Rating: 9/10

Track Amount: 23

Running Time: 53 minutes and 10 seconds

Genre: Hip-Hop

Personnel: Mike D (vocals, drums and percussion), MCA (vocals, bass), Ad-Rock (vocals, guitar)

Producer: Beastie Boys, Dust Brothers, Mario Caldato Jr.

Recording Location: Matt Dike’s Living Room, Adam Yauch’s apartment, The Record Plant, The Opium Den, Los Angeles

Record Label: EMI/Capitol

Art Direction: Jeremy Shatan

Best Tracks: To All The Girls, Hey Ladies, 5-Piece Chicken Dinner

Quick Verdict: The most intelligent Hip Hop album ever made

In the development of Hip Hop and Rap Music, this album is quintessential in the progress of that sort of music. This is often seen as the equivalent of The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), which changed music forever. In this instance, the comparison makes perfect sense for Hip Hop Music. This album is noteworthy for sampling over 100 songs with low copyright fees for that, compared to what is charged today. The album was delivered at a time when the Beastie Boys were under huge pressure both financially and musically, having switched record labels and emerging from a hiatus in the group’s activities. With a little help from The Dust Brothers (whom The Chemical Brothers had their group name derived from), this album was not as successful commercially as the Beastie Boys first album back in 1986, Licensed To Ill. Even so, most reviews of this album have been hugely positive, and this is a great crossover record for the Hip Hop and Rap Music genres. This album is historically relevant and important today, particularly as Rap Music has become more listened to than Rock Music at this stage of writing. Let’s warp back in time to 1989 and take a listen to this album, and hopefully it will sound as good as promised by critics.

1. To All The Girls is a short introductory tune that gradually fades in with a smooth and funky backing track with beats emerging. This is truly a devotional song to the ladies of the world by individual nationality. If you love the idea of being with a lady from a different culture, which is becoming more and more common these days, you will love this. Nonetheless, a great listen for its imagery. It’s not necessarily sexist, just interesting. Cool tune.

2. Shake Your Rump begins with some awesome-sounding sampled drums, and launches into a decent and funky-sounding song that sounds top-notch and clever. Even if you don’t like Hip Hop and Rap Music, this is an absolutely great and awesome tune to hear. Lo-fi but brilliant in its use of different samples, this has some quirky and out-there lyrics which sound really very cool. This has so many samples used extremely cleverly, alongside some rapid-fire lyrics. The TB-303-like bassline throughout this one is also really inventive and fantastic. In the second half is the makeshift sounding of a bong being lit, followed by some awesome and cool lyrics. The Beastie Boys knew their craft extremely well, and this upbeat and humourous tune is swell and great to hear. Gladly, the Beastie Boys took a good, calculated risk with this album, and so far, so good. Top stuff.

3. Johnny Ryall begins with some Pink Floyd whooshing wind samples from their own Meddle (1971) album and launches into some fantastic beats and guitar samples. This is really cool and sweet to listen to, and this launches into another brilliant and witty rapping that sounds super clever. A seriously cool and interesting tune about a guy who is out there, in terms of public perception. The guitar samples are top-notch, and both the Beastie Boys and The Dust Brothers kill it with this music. A thoughtful and intelligent song that, although heavily based on music samples, is brilliant for its artistry. The interesting tune is about Johnny Ryall, a drug addict who can’t stop, but in a surreal and humourous way. Another excellent listen from the Beastie Boys.

4. Egg Man begins with an obvious sample from a film soundtrack and launches into a trippy song about a bald guy who resembles an egg. This tune is seriously cool and sweet, and has some wacky and witty lyrics at hand that are extremely cool. Sampling everything, including horror film soundtracks and interesting drum parts, the Beastie Boys sound right in their game. This is Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds for those of you who love decent Hip Hop without the LSD involved. This tune is really awesome, authentic and fantastic to listen to. The second half has some New York-style funk samples and is an iconic song from this album. Very intelligent music, and certainly a good listen as well. The outro sounds insane.

5. High Plains Drifter begins with the sound of a gun being loaded, and launches into an interesting and groovy tune at hand. This is yet another solidly quirky and enjoyable song that has some sweet and unique tune with some sex tape samples and some great rapping throughout. The rapping could have been mixed a little higher on this one compared to the other sounds, but nonetheless, this is a real adventure throughout the history of Popular Music, right up to 1989. A cool and interesting song about gang culture as well, which is typical Rap Music stuff. It has a twist of fate involved in the lyrics, matched by supremely top lyricism. Eventually, the story about being caught by the cops on the run is very interesting. A great song to listen to, this music is cool and different. A stern warning to those who break the law, without being a cop themselves, this is a great listen aimed at people with a high IQ who love Hip Hop and Rap Music. It quickly moves into the next song.

