility of the tracks, including the number of instrumentals scattered throughout, adding variation. The changes in genre for the backing tracks also add another layer to the tracks. There were several tracks that I really had fun listening to. However, there have to be some honourable mentions for creativity, such as Heart Attack Man and Shambala. Favourites: Get It Together Alright Hear This Flute Loop

Doesn’t match up to Paul’s Boutique, but it comes real close.

Shit slams

I can’t really every know if I like the beastie boys or not but I do want to listen to this album more in depth sometime

Alright. Maybe I haven't given the Beasties as fair of a look as I should have. I'm actually starting to like some of their work and appreciate there broad musical range a bit more. Enjoyable album, if a bit long. Might give a listen again.

Angry, angsty, noisy energy. Enjoyed the whole composition but nothing standout, beyond perhaps sabotage?

I usually don't like this type of rock, but this one just works. It's pretty good!

No more beastie boys for a bit Better than the other album though

4/5 Favorite Songs: Sure Shot Sabotage Futterman's Rule Transitions

Some of their best stuff is on here, though none of it in the second half

I don't like hip-hop in general How strange...

This was all around better than their debut honestly. Will def return to it.

This album does a fantastic job of mixing the jazz-influenced hip-hop popularized by groups like A Tribe Called Quest and the hardcore punk origins of the band. Overall a great album, would probably listen again, maybe not all in one sitting though. Standout tracks IMO are Sure Shot, Sabotage, Heart Attack Man, and Root Down.

Such a complex album, multiple musical styles sometimes in the same song, but they are cohesive and the samples and live playing just set a real atmosphere. It’s cool and like the soundtrack to the best party you’ve ever been too. It could have done with a bit of editing but that’s a minor gripe

Incredible beats, I love 'Sure Shot', and 'Sabotage' is unbeatable. Great album all around.

Mon premier album de 1001albumsgenerator.com. Beaucoup d'énergie, j'ai envie de sauter dans tous les sens et de casser/créer des trucs en rythme avec ces titres. L'esthétique des clips est hyper inspirante, les couleurs, le montage, le storytelling. Il y a quelque chose de réel et de rafraichissant. J'aime bien les vocalises du début de Get it Together. Certains titres me rappellent ceux des films Osean's, d'autres mélangent des sonorités d'autres cultures, surtout la deuxième moitié de l'album :) Top titres : Sabotage, Get it Together, Sabrosa

I generally enjoy a lot of Beastie Boys work, this one just didn't really hit for me this time around. It starts off good with the first few tracks that really get the energy pumping. I do like how Rock-filled this one was compared to earlier work. It does kind of lose focus as it goes on, the songs just go by without really being memorable, the Shambala and Buddha songs aside.

A bit of everything, really interesting

This isn't exactly for me but it's perfect for the people it's for. If there's any version of the Beastie Boys that clicks for me, it's this one. I'm slightly rounding up just because of how hard Sabotage hits when it comes in.

I love this album. It has a bunch that f huge, well known bangers on there obviously, but what I love about it is how it lets you take a breath every now and then, and then proceeds to rip your head off. I love the punk songs that make it in here, as well as the heavy instrumentals across a lot of the tracks. A fun album and an awesome nostalgia hit

GRAN ALBUM

Great to finally get to listen to this classic. Iconic gritty sound and an early case of using odd samples (like the little goat screams on the second or third song). Some good classic early hip hop vibes. Enjoyed the spotify radio station that came from it too.

Good not great Beasties. When I listen to them I tend to stick to the first two albums, but they were pretty darned consistent throughout their career— great samples, madcap lyrics, interesting melting of genres. Love the Q-Tip feat. on this one, plus no on can deny the iconic spike jonze “Sabotage” video!

They give you a new general vibe with each new record, yet stay true to the roots of what made them great. They got Sabotage on this one, which leads heavier into the rock than the rap. It's a bit of a trip and is still one of my favorites of al time from them. This album still isn't quite as iconic as License to ill, but it's still very good.

Cool album.

There's everything in this album. It's classic hip-hop with influences from, punk rock, jazz and just great flow. I really like this mix and this feeling.

Tämähän oli erittäin hyvä. Räppiä, punkkia ja hyviä sampleja.

