The Beastie Boys were the first successful white rap group and one of the few acts from the early days of hip-hop that still enjoyed major success their whole career. Their rock and punk-influenced rap has had a significant impact on artists both in and outside the hip-hop scene. And they were the first rap group to gain a substantial following with alternative rock fans.
The Beastie Boys came together in 1979 as a punk band called The Young Aborigines. In 1981 MCA joined the group and from the suggestion of their guitarist John Berry, they changed their name to Beastie Boys. Their line up then consisted of Adam Yauch (aka MCA) on bass, drummer Kate Schellenbach (later of Luscious Jackson), guitarist John Berry (of Big Fat Love), and Mike Diamond (aka Mike D) on the mic. Beastie Boys' debut EP, the Pollywog Stew vinyl 7" was released in 1982.
The band's first foray into hip hop, the Cooky Puss 12", followed in 1983, with The Young and the Useless guitarist Adam Horovitz (aka Adrock) replacing John Berry. "Cooky Puss" would be the first B Boys record to receive play at NYC clubs like Danceteria as the band played its first shows outside the city.
The Mike D/MCA/Adrock Beastie Boys lineup debuted in 1984 with the "Rock Hard"/"Beastie Groove" 12." Produced by Rick Rubin, who went on to produce albums for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash and Audioslave. The "She's On It"/ "Slow And Low" 12" followed in 1985 and Beastie Boys went on Madonna's "Virgin Tour." as her opening act.
Licensed to Ill dropped in fall 1986 and became the first Beastie Boys album--and the first Rap album ever--to go #1. Fueled by Fight for Your Right and No Sleep Till Brooklyn it remained at #1 for seven weeks and simultaneously reached #2 on the urban chart, becoming the fastest selling debut to date for Columbia and the first hip hop record to break 5 million.
In 1989 Beastie Boys released their second album Paul’s Boutique produced by Beastie Boys and the Dust Brothers. Paul's Boutique laid down the blueprint for a generation of emergent genres and went over the collective head of a nation. The likes of "Shake Your Rump," "Lookin' Down The Barrel Of A Gun," "Car Thief," Shadrach," and the hip hop "suite" "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" contained lyrical and musical references too plentiful and diverse for the average mind to compute in one sitting.
Check Your Head, released in 1992, heralded the return of live instrumentation into the B Boys mix. The album was produced by the band and Mario Caldato Jr. (who first worked with B Boys as engineer on Paul's Boutique), Check Your Head would yield a watershed of new B Boys staples, including So Whatcha' Want, Pass The Mic, "Gratitude" and "Jimmy James." With the assistance of Keyboard Money Mark, Eric Bobo and assorted percussionists, Beastie Boys returned to the touring circuit and Check Your Head hit double platinum.
In the summer of 1994, Ill Communication, also produced by the band and Mario Caldato Jr., entered the charts #1. The album featured such hits Sure Shot and Sabotage. Ill Communication was supported by Beastie Boys' first arena headline tour since the '80s. Following the tour's conclusion, Beastie Boys recorded and released Aglio e Olio consisting of eight songs clocking in at 11 minutes, the EP recalls the vintage hardcore punk of the band's infancy.
On July 14 1998, their fifth album titled Hello Nasty was released. Spurred by the monster success of the "Intergalactic" single and video, the record clocked first week sales of nearly 700,000 in the U.S. and went straight in at #1 in England, Germany, Australia, Holland, New Zealand and Sweden. Early in the tour, Beastie Boys made live tracks available for free download to fans unable to attend the shows-and were blindsided by their label pulling the tracks down.
Having closed 1998 by accepting the Video Vanguard lifetime achievement honor at the MTV Video Music Awards, Beastie Boys rang in 1999 with Artist, Band and/or Record of the Year accolades from the likes of Rolling Stone, SPIN, The New Yorker and Playboy, among others. A month later, at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, the now quadruple-platinum Hello Nasty took Best Alternative Music Performance, while "Intergalactic," nailed Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group--the first time an artist has ever won in both Rap and Alternative categories.1999 would also see "Intergalactic" take Best Hip Hop Video honors at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.