6. The Sounds Of Science begins with some pitch-shifted sounds and launches into a logical and interesting song about using logic and mathematics to beat one’s competitors, which makes sense for the Beastie Boys to do. A great lyrical listening experience that is sample-heavy and quirky, this still has some majorly impressive points about it all, even if it is odd at times. It heavily samples The Beatles in multiple ways. From Sgt. Pepper (1967) to Abbey Road (1969), this is a refreshing ode to music up until that point. Very, very clever and catchy. Some of the best sounds and samples are present on this album, and it still sounds really cool and impressive today. The Beatles samples are well picked and utilised. A great, great tune at hand.

7. 3-Minute Rule begins with the sound of people playing ping pong, followed by some interesting bass, beats and other samples, launching into a very fantastic song at hand. The lyrics match the samples in quality, and this is a great, great listen throughout. No doubt Kid Rock really loved these guys throughout the 1990s; you can clearly hear where he got a lot of his music ideas from on this album. All in all, this is yet another interesting and picturesque song that has some genuinely top-notch and interesting sounds about it all. The bassline and beats are calculated and interesting, with a laugh-out-loud about people doing some disgustingly sexual deeds. Nonetheless, credit goes to the Beastie Boys and The Dust Brothers with this tune. A quirky and cool song about the realities of life in the USA in the late 1980s. Even so, this tune references Jimi Hendrix lyrically and is an awesome listen with some iconic and clever samples throughout. Excellent. The extended outro is delicious-sounding too. Good work.

8. Hey Ladies begins with some funky guitar playing and drums, and enters into a neat dual-tracked guitar jam. Soon enough, the Beastie Boys launch into action and make their point to impress the women in their reach. This is a genuinely good listen again, even if this discusses the lustful side of straight sexuality by men. The Funk Music-based samples are excellent and interesting, matched with some rapid-fire and intellectually loveable lyrics throughout. This is great on multiple levels, and if you want proof that Hip Hop Music can be intelligent, look no further. The second half has some funky bass guitar samples before launching back into the main section of music at hand. The lyrics are definitely worth a read as well, if you have them handy. Clever and humourous throughout, this will change forever the way you hear Hip Hop and Rap Music genres. It concludes with some awesome samples throughout.

9. 5-Piece Chicken Dinner is a complete parody of Country Music with banjos and yodelling galore, along with a fiddle. It is less than 30 seconds long, but it is an intermissionary laugh. Great.

10. Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun begins with an awesome and processed drum loop, which sounds mega. Some dirty and downtuned guitars enter soon enough. This sounds very much like Slayer in its own way. The Beastie Boys deliver an intellectual and powerful musical tune that will definitely get you listening. A very, very adventurous tune that has some powerful and interesting imagery, both musically and lyrically. The guitars and beats sound truly great on this song. This is a fantastic tune that has some power and glory throughout. Rock and Metal fans in particular will no doubt appreciate this tune. A forward-thinking and demonic-sounding tune to hear. There is a wah-wah bass guitar solo, Cliff Burton style, in the outro. Again, really fantastic music by all involved. It ends with the main beat loop playing away.

11. Car Thief begins with some tripped-out drum samples and launches into another good and listenable piece. This one is nicely Funky and sampled very well. With lyrics about crime and samples throughout that exude a very New York-based Hip Hop sound, this is absolutely killer and memorable throughout. This has some unforgettable sounds on it. “I’m a writer, I’m a poet, I’m a genius, I know it!” is a great lyrical example in this tune that articulates the music artist within. With references to drug use and other criminal activity, this is another solid, not-too-serious tune that has power, beauty and energy throughout. A seriously great song that is very interesting and fantastic to listen to. This album seriously deserves a lot more credit than it gets. The intricate sample work by The Dust Brothers makes this one really come alive. Great tune. The outro is fantastic and great to hear.

12. What Comes Around begins with a Led Zeppelin sample, and launches into a low-down and funky tune that is typical of early Hip Hop Music. With some quirky lyrics about getting into Rapunzel’s underwear and other stories, the Beastie Boys deliver intelligent rapping and samples that, quite frankly, sound like a greatest hits of all Popular Music up until 1989. The piano motif is very cool, too. Indeed, as the Buddhists acknowledge, what goes around comes around. This album is a fantastically intelligent and very Funk Music-based tune that deserves to be heard with open ears. The outro is surreal and fantastically made. Another brilliant song. Seriously quirky and good, the lyrical Rap battle at the end over the backing track is interesting. Cool.