Might go on a touch too long, but so many great songs. 4 1/2 stars.

Listen all you'll its a Sabotage!

6 days ago I had Beastie Boys - Licence To Ill. I think that album was a little better, more even. This is definetly a good album too, but it has a little more fillers compared to hits. Sabotage is the bands strongest song, and there’s quite a few other good ones. Favourite songs: Sabotage, Sure shot, Flute Loop.

molto molto interessante come album, purtroppo non l’ho ascoltato tutto però particolare

Mi ha gasato non poco questo mix di rap hip hop e rock

Super fedt men efter lidt tid bliver jeg også lidt træt i ørene af det. Men i små mængder holder det 100%.

Cool 90s HipHop with Rock elements. Never heard of that group before but actually really enjoyed that album. Some tracks better than others but in general cool though.

Maybe my least favourite Beastie Boys album I’ve heard so far, but still a very fun listen. It’s energetic, quick, and not too serious.

My communication is ill cuz I can't think of what to say.

9/10 yeahh boiiiiiiiii

AYYYYYY

80* Stakkels kartoffelmos :/ Ekstra nostalgi point for at være soundtrack til besøg hos mine ældre fætre i Viby, hvor der blev spillet LOTR på PS2 mens vi blastede beastie boys og jøden.

Nobody fused hip-hop and rock influences better than these guys.

I used to listen to this cassette on repeat in my car around ages 23-25. It holds up real well (and MUCH better than Licensed to Ill, which really grossed me out on relisten). This album showed everyone BB were actually a great *band* and they had serious musical range. They somehow blend rap and rock (without sounding like lugheaded "rap-rock") with jazz and funk in a coherent way. 3 other thoughts... -I've heard "Sabotage" a million times, but it really is a great song. I can't think of a single other song by any other band that really sounds like it. -I've gotta give a shout out to The In Sound From Way Out, which is their highly underrated instrumental album that came out shortly after Ill Communication. -"Get It Together" might be the best thing they ever recorded.

Fire. Loved the copious amount of instrumental tracks. 4.5.

Overall, it’s a great album from a punk band that turned to hip-hop in an attempt to reinvent themselves. What’s impressive is how they can jump from a super aggressive track straight into a jazz interlude entirely played by the band.

For the first half of this it was a solid 3 (Sabotage is just excellent, the rest was a bit touch and go) but the second half is so consistently good that I think I may need to put this in frequent rotation... It may deserve a 4 when all is said and done In any case, the whole thing just exudes love for music and on that I'm on board with the boys

this record was fun FUN! it really rocks ROCKS it's so diverse VERSE It blew off my socks SOCKS

Unique sound. It is always fun to listen to Beastie boys.

For a long time I've considered the Beastie Boys to be one of the most overrated bands ever. And I really didn't like Paul's Boutique at all, and Intergalactic was an instant radio station switch each time it can every 30 minutes in 1999-2000. Listening to this makes me reassess.

really chaotic and funky, ill give it to them

Достаточно неплохой альбом с фанково-джазовым звучанием и даже эдакими вкраплениями панка. Мне показался достаточно затянутым и длинным, мне кажется, стоило остановится примерно на 13 треке. В альбоме также понравились приятные инструментальные перебивки, что, как мне кажется, весьма необычно для хип-хоп альбома.

This album continues to slap hard. Not as great as Paul's Boutique, which keeps growing on me, but good. The line "the disrespect to women has got to be through..." still brings stinging tears to my eyes.

Dope album, fun to listen to and a great blend of punk and hip hop aesthetics. Favorite track: Ricky’s Theme

This is the first time listening to a full Beastie Boys album for me, I had only known their singles over the years. I was surprised at how musical this is, with instrumental tracks and all. I also didn’t realize they did the music side too, thought it was just the vocals. The variety here was nice too, like the punk tracks thrown in there too.

PHRESH

At times I forgot I was listening to the Beastie Boys; I thought this was a step up from Licensed to Ill.

Another classic that was played a lot around the house growing up, it’s Ill Communication by the Beastie Boys. Favourite track: very hard to choose, but to be contrarian, I’m going with Root Down.