Beastie Boys' sixth studio album, To The 5 Boroughs, released in summer 2004, was the band's third consecutive #1 debut-and Rolling Stone magazine's only 5-star review of the year. To The 5 Boroughs was supported by world tour - traveling pageant - supported by Talib Kweli and Bob Moore's Amazing Mongrels (yes, a live dog show, hence the pageant appellation).
2006 saw the release of the film, Awesome, I Fuckin' Shot That!, a concert film made up of footage filmed by audience members, which debuted at Sundance in early 2006 and was released theatrically the same year.
In 2007 Beastie Boys released The Mix-Up, first ever full length offering of all-new, all-original instrumental recordings.
On February 3rd, 2009, they digitally remastered and released Paul's Boutique on their website.
The band's next record, "Hot Sauce Committee Part 2" was released in the first quarter of 2011. It features the same tracklisting as the previously announced "Hot Sauce Committee Part 1", which was delayed indefinitely after Yauch was diagnosed with a tumor on his parotid gland (which was successfully removed).
Bassist and vocalist Adam Yauch died on May 4, 2012 of cancer.
In June 2014, Mike D stated that the Beastie Boys would not continue their careers as a group, as a promise to Adam Yauch. "We have not been able to tour since MCA, Adam Yauch, died," Diamond said. "We can't make new music."
Ch-Check It Out
Beastie Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All you Trekkies and TV addicts
Don't mean to diss, don't mean to bring static
All you Klingons in the fucking house
Grab your backstreet friend and get loud
Blowin' doors off hinges
I'll grab you with the pinchers
I'll snatch you up with the needle-nose pliers
Like Mutual of Omaha
With the ill boat you've never seen before
Glidin' in the glades
And like Lorne Greene you know I get paid
Like Caprese and with the basil
Not goofy like Darren or Hazel
I'm a motherfuckin' "Nick At Nite"
With classics rerunning that you know all right
Now remain calm, no alarm, 'cause my farm ain't fat
So what's up with that?
I've got friends and family that I respect
When I think I'm too good they put me in check
So believe when I say I'm no better than you
Except when I rap so I guess it ain't true
Like that y'all and you just don't stop
Guaranteed to make your body rock
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
What-wha-what-what-what's it all about?
Work-wa-work-work-work-wa-work it out
Let's turn this muthafucking party out
Said, Doc what's the condition?
I'm a man that's on a mission
Said, son, you'd better listen
Stuck in your ass is an electrician
Like a scientist
When I'm applying this
Method of controlling my mind
Like Einstein and the Rappin' Duke combined
Now, hey, baby bubba now what the deal?
I didn't know you go for that mass appeal
Some call it salugi, some hot potato
I stole your mic but you won't see it later
'Cause I work magic like a magician
I add up like a mathematician
I'm a bank cashier, engineer
I wear cotton and I don't wear sheer
Shazam and abracadabra
In the whip I'm gonna cruise past ya
Yo, money, don't chump yourself
Put that shit back on the shelf
Light rays blazin'
You're out of phase, and my crew's amazin'
We're working on the record yo, so just stay patient
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
What-wha-what-what-what's it all about?
Work-wa-work-work-work-wa-work it out
Let's turn this muthafucking party out
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
Check-check-check-check it out
Check-ch-check-check-check it out
Check-ch-check-check-check-check it out
Now, I go by the name of the King Adrock
I don't wear a cup nor a jock
I bring the shit that's beyond bizarre
Like Miss Piggy, who moi?
I am the one with the clientele
Who say, Adrock, you rock so well
I've got class like pink champale
MCA grab the mic before the mic goes stale
Don't test me, they can't arrest me
I'll fake right, cross-over and shoot lefty
You look upset, yo, calm down
You look like Cable Guy dunked off of your crown
I flow like smoke out a chimney
You never been me
You want to rap but what you're making ain't hip-hop, B
Now, get your clothes right out the dryer
Put Armor-All up on your tire
Sport that fresh attire
Tonight we goin' out set the town on fire
Set the town ablaze, gonna stun and amaze
Ready to throw a craze
Make your granny shake her head and say "Those were the days"
Now, check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
What-wha-what-what-what's it all about?
