Step 1: tell people what your name is
Step 2: tell people where you are from
Step 3: put a catchy beat over it
Step 4: profit!
What’s funny is that I was listening to XM this morning, “Hey Ladies” came on, and I was thinking “I should start a Beasties appreciation thread.” And here I am, and someone already did it. Crazy.
I like the way they…WALK!
Also worth noting: While their is no shortage of song sampling within Hip Hop music, they have some absolutely great sampling in their recordings.
Its funny that I should get called on making this mistake, because I can’t seem to stop doing it! Every time in conversation with someone either in person, over the internet or whatever when the topic of the Beasties comes up, I invariably mention this song and call it by the wrong name…which is stupid because in the chorus part right before the funky keyboard break, the song basically stops and says “Shake…Your…Rump-AH”!
:smack:
Here’s a link to Shake Your Rump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS0Ew3qKql8
Frankly, this is a pretty lame video (except for the mystified cat on the turntable!) by their standards, which are usually pretty inventive, but I just really like this song. Seeing them jumping around and posturing in their 1980’s-era rap garb is worth a laugh too.
The instrumentals that they include on most albums are way more sophisticated than a non-fan would expect. Some of them are pretty passable as serious acid jazz.
It is nice to see so much validation for the Beasties being so awesome, because I’m in that bad Venn diagram place in life where things I like might actually be awesome … OR … the fact that I (white, dorky, middle aged) like them is proof that the thing is awful. It’s hard to tell when you yourself are the intersection point.
I saw them on the Licensed to Ill tour (I am trying to remember who opened … maybe Murphy’s Law?) and there is something to be said for the success of the marketing. It was heavily promoted within the punk community, and that was the primary audience that came out for the show. The concept of local girls competing to cage dance on stage was a big draw as well.
Oh right. Somehow I forgot to mention that a big part of their appeal is the fact that they don’t take themselves seriously even when they decide, once in a while, to deliver a message.
I think their most commercially popular song (and my least favorite) was Fight For Your Right (to paaaaartaaaey).
My personal favs:
Sure Shot
Brass Monkey
Intergalactic
Ch-check it out
Brass Monkey got the craziest freakin’ beat! Love it. I’m going to go ahead and admit that Intergalactic was the last song I loved from them, then I jumped off. Their newer stuff just didn’t grab me. Their old school stuff is classic.
Also “Girls” and “Rhymin’ And Stealin’”.
And has anyone mentioned “Three MCs and One DJ” yet? That song rocks.
Because they are down with Adrock and Mike D. and you ain’t and they got more juice than Picasso got paint.
They’re real, not phony “O.E.” and Rice-a-Roni.
I’d never, ever heard a song of theirs till now. I probably won’t hear another of their songs again. I don’t get it.
sigh
Do I gotta do everything around here?
-Girls
-Rhymin’ and Stealin’
-Three MCs and One DJ
-Brass Monkey
-Intergalactic
-Shadrach
-Pass the Mic
-Body Movin’
-So Whatcha Want
-Paul Revere
-Sabotage
-She’s Crafty
I have to say, I didn’t expect this many people would reply to my Beastie Boys thread. 
Pffft, the Boys are awesome. Their concert/DVD “I Fucking Shot that!” Was quite good too.
If you are not already nursing crushes on them (man-crushes or otherwise), you will be after you watch their video anthology DVD. And their commentary is hilarious.
Bonus performance of “Right Right Now Now”, “Shazam!”, and interview with Conan O’Brien.
I actually can see not liking Licensed To Ill.
Their later efforts are much more mature, approachable and zany.