Bursting over with different NYC sounds, like trying on one hundred different headphones in a Tower Records. And it all sounds amazing. Massively eclectic stuff, this and Check Your Head are a massive maturation as stylists. The whole thing is seamless, really great stuff. Almost makes me envious but then I remember, I never played music Favorite Tracks: Tough Guy, B-Boys Makin With the Freak Freak, Sabotage, Get It Together, Futterman's Rule, Bodhisattva Vow

A top notch hip hop record with lots of groovy and funky detours in the way of instrumental interludes. The songcraft is peak, and even though the lyrics could use some work, the detail in the production is still absolutely fire and makes up for any of the repetition in that department. I will say that sometimes the aforementioned detours do take me out of it sometimes, but the highlights are phenomenal.

Banger of an album! Like a lot of albums of that time, lots of interludes that are a bit of a miss. Strong songs, great lyrics and absolute stellar beat!

Fun, rowdy. Bit more punky in places than I expected.

Beastie Boys are just fun. Their sound evolved but the fun was the constant.

Honestly…I groaned when I saw this come up this morning but I’m enjoying it wayyyy more than I thought I would. There’s some jams on here; shocked but 4 stars

I enjoyed Sabotage, and the fun rage that I enjoy in today's rap artists like Rico Nasty. But the best parts of the album were the non rap/hip-hop tracks, like Eugene's Lament and the jazz samples.

Beforehand I always Beastie Boys music a hit or a miss. Sometimes it’s catchy as hell (YOU GOTTA FIGHT. FOR YOUR RIGHT. TO PARRRRRTAYYYYY) and then other times it just gets on my nerves because I find it annoying. There’s some real gems in here that aren’t Sabatoge. I thought the instrumental track Sabrosa was awesome with that bass line. Actually I loved all the instrumental tracks. I think they were the highlight for me. I thought it brought a lot of depth to the album adding in a nice jazz touch and a break from the craziness that the MCs bring. Loved this record. Really shined a light and it brought on a new respect to the Beastie Boys

Really cool album, teeming with ideas. Proto nu metal, funk, all kinds of great stuff. I do have to say the vocal delivery is only meh so four stars I guess.

Heck Yeah!!

Sabia que os Beastie Boys são uns dos pioneiros do hip hop. Não sabiam é que eram tão criativos e que misturavam vários géneros. Mas se pensar bem até faz sentido. O hip hop naquela altura ainda quase não existia, portanto tinha de nascer de algo. E o rock, o punk e o funk (por exemplo) foram algumaa das bases. Finalmente ouvi um album deles e gostei!

The coldest group of white boys since the Vikings

Alright Beastie Boys, coming back from Paul's Botique with an album I actually like more. Fair. You've earned your 4.

I eat the fuckin’ pineapple Now or Laters

goeie mix van stijlen... gaat verveling uit de weg door geen hele plaat te rappen... meer van dat!

buen mezcla de géneros, buenas vibras, no skips.

way better than i remember

Rap, hip-hop, samples, white boys screaming, catchy melodies and a lot of scratching. I'm in. Plus, Sabotage is probably the best introductory song to any stage act, ever.

Paul's Boutique et Check Your Head sont des écoutes essentielles. Celui-là pourrait laisser sa place dans la liste. 3.75 étoiles

From Root Down on I was obsessed. I loved this album, especially the percussive elements and balance between fun punky numbers and jazzy tracks. Futterman’s Rule was so sick, and Eugene’s Lament had my jaw on the floor. So unexpected, so surprisingly refined, and well done. I liked that this album had a focus on the music than the vocals/lyrics more so than the last Beastie Boys album I listened to on this list, Paul’s Boutique. This is like a more mature version, still with fun vocals and group dynamic, but more reserved and punchy.

C'était vachement bien et bien surprenant

Franchement pas mal

Songzeile: Talking shit about a mile a minute Put the wax on the table and let the DJ spin it Well, excuse me, motherfuckers, can I beg your pardon? I'm gonna see the Knicks at the Madison Square Garden alles gesammelt und gemixt und selbst Epigonenarmeeauslöser geworden - zu recht

I can not understand almost any word, but it's a very enjoyable album anyway, with lot of creativity (from classical flute, to garage punk, to buddhist chants).