Work-wa-work-work-work-wa-work it out
Let's turn this muthafucking party out
The lyrics to Beastie Boys' song Ch-Check It Out are a combination of different ideas and references. The song begins by addressing Trekkies and TV addicts in a playful manner, assuring them that they don't mean to offend anyone. The reference to Klingons is a nod to Star Trek, and the invitation to grab a backstreet friend and get loud creates an energetic, party-like atmosphere. The lines "Blowin' doors off hinges, I'll grab you with the pinchers" are suggestive of the power of the music to blow people's minds and make them dance.
The song then moves into a series of seemingly random references, from Mutual of Omaha to Lorne Greene, Caprese, and Nick At Nite. These are all cultural references that the target audience of the song, which is primarily young people, might not necessarily understand, but which add to the overall playful and eclectic tone of the song. The lyrics go on to tout the singer's intellect and rap skills, while also acknowledging that he is no better than anyone else. The song ends with a call to action to get dressed up and go out to have a good time, as the crew works on their new record.
Overall, the lyrics to Ch-Check It Out are a mixture of different themes, including references to popular culture, music, and partying. The playful, often lighthearted tone of the song is infectious and designed to get people dancing and having a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
All you Trekkies and TV addicts
To all the sci-fi fans and those obsessed with TV shows
Don't mean to diss, don't mean to bring static
Not trying to offend or cause drama
All you Klingons in the fucking house
Addressing those who love Star Trek and its alien race, the Klingons
Grab your backstreet friend and get loud
Get your friend from the lower end of town and make some noise together
Blowin' doors off hinges
Creating a loud, powerful sound that knocks doors off their hinges
I'll grab you with the pinchers
I'll get your attention with my music
And no, I didn't retire
I'm still here making music
I'll snatch you up with the needle-nose pliers
I'll pull you in with my sharp lyrics and rhymes
Like Mutual of Omaha
Similar to a famous American insurance company representing safety and security
With the ill boat you've never seen before
Operating a unique and impressive style
Glidin' in the glades
Moving smoothly through a wild marshy area
And like Lorne Greene you know I get paid
Similar to actor Lorne Greene, I make a lot of money
Like Caprese and with the basil
Comparable to a food dish, Caprese, with fresh basil leaves as a garnish
Not goofy like Darren or Hazel
Not silly or foolish like the characters from the old TV shows Bewitched and Hazel
I'm a motherfuckin' "Nick At Nite"
Similar to the TV network that shows classic sitcoms at night
With classics rerunning that you know all right
Playing well-known retro shows
Now remain calm, no alarm, 'cause my farm ain't fat
Stay relaxed and don't worry because I'm not wealthy
So what's up with that?
What's the problem with that?
I've got friends and family that I respect
I have loved ones that I admire
When I think I'm too good they put me in check
My friends and family keep me humble and grounded
So believe when I say I'm no better than you
Understand that I don't consider myself superior to anyone
Except when I rap so I guess it ain't true
Maybe it's not entirely accurate when I rap because I feel confident and powerful
Like that y'all and you just don't stop
I'm ready to continue and keep the momentum going
Guaranteed to make your body rock
I assure you that my music will make you dance
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
Listen and pay attention
What-wha-what-what-what's it all about?
What's the meaning of all this?
Work-wa-work-work-work-wa-work it out
Get to work and dance it out
Let's turn this muthafucking party out
Let's make this party wild and fun
Said, Doc what's the condition?
Asking what's going on or how things are
I'm a man that's on a mission
I have a goal I'm working towards
Said, son, you'd better listen
Someone advising me to pay attention
Stuck in your ass is an electrician
A humorous way of saying that I have energy and potential
Like a scientist
Similar to a knowledgeable and skillful expert
When I'm applying this
When I'm utilizing this energy and talent
Method of controlling my mind
A technique of keeping my thoughts organized and focused
Like Einstein and the Rappin' Duke combined
As intelligent and influential as Albert Einstein and the Rappin' Duke combined
Now, hey, baby bubba now what the deal?
