The Beastie Boys have created a name for themselves in the predominantly black hip-hop scene of the 80s and the 90s. They made their transition from the hardcore punk band The Young Aborigines to the rap collective that will go down in history.
With hits such as "Cookie Puss," "Sure Shot," "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," and "Sabotage," the trio Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock have proven themselves among the most influential artists of their time. To keep the party going, below are four of the best Beastie Boys albums in vinyl record format, now available on Amazon.
Ill Communication
Hailed as one of the group's most diverse works, "Ill Communication" features punk rock, funk, and jazz in addition to their signature blend of hip-hop. Upon its release in 1994, the fourth Beastie Boys album peaked at the top spot of the Billboard 200 and reached the second spot of the Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums.
It spawned the rap rock classic "Sabotage," which came with a Spike Jonze-directed music video put on heavy rotation in MTV. "Ill Communication" also included the song "Sure Shot," a jazzy hip-hop track sampling Jeremy Steig's "Howlin' For Judy." Enjoy this Beastie vinyl record in 12-inch, 33 rpm format only from Amazon.
Paul's Boutique [2 LP]
Despite minimal promotion from their record label, "Paul's Boutique" defied expectations and is now considered their breakthrough work. The legendary duo Dust Brothers produced the second Beastie Boys album. Some people find this as the "Sgt. Pepper of hip-hop," referring to the iconic Beatles album.
An iconic pop rap album, "Paul's Boutique" contained hits that sampled from other catchy tunes. "Hey Ladies" featured samples from James Brown, Kool & the Gang, and the Commodores. Meanwhile, "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" featured songs from Johnny Cash, The Isley Brothers, and Jimi Hendrix. Own this landmark double vinyl record, now available on Amazon.
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Solid Gold Hits
For newcomers to the Beastie Boys music, "Solid Gold Hits" is a great piece to start with. Their second compilation album, released in 2005, only included tracks that were previously released as singles, except for "Shake Your Rump." "Solid Gold Hits" has something to offer from each of the group's eras.
Hear "No Sleep till Brooklyn" and "Brass Monkey" from the first Beastie Boys album, "Licensed to Ill." From the latest album at this point, "To the 5 Boroughs," listen to "Ch-Check It Out" and "An Open Letter to NYC." The Solid Gold compilation comes in a 12-inch, 33 rpm vinyl record from Amazon.
Licensed To Ill [LP][30th Anniversary Edition]
This first Beastie Boys album remains one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debuts to date. "Licensed To Ill" is also among the few Diamond-certified collections by the RIAA, moving ten million records in the US alone back in 2015. Also, Slayer's Kerry King played the lead guitar on one of its tracks, the hit song "No Sleep Till Brooklyn.
In 2016, the group announced the LPs 30th Anniversary Edition. It comes in a vinyl record format, available on Amazon, first pressed in October. Listen to remastered Beastie Boys hits "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)," "Girls," "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," and "Brass Monkey."
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