Banger- more instrumental than I anticipated

Can we stop pretending like these guys ain’t peak! Super fun album. Theirs a random devil fiddle solo from the devil went down to Georgia it sounds like in the middle which is actually surprisingly pretty tough. Idk this group just works somehow, don’t know how?

Chunky. Groovy. Hint of grime. Love it.

Someone call the doctor cause I’m officially ill

Me ha encantado. No tenía ni idea de que hacían una música tan variada. Muy de los 90

Í enjoyed this album way more that the other Beatie Boys album that I got to review some weeks before. I liked that they had more real instruments playing and not so many samples, they also were screaming less in this album which I really disliked on the other album. So this was a pleasant surprise.

Classic 90's hiphop, its no wonder Beasty Boys are considered one of the greats of that era

I like the vibes. Never really listened to them before

I love the old hiphop vibe, and this sounds like a more old-school Joey Valence and Brae. The experimental sound is also very refreshing.

it's the beastie boys, sabotage is on this album, it's good thrash music

My favourite Beastie album, èdging out Pauls on nostalgic grounds. All over the place in a good way. Their signature punk/rock hip hop sequence flawlessly into jazz, back again, then add some funk. They really do get a disservice by the party band label that undervalues their work both musically and as producers. 4 Star

Fun but gotta be in the right vibe

The first bit of the album I felt it was just kinda waiting to get "Sabotage", but after, I was impressed. Each track came by with energy, catchiness, and great underlying music and beats. ,

I really enjoyed re-visiting this album, it brought back a lot of good memories of being a student, hanging out with mates, smoking weed, playing video games and just talking shit together. A few banger tracks and some cool instrumentals sprinkled throughout, 5 stars is probably generous, but the slightly superior record 'Check Your Head' is not featured, so sod it.

Nicht nur ill sonder auch sick.

Not my style, but in the same time exactly my style. I weirdly enjoyed it!

This is really good album that except for a couple moments still feels very modern. There are some tracks on it I absolutely love, and some that don’t hit as hard but probably because I haven’t heard them enough. Every beastie song I hear I start off not liking and eventually love.

Punk hip hop? Punk jazz hip hop? I guess the B Boys were a punk or punkish band before Licensed to Ill. I'm not sure how to label this one, but creative and different might fit. This is a pretty great album. Could be the soundtrack to the next party, when I have one.

I like this recording a great deal. The cuts on the recording demonstrate to me how The Beastie Boys grew in the near decade since release of License to Ill which I loved when it came out. Check the Tuvan throat singing (or at least what sounds like Tuvan throat singing) on the track Shambala.

Not my usual choice but really fun. They're always yelling. Loved the instrumental tracks.

Highlights: - Sure Shot - B-Boys Makin’ With The Freak Freak - Root Down - Sabotage - Get It Together

I can be hit or miss on Beastie Boys, but this is mostly a hit. I was surprised to hear actual punk songs on here, and it has a few well-known singles. There's kinda too many tracks, but overall I liked it. 3.5/5

Love the hardcore punk parts. And basically everything on here

4.5

Je m’attendais à rien et j’ai été hyper surprise, j’adore quand un album fait un mix de plein de genres et la le mix jazz + hip hop + funk + punk ça m’a régalé. Parfois j’ai trouvé ça un peu long 20 sons.

This is my shit

Heavy rock, highlighted with the song "Sabotage".

Wow I was very surprised by this one. As this is the 3rd Beastie Boys album on this list so far, I was very ready to write them off completely as kinda cheesy old school rap. However, compared to their previous work, this was much more varied and interesting. I will come back to this.

ive never heard this typa music but this album was fresh as fuck, all over the place in a good way. favourites were prolly sabroasa and the scoop

game changer. innovation and creativity abound, they are everything here - visiting many genres and making it their own. powerhouse

I forgot how friggin awesome these guys are and this album in particular is their best. If you know me, you know hip-hop is not my thing but the interplay between the 3 of them is electric. Nobody was doing what they were. They are pure fun, having a blast going from punk to disco to rock to rap. All of it works. Sabotage is an all time banger.

I love the millions of young kids saw the video for Sabotage and took the journey with this album. There is a 10 song version of this album that is simply all killer. But then there's a bunch of other stuff. Its certainly in line with 90s CD bloat. While most other artists just add in songs nobody needs to hear just so you feel like your getting more value i do think the jams are additive here. Not every whim is a classic but they are pieces of the puzzle. Not to overthink it because they seem to be having a great time.