Hey, what's going on?
I didn't know you go for that mass appeal
Surprised that the person likes mainstream things
Some call it salugi, some hot potato
Different people refer to it in different ways
I stole your mic but you won't see it later
I borrowed your microphone but will return it later
Cause I work magic like a magician
I make something incredible happen like a magician
I add up like a mathematician
I calculate things precisely like a mathematician
I'm a bank cashier, engineer
I work in a bank and also have the skills of an engineer
I wear cotton and I don't wear sheer
I wear comfortable and practical clothing
Shazam and abracadabra
Using magic spells to create a powerful effect
In the whip I'm gonna cruise past ya
Driving in my car, I will pass you by
Yo, money, don't chump yourself
Hey, don't sell yourself short or underestimate yourself
Put that shit back on the shelf
Don't do something foolish or waste your time
Light rays blazin'
Bright beams shining
You're out of phase, and my crew's amazin'
You're out of sync or not keeping up, while my crew is extraordinary
We're working on the record yo, so just stay patient
We're putting effort into the new album or song, so be patient and wait for it
Now, I go by the name of the King Adrock
Introducing myself by my nickname or stage name
I don't wear a cup nor a jock
I don't wear protective gear when performing
I bring the shit that's beyond bizarre
I create music that is unconventional and unique
Like Miss Piggy, who moi?
Referencing the famous Muppet character, questioning what you mean
I am the one with the clientele
I have fans and listeners who appreciate my music
Who say, Adrock, you rock so well
My fans commend me for my great music
I've got class like pink champale
I have a sophisticated style like pink champagne
MCA grab the mic before the mic goes stale
Another member of the group, MCA, taking the microphone and rapping
Don't test me, they can't arrest me
Don't try to challenge me, they cannot arrest me
I'll fake right, cross-over and shoot lefty
I'll try to throw you off with a fake move, then use my left hand to win
You look upset, yo, calm down
I notice you seem angry, so relax
You look like Cable Guy dunked off of your crown
You appear disheveled or messed up like the character from the movie The Cable Guy
I flow like smoke out a chimney
I flow smoothly and effortlessly like smoke rising from a chimney
You never been me
You've never been in my shoes or experienced what I have
You want to rap but what you're making ain't hip-hop, B
You claim to make hip-hop music, but it doesn't fit the genre
Now, get your clothes right out the dryer
Get fresh and put on brand-new clothes
Put Armor-All up on your tire
Apply a tire cleaner and protector to make them look shiny
Sport that fresh attire
Wear your new, stylish clothes
Tonight we goin' out set the town on fire
Going out and causing a wild, exciting time
Set the town ablaze, gonna stun and amaze
Exciting and captivating everyone with our party
Ready to throw a craze
Prepared to start a wild, fun party
Make your granny shake her head and say "Those were the days"
Having so much fun that even an elderly person is impressed and entertained
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
Listen up and pay attention
Check-check-check-check it out
Take a look at what's happening
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
Listen up and pay attention
Check-ch-check-check-check-check it out
Look at this and pay attention
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Horovitz, Adam Nathaniel Yauch, Michael Louis Diamond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesb1988
The Boys never took themselves too seriously, and that's why they are legends. We miss you MCA!!
@JohnBrown-gq2nm
Truth. But what happens to Adrock now?
@jamesb1988
@@JohnBrown-gq2nm What do you mean? I imagine Ad-Rock (and Mike D. as well) will continue to live their lives to the fullest and honor their fallen brother at every opportunity.
@JohnBrown-gq2nm
@@jamesb1988 You got wooshed brah.
@jimbronson14
@@JohnBrown-gq2nm i don't understand the joke brotha
@JohnBrown-gq2nm
@@jimbronson14 It happens to the best of us. But here's the good news. You've still got fookin' awesome taste in music. Triple Trouble forever, boiiiieeeeze. =)
@BuhoLoco40
I love how this video is just them running around in costumes and beating on each other. Man, I miss fun things.
@edybocman76
they had the best videos
@mirogula
yeah, it was simpler times back then.
@delgat000
That’s basically all their videos 😂 but it’s all good