BEASTIE BOYS | LICENSED TO ILL
“I’m having so much fun now” claimed MCA in 1987 as the Beasties firmly arrived into their signature sound of rap rock. No other act then or now simouteanously embedded the mark of hip hop and obnoxious party music by rapping white boys.
It’s hard not to see the influence by RUN DMC and Rick Rubin’s production of rock guitars over sampled beats. Every vocal on the album is pushed to 11 with youthful rebellion. Licensed To Ill quickly generated a cult following for the band selling 750,000 copies in the first six weeks of release. The band in their early 20’s come across as adolescent immaturity. The hedonism suburban party culture the band celebrate created a focal point for teenagers everywhere. “Posse in Effect” cues up B-Boy culture and New York Jewish wit while “Girls” somehow avoids its cheesiness by being so undeniably catchy.
The album is classically celebrated for bringing rock and hip hop together in a juvenile way representing something we all wanted to do – to rebel. Its a rally against authority, against parents, against the system without being caught up in firey protests like later bands like Rage. It was still cool to hit on girls and kick some bass. “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” is simple rock rap aping the 80’s RUN DMC fare. “Rhyming and Scheming” samples Led Zepplin’s When The Levee Breaks mixed with the cowbells from Its Tricky. “Fight For Your Right” is still as raucous as the day it came out to rally against homework, teachers, and parents. Further hits like “Brass Monkey” glistenswith its dinky toy bell piano pure boyish revelry, while “She’s Crazy” showcased how effortless the band could be in their zietgeist of antics.
This is the sound of adolescent ostentatious unabashed possibility. It was and still is the soundtrack for teenage bedrooms and house party flare. “We went to Whitecastle and got thrown out” – always relatable.
The Brass Monkey uses the Beastie’s favourite beer as the main part. It’s combined with cola and whiskey to keep it truly American while the mustard brings out a subtle note of immature debachary.
