Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill

The joke of Licensed to Ill's cover--that the Beasties could crash their jet into the side of a mountain and keep on tickin'--serves as a good metaphor for a career that even some of their 1986 admirers thought might be over after the one-time-only shock of this full-length debut. That thousands of funk-junkie wannabes have since failed at re-creating its groove, breaking-the-law vibe, and ear-splitting mix of rock and rap is an even better joke. And funniest of all is the record itself, which packs dexterous boasts, aural puns, and lots and lots of yelling into a disc that can still be listened to with as much pleasure as it gave in '86. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com essential recording

Wack!! Support Lil Wayne, Puff Daddy, and Fred Durst!

This is a disgrace to true rap/rock acts like Limp Bizkit, Korn, and Kid Rock!! Plus the rappin' on here is whack!!!

For TRUE rap or rap/rock listen to

Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, Lil Wayne, Puff Daddy, Garth Brooks, and Madonna! December 28, 2008

Hip-Hop that will ROCK your socks off! (5 stars)

When examining the over-the-top gangsta posturing of mainstream hip-hop in the past 15 years, it's easy to see why some cats neglect to pay homage to one of the golden age's finest. This album single-handedly popularized hip-hop in all aspects of mainstream music, as it was the first #1 album in hip-hop history. Rick Rubin's uncanny mix of old school party beats over highly memorable rock samples is one of the most copied formulas in hip-hop history. It stands as some of Rubin's most memorable and excellent production ever. The production isn't the only reason this album was as wildly successful as it was. King Ad-Rock, MCA, and Mike D were three of the most relatable emcee's in history. They were a tight-knit crew of white party-loving fratboy-type dudes that appealed to the white suburbanite crowd on a grand scale - boosting their success to unrivaled numbers.

Every cut on this 1986-classic is fire - forget about skip material. I remember listening the opening cut, "Rhymin & Stealin", for the first time ever, and being blown away by the Sabbath, Zeppelin & Clash samples. It seemed revolutionary from the get-go. My two favorites were always the Trouble Funk-inflicted "The New Style" & ridiculous stylings of "Posse in Effect". The undisputed classic singles are "Fight for Your Right" (who doesn't remember this video!), "Paul Revere", "Brass Monkey" & "Hold It Now, Hit It". Even the non-singles, such as "No Sleep till Brooklyn" & the goofy "Girls" were classic tracks, and the mashed-up samples in "Time to Get Ill" were phenomenal.

Overall, if you're taking a pass on the Beastie Boys, you are missing out on an essential piece of hip-hop history, now matter how you slice it. This classic-filled gem may be one of the funnest rides in the history of rap. This was just the first of many outstanding albums from this unstoppable trio. August 1, 2008

Old News

I like there later stuff, but Rap like rock reaches a point where there's no where new to go! May 11, 2008

One of the best

I love to listen to Jerry Lewis rap. I have a good time every time I listen to this album. April 27, 2008

Classic, but gets old.

Classic but dated. If you looking for Beastie Boys albums that have great Hip-Hop beats and don't have that 80's Young MC/Run-DMC sound, purchase Ill Communication or Check Your Head. The Root Down Ep is also ace! If you're looking for some great instrumental Jazz/Funk/Lounge music, The In Sounds From Way Out is a great purchase. But if that 80's hip-hop sound is what you're looking for, this is the album to buy. October 5, 2007

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