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Ill Communication is the fourth studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys. It was released on May 31, 1994 by Grand Royal Records. Co-produced by Beastie Boys and Mario C., the album is among the band's most varied releases, drawing from hip-hop, punk rock, jazz and funk. Ill Communication features musical contributions from Money Mark, Eric Bobo and Amery "AWOL" Smith and vocal contributions from Q-Tip and Biz Markie. The Beastie Boys Read Full BioIll Communication is the fourth studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys. It was released on May 31, 1994 by Grand Royal Records. Co-produced by Beastie Boys and Mario C., the album is among the band's most varied releases, drawing from hip-hop, punk rock, jazz and funk. Ill Communication features musical contributions from Money Mark, Eric Bobo and Amery "AWOL" Smith and vocal contributions from Q-Tip and Biz Markie. The Beastie Boys were influenced by Miles Davis' jazz rock albums Agharta and On the Corner while recording Ill Communication.
Mike D and Adam Yauch collaborated with Gibran Evans of T.A.Z. to create the album packaging, and to choose the unique cover photo taken by Bruce Davidson. The hand-drawn typeface was created by designer Jim Evans specifically for Ill Communication, and was used throughout the promotion of the album. The album booklet also features the artwork "Gaia" by Alex Grey.
Ill Communication became the band's second number-one album on the US Billboard 200 albums chart and their second triple platinum album. The album was supported by the single "Sabotage", which was accompanied by a music video directed by Spike Jonze that parodied 1970s cop shows.
Singles
The album's first single Sabotage was released on January 28, 1994. The album's second single Get It Together was released on March 17, 1994. The album's third single Sure Shot was released on May 31, 1994 and features a sample from jazz flautist Jeremy Steig's Howlin' For Judy, thereby providing the main instrumental part of the song. The album's fourth single Root Down was released in 1995. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone included Ill Communication in their "Essential Recordings of the 90's". Spin ranked it number 19 in Spin's list of the "20 Best Albums Of '94". Q included it in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s". The Village Voice ranked it number 15 in the Village Voice's 1994 Jazz & Pop Critics Poll. Mojo ranked it number 54 in Mojo's "100 Modern Classics". NME ranked it number three in NME's list of the "Top 50 Albums Of 1994". Guitar World included Ill Communication in the "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list
Mike D and Adam Yauch collaborated with Gibran Evans of T.A.Z. to create the album packaging, and to choose the unique cover photo taken by Bruce Davidson. The hand-drawn typeface was created by designer Jim Evans specifically for Ill Communication, and was used throughout the promotion of the album. The album booklet also features the artwork "Gaia" by Alex Grey.
Ill Communication became the band's second number-one album on the US Billboard 200 albums chart and their second triple platinum album. The album was supported by the single "Sabotage", which was accompanied by a music video directed by Spike Jonze that parodied 1970s cop shows.
Singles
The album's first single Sabotage was released on January 28, 1994. The album's second single Get It Together was released on March 17, 1994. The album's third single Sure Shot was released on May 31, 1994 and features a sample from jazz flautist Jeremy Steig's Howlin' For Judy, thereby providing the main instrumental part of the song. The album's fourth single Root Down was released in 1995. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone included Ill Communication in their "Essential Recordings of the 90's". Spin ranked it number 19 in Spin's list of the "20 Best Albums Of '94". Q included it in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s". The Village Voice ranked it number 15 in the Village Voice's 1994 Jazz & Pop Critics Poll. Mojo ranked it number 54 in Mojo's "100 Modern Classics". NME ranked it number three in NME's list of the "Top 50 Albums Of 1994". Guitar World included Ill Communication in the "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list
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Sure Shot
by Beastie Boys
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Mike D, come and rock the sure shot
I've got the brand new doo-doo, Guaranteed like Yoo-hoo
I'm on like Dr. John, yeah, Mr. Zu Zu
I'm a newlywed, not a divorcee (yeah)
And everything I do is funky like Lee Dorsey
Well it's the taking of the Pelham 1, 2, 3
If you want a doody rhyme, then come see me
I've got the savior faire with the unique rhymin'
I keep it on and on, it's never quitting time and
Strictly handheld is the style I go
Never rock the mic with the pantyhose
I strap on my ear goggles and I'm ready to go
'Cause at the boards is the man, they call the Mario
You pull up at the function and you know I Kojak
To all the party people that are on my Bozac
I've got more action than my man, John Woo
And I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew (yeah)
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
You know you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Adrock, come and rock the sure shot (Hurra-, Hurra-)
Cane will cross fade on your ass and bust your eardrums
Listen everybody 'cause I'm shifting gears
I'm fresh like Dougie when I get my specs
And on the microphone, I come correct
Timing like a clock when I rock the hip-hop
Top notch is my stock on the soapbox
I've got more rhymes than I've got gray hairs
And that's a lot because I've got my share (oohh, weee)
I've got a hole in my head and there's no one to fix it
I gotta straighten my thoughts
I'm thinking too much (yeah) sick shit
Everyone just takes and takes, takes, takes, takes
I'll have to step back, I gotta contemplate
Well, I'm like Lee Perry, I'm very on
Rock the microphone, and then I'm gone
I'm like Vaughn Bode, I'm a Cheech Wizard
Never quittin', so won't you listen
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, yes, indeed, it's fun time
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Mca, come and rock the sure shot
I want to say a little something that's long overdue
The disrespect to women has got to be through
To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends
I want to offer my love and respect to the end
Well, you say I'm twenty-something
And I should be slacking
But I'm working harder than ever
And you could call it macking
So I'm supposed to sit upon my couch just watching my TV
I'm still listening to wax
I'm not using the CD!
