Are you implying that the Beastie Boys are not considered credible rappers? I suspect you listened to their very early misogynist, party songs, (recorded when they were very young), formed your opinion, then never listened to them again. Too bad, since all 7 albums they released since then have reached double platinum at least (Hello Nasty reached Quadruple Platinum).
Not that making money is a sign of credibility. But how about this:
In 1995, upon the release of Ill Communication, they founded the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. Proceeds from all concerts that year, as well as all the royalties from two songs on that album, were donated to the fund.
Then in 1996 they held the first Tibetan Freedom Concert - a benefit concert with proceeds going to the Milarepa fund. Also playing at this concert: A Tribe Called Quest, Beck, Bjork, Cibo Matto, De La Soul, Foo Fighters, Fugees, John Lee Hooker, Pavement, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Yoko Ono and Ima, Buddy Guy, Biz Markie, Skatalites, Richie Havens, Chaksam-Pa, and guest speakers Tibet House founder Robert Thurman and Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan monk who endured 33 years of torture and imprisonment for nonviolent protest.
In 1997, they held another one. This one featured U2, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Rancid, KRS-One, the Patti Smith Group, Alanis Morissette and others.
Another one in 1998: Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, R.E.M, Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Sonic Youth, Luscious Jackson and a surprise finale’ by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others.
In the wake of September 11th, the Milarepa-organized, Beastie Boys-headlined New Yorkers Against Violence benefit took place. The funds were disbursed to the New York Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–organizations chosen for their efforts on behalf of those affected by the September 11th attacks least likely to receive help from other sources.
The NYAV line-up included the Strokes, the B-52’s, Cibo Matto, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mos Def, NER*D, Rival Schools, the Roots, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Saul Williams, Stretch Armstrong, Afrika Bambaata, Moby, Michael Stipe, and Bono. Speakers at the event included Yoko Ono, Ibrahim Ramey of the Muslim Peace Fellowship, Benjamin Barber of Democracy Collaborative, Yanki Tshering of NYANA, Miriam Buhl of the NYWF, while surprise intros came from Jimmy Fallon, Sean Lennon, and the Beastie Boys.
Feel free to dislike them, but to imply that they are not credible rappers, as you can see, is rather ludicrous. They are one of the most highly respected bands alive right now, not just in the Hip Hop genre.
[sub]Bands and dates I couldn’t remember gleaned from here[/sub]
