My dad loves the Beastie Boys. So much so, that when he was in high school, he started a Beastie Boys-esque rap group. They called themselves the “Def Rap Crew.” My dad and his fellow crew members spent an entire summer mowing lawns to save up enough to buy a mixer and turntables. However, one member of the “Def Rap Crew” decided to pocket the money instead. The crew disbanded soon thereafter. 

Although the “Def Rap Crew” never came to fruition, the group still remained close friends. Then, in 1987, my dad and the other crew members went to their first Beastie Boys concert. When asked about the experience, my dad said, “They sounded like a train wreck, acted like idiots… but it was awesome. Very wild and fun. One of the best shows ever.” All this to say, my dad’s adolescence was greatly impacted by the Beastie Boys. 

Inspired by this story, my first official YourBlog post is going to involve the Beastie Boys. Specifically, I want to discuss their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill. Not only was the record a smash hit (it was the first hip-hop album to reach #1 on the Billboard Top 200), but it was also a turning point for the New York City band. 

In their 2018 memoir, Beastie Boys Book, band members “Mike D” and “ADROCK” recount the origin of their unique musical sound. Prior to the release of Licensed to Ill, the Beastie Boys exclusively played punk music. However, when “The Boys” collaborated with acclaimed producer Rick Rubin, a punk-infused hip-hop sound was born. The album is rowdy, with lyrics that exude an aggressive cockiness. Licensed to Ill is about having fun and feeling good (even if it is at the expense of others). 

I’m generally an anxious person, but when I listen to Licensed to Ill, I feel ready to take on the world. Although it may seem bizarre, listening to Beastie Boys music is quite therapeutic for me. Honestly, I find the abrasive voices of Mike D, ADROCK, and MCA to be reassuring. Lyrics like, “I’m not the type of person who likes to waste my time,” and, “I’m cool, calm, and collected,” have been my daily affirmations since high school. The Beastie Boys want everyone to know that they do not care, and these lyrics essentially hit you over the head with their declaration of rebellion. 

While I struggled to emulate the “Beastie-Boy confidence” during my senior year of high school, I also decided to share Licensed to Ill with my younger sister, Chloe. We both attended the same dance studio, so we spent a lot of time commuting together in my car. Obviously, since it was my car, I was, “on aux” most of the time (sidenote: this is my favorite unsaid rule of music). Typically, I would gravitate more towards bold hip-hop and punk rock music to decompress after a long day at school, so Licensed to Ill was one of my go-to picks for my after-school drive. My sister fell in love with the album. After about a month, she had mastered “The New Style” rap, and we would often scream along to other classic songs like “Fight For Your Right” and “Brass Monkey.” With my car windows down, stereo up, and my sister on the passenger side/in the passenger seat, we were truly unstoppable—in a way, we became the “Beastie Girls” 

All this to say, Licensed to Ill is an incredible album for many reasons. It topped the charts, broke records, launched the Beastie Boys into stardom, and it brought me closer to my family. This is the power of music: it’s uniquely universal, yet personal. Ultimately, my personal reasons for loving the Beastie Boys are just as legitimate as any music critic, hip-hop scholar, or record label executive’s reasons.

The multidimensional nature of music is what I plan to explore in this blog. Every album I discuss will have a connection to pop culture or music history. Likewise, they will also be relevant to my life in some way. You can learn so much about someone through their taste in music. By sharing my favorite albums on this blog, I will give you a glimpse into my complicated and (hopefully) entertaining life.

Until next time,

Claire

Photograph: Pinterest