Well, I'm that kid in the corner
All fucked up and I wanna
So I'm gonna (yeah)
Take a piece of the pie
Why not, I'm not quittin'
Think I'm-a change up my style just to fit in
I keep my underwear up with a piece of elastic
I use a bullshit mic that's made out of plastic
To send my rhymes out to all the nations Like Ma Bell I got the ill communication
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Keep on and rockin' the sure shot
B-boys
B-girls
Tick-tock, tick-tick, tock-tock
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMY STEIG, WENDELL T FITE, MARIO CALDATO, MICHAEL LOUIS DIAMOND, ADAM KEEFE HOROVITZ, ADAM NATHANIEL YAUCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
by Beastie Boys
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Mike D, come and rock the sure shot
I've got the brand new doo-doo, Guaranteed like Yoo-hoo
I'm on like Dr. John, yeah, Mr. Zu Zu
I'm a newlywed, not a divorcee (yeah)
And everything I do is funky like Lee Dorsey
Well it's the taking of the Pelham 1, 2, 3
If you want a doody rhyme, then come see me
I've got the savior faire with the unique rhymin'
I keep it on and on, it's never quitting time and
Strictly handheld is the style I go
Never rock the mic with the pantyhose
I strap on my ear goggles and I'm ready to go
'Cause at the boards is the man, they call the Mario
You pull up at the function and you know I Kojak
To all the party people that are on my Bozac
I've got more action than my man, John Woo
And I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew (yeah)
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
You know you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Adrock, come and rock the sure shot (Hurra-, Hurra-)
Cane will cross fade on your ass and bust your eardrums
Listen everybody 'cause I'm shifting gears
I'm fresh like Dougie when I get my specs
And on the microphone, I come correct
Timing like a clock when I rock the hip-hop
Top notch is my stock on the soapbox
I've got more rhymes than I've got gray hairs
And that's a lot because I've got my share (oohh, weee)
I've got a hole in my head and there's no one to fix it
I gotta straighten my thoughts
I'm thinking too much (yeah) sick shit
Everyone just takes and takes, takes, takes, takes
I'll have to step back, I gotta contemplate
Well, I'm like Lee Perry, I'm very on
Rock the microphone, and then I'm gone
I'm like Vaughn Bode, I'm a Cheech Wizard
Never quittin', so won't you listen
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, yes, indeed, it's fun time
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Mca, come and rock the sure shot
I want to say a little something that's long overdue
The disrespect to women has got to be through
To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends
I want to offer my love and respect to the end
Well, you say I'm twenty-something
And I should be slacking
But I'm working harder than ever
And you could call it macking
So I'm supposed to sit upon my couch just watching my TV
I'm still listening to wax
I'm not using the CD!
Well, I'm that kid in the corner
All fucked up and I wanna
So I'm gonna (yeah)
Take a piece of the pie
Why not, I'm not quittin'
Think I'm-a change up my style just to fit in
I keep my underwear up with a piece of elastic
I use a bullshit mic that's made out of plastic
To send my rhymes out to all the nations Like Ma Bell I got the ill communication
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Keep on and rockin' the sure shot
B-boys
B-girls
Tick-tock, tick-tick, tock-tock
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMY STEIG, WENDELL T FITE, MARIO CALDATO, MICHAEL LOUIS DIAMOND, ADAM KEEFE HOROVITZ, ADAM NATHANIEL YAUCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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