Kick it root down.

Sûre shot

4.5/5. This album just hits. Sees the beastie boys go in a much more live-band sounding direction musically where you get beats that vary between rock, jazz, punk and even some throat singing ear the end of the record. I may still prefer the insane burst of sampling creativity on Paul’s Boutique, but this is a fantastic album.

This was actually really awesome. Beastie boys haven't always been my bag but there's so many great beats on here and the album goes in all different directions...which is sweet

Beastie Boys always makes me feel like I’m I a good cocktail bar circa 2016 and although it’s from 1994, those were really the days you know? Getting a martini for the first time and choking it down for the olive alone, I feel like that’s what the Beastie Boys are all about. It’s a fun time, it’ll make you wiggle and also, if you want, have a little headbang at your desk. Why not? Life is short and mundane. I like this album. 7/10

I usually only listen to Paul's Boutique when it comes to Beastie Boys, but it's nice to mix things up, I like the nods to their hardcore roots and frequent shifts into psychedelic jazz and experimental groove. Better than I was expecting, and more experimental in terms of production. Enjoyed Sabotage more than usual in the wider context of the record. Starts with a really great flow to the whole thing, though it lags a bit in the middle and could probably be tightened up. In general, a highly enjoyable listen.

it's was my first time listening to the Beastie Boys, it was a surprise how good this album is; a mix of funk, hip-hop and rock. i like the long interludes that it contains👍🏽 for sure my favorite song is The Update but Sure Shot, Alright Hear This, Do it, & The Scoop arer really good too.

I love it when an album that I'm completely familiar with comes up. I feel like I've been given a day off or something. I know this album so well that there was no need to listen to it again, but I did. Happily. 4 stars.

This album definitely grew on me. At first I honestly didn’t really like the album, but im glad I kept listening. It ended up being a pretty solid album that was pretty unique sonically. My favorite tracks were Sabotage and The Scoop.

Never heard it before. I think it's a good album. There's influences from different music genres, which I appreciate. First half of the album is (much) better than the second; the second seems to drag on a little too much. 7.5 / 10

Perfectly toes the line of heavy and subtle. 4A

The illist. While I don't love every track on this record, it's always interesting and very listenable. I don't remember there being so many music-only tracks on this one.

8/10

The Beastie Boys' trademarked sound exemplifies the feeling of the 90s. 4.5/5

I had the complete wrong idea of the beastie boys. Some fun stuff

Interesting listen, still don't fully get the Beastie Boys but this album helped me understand a bit better. Loved the beats and instrumentals, still not bought on the white-boy rap style though. Listened to while walking around a snow covered Paris though, and repeated a few songs. Sabotage was amazing on second listen, and is an exception to the white-boy rap comment made above.

Ebin

Comes out of the gun like an absolute tornado with an incredible first half. Not just the songs themselves, but the way they are sequenced to lure you in and slap you in the face in equal measure. Oh, you liked the smooth hip-hop of Sure Shot? Well, how do you like a bit of hardcore, Tough Guy?! Then they do it again with Root Down and Sabotage, followed by the superb Q-Tip contribution on Get It Together. It's great fun and you can feel the Boys progressing from the sampling and beats of Paul's Boutique and the rapping and break beats of Check Your Head. Every time it feels like they are getting serious, they break things up with another giggle. My only gripe here is how the second half fades and has fewer really memorable tracks. Its highs are right up there with their best but it doesn't quite have the consistency across a whole hour for full marks in my book.

The Beastie Boys are so much fun. I am more familiar with Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head, so this was a real treat. Definitely one I will be coming back to!

enjoyed more than i was expecting! def will relisten to songs. was not expecting the tibetan buddhist chants but vibed

only really lsitned to Sabotage before this. i enjoyed :) its fun how extremely recognizable the beasties whole meter thing is

Fantastic.

Franchement pas la du tout, le début est assez redondant mais après on rentre bien dedans. Jaime bcp les changements d'instru de différentes origines.

8.0/10

dont like beastie boys i guess

This had a lot more music/acoustics than I expected!!