13. Shadrach begins with cut-up drumming and handclaps, launching into a cool song at hand. This is more brilliantly sampled and rapped music that has some punch to it. A groovy, moving and seriously top tune that has some cool and quirky music. The anti-chorus, with some great sonic sounds and samples, is fantastic to hear. A real ode to music, this is an overlooked tune and album, without a doubt. The mixing of sounds, attitude, performance and style was revolutionary in 1989, and even today, this sounds wonderfully unique and interesting enough to warrant repeat listens. Even Mad Magazine, the satire magazine from the USA, is mentioned here, which is another 20th-century icon. A very cool and deeply interesting Hip Hop Music tune at hand is extremely great to hear. A great tune that is much in line with the rest of the album, this has many smart lyrics that point out that rapping can be different, intelligent and thoughtful. It ends after four minutes of funky bliss. Every bit of music here is great. It ends with the Funky Drummer (James Brown) beat sample.

14. Ask For Janice is a mock advertisement for the album. Cool to hear, although very brief.

15. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: 59 Chrystie Street is the beginning of a mixed medley that has many twists and turns. This is a cool tune that has some articulate and interesting sounds, including some Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced? song samples and other sounds throughout. Lyrics about getting it on are here as well, with a quirky conclusion.

16. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: Get On The Mic is a good lyrical piece at hand with some straightforward and lone rapping, with an early example of human beatboxing. Yes, beatboxing wasn’t popularised at this point, and pre-LSD Syd Barrett would have dug this. Regardless, this is a good lyrical Rap that sounds extremely cool. It has some Hip-Hop beats to conclude with.

17. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: Stop That Train begins with a funky and groovy tune that is about catching the train and causing chaos right on that train. Another solidly cool and awesome tune that has some interesting sounds and samples, even sampling Reggae in the instrumental break. An awesome song that makes clear sense in 2026 in relation to Zohran Mamdani’s New York, in particular, with antisocial behaviour and poverty being the norm. This is a cool and warped-sounding tune that is excellent in relation to taking the train. The outro is absolutely awesome and drumtastic.

18. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: A Year And A Day begins with some cool breakbeats and launches into a superbly groovy and fantastic song with some awesome samples and rapid-fire rapping. This, in particular, will get you grooving along nicely. This is one of the better sections of the medley that we are on. The loops are so very good that you can loop this for hours on end and still love this music. Although the lyrics are quite mixed in comparison with the music, this is really cool and interesting to listen to. The breakbeats present are a nod to the future of EDM in the 1990s. A very cool section of the medley at hand.

19. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: Hello Brooklyn begins with an aggressive vocal and launches into a bass-heavy Roland-sounding beat pastiche. This launches into a tune about one of the biggest cities in the world, and the experiences involved there by the Beastie Boys. Even for people who have never been to New York, this listening experience is perfectly made for that city in the USA. A cool and quirky song with some humourous lyrics and a sampled Country Music conclusion. Great.

20. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: Dropping Names launches into it with soft pounding drums and has some upbeat piano and rapping, along with drum loops. Another solidly interesting section with some excellently sampled bass guitar that downpitches and launches into the next section of songcraft at hand. The Dust Brothers knew their craft indeed. Short but sweet.

21. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: Lay It On Me begins with some bass guitar and beats matching each other. Soon enough, some quirky and interesting lyrics emerge that are powerful and direct. This is yet another good short section at hand, which is melodic and interesting.

22. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: Mike On The Mic is a joke-sounding tune to begin with, before some Run DMC-style beats enter and Mike gets rapping. A calculated effort that continues this medley in an individualistic and talented way. Very good for a less than one-minute-long piece.

23. B-Boy Bouillabaisse: A.W.O.L. begins with a looped Chic sample, which eventually leads into the conclusion of the album, and it sounds like a great listen, with sampled crowd cheering. A fantastic way to finish up an underrated and game-changing listening experience. The Beastie Boys ask you: “Whatchu gonna do?!” It finishes off with the perfect outro, which is a continuation of the first track. Brilliant.

This album is very underrated and a must listen, particularly for fans of Hip Hop and early Rap Music. It comes across as a detailed, historic, funny and interesting album that never loses its vision, purpose or energy throughout. Yes, the Beastie Boys had been more popular at different points in their career, but this is the place to begin with their music career. Also, it proves to many today that rapping is an art form, and not always dumbed down to the nth degree. A winner overall. Should you listen to this album? If you want to hear the entire history of popular music up to 1989 in a fresh format, look no further. People into Country Music will likely hate this release, however.

If you like this article, please like, share, comment and follow me on The Ultimate Music Library. Thank you, Chris Airey.