Beastie Boys formed in New York City in 1981 as a hardcore punk band and became one of hip hop's great acts — Licensed to Ill (1986) was the first hip hop album to top the Billboard 200. Paul's Boutique (1989) is the sample-collage masterpiece, and Check Your Head (1992) brought the live instruments back. Dig into Beastie Boys vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Beastie Boys formed in New York City in 1981 as a hardcore punk band. By 1984 they had transitioned to hip hop, settling into the trio of Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock. They signed with Def Jam Records and released Licensed to Ill (1986), which became the first hip hop album to top the Billboard 200. After moving to Capitol Records, they released the sample-dense Paul's Boutique (1989), then expanded their sound with live instrumentation on Check Your Head (1992) and Ill Communication (1994). They founded the Grand Royal label and magazine. Adam Yauch (MCA) was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and died on May 4, 2012. The surviving members have stated the group will not continue without him.
Beastie Boys' sound spanned old-school hip hop, sample-based hip hop, funk, hardcore punk, instrumental funk and jazz, and electronic music. They are widely credited with helping bring hip hop to a broader audience while subsequently expanding its sonic palette. Paul's Boutique in particular is considered one of the most influential and densely sampled hip hop albums ever made.
Original Def Jam and Capitol pressings of the Beastie Boys catalog are widely collected. Paul's Boutique has appeared in numerous anniversary reissues, including the 20th anniversary remastered edition. The Grand Royal-era catalog has been extensively reissued.
Listeners new to Beastie Boys typically start with Paul's Boutique (1989) or Check Your Head (1992). Licensed to Ill (1986) is a common entry point.
