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."
Crawlspace
Beastie Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got more product than Ron Popeil
So deal with that, troop, we're troopers
The only air time you get is on bloopers
Beastie Boys in the place up in the space
So renovate or evacuate
You better think twice before you start flossing
I been in your bathroom often
My to-do list today is turn the party out
Getting hot in here no room to breathe
I got my pen in my hand so you best not sleep
No, I'm not Herman Munster or Dr. Spock
I go by the name of the King Adrock
So here's a match, my ass and your face
Listen when I tell you dog
I'm in your crawlspace (crawlspace)
You're in front of my house and you know that's wack
Bite my rhymes with a scanner from Radio Shack
You suckers try to front like you've got the force
But I'll slay like Vader sip you for a first course
Don't even get me started on that intercourse, aah!
Don't step into my zone or even periphery
Can't grab a hold of my style it's too slippery
The way you act a fool son you can't erase
And you're running on your way like steeple chase
You tried to take my title now put it back in place
But now you're busted wearing panties and lace
Stealing my style from that trophy case
But my drive's secure like on an army base
You're sneaking and peeking and trying to give chase
But you ain't never gonna catch me, I'm in your crawlspace (crawlspace)
Schematics, blueprints and microfilm
Calibrate your sonar when I'm in your realm
'Cause you know we're getting scarier and scarier
And this extends beyond the Tri-State Area
Omnipresent and omnipotent
My rhymes are whales and yours are rodents
This means huge compared to very small
You look a little chilly, can I get you a shawl?
'Cause these rhymes are two-hundred proof
They're like anvils lined up on a roof
Waiting to drop on your corny melon
'Cause were not buying what you're selling
First you want to battle then you start to whine
You're looking hungry, it must be snack time
So run home where you feel safe
But don't sleep Cochise
I'm in your crawl space (crawlspace)
In the lyrics of Beastie Boys’s song Crawlspace, the lead vocalist King Adrock talks about how he’s at a party, ready to turn it up and kick out anyone who tries to stop him. He compares himself to Ron Popeil, the king of the infomercial industry and talks about how he’s got way more to offer than just a product. He emphasizes how he’s in charge of the night, and anyone who tries to steal his thunder will have to face the consequences. He even mocks other artists who have tried to copy his style and rhymes, claiming that his lyrics are like anvils that are just waiting to drop on anyone who tries to come up against him. Throughout the song, he’s confident in his ability to shine and make sure that he’s the center of attention.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a party going on in here, for real
There's a lively atmosphere in this place
I got more product than Ron Popeil
I have an abundance of goods
So deal with that, troop, we're troopers
Accept this fact, we are tough fighters
The only air time you get is on bloopers
You only get public attention when you embarrass yourself
Beastie Boys in the place up in the space
The Beastie Boys are here and feeling elevated
So renovate or evacuate
Either improve your situation or leave
You better think twice before you start flossing
Consider the consequences before showing off
I been in your bathroom often
I have been exploring your private space
Taking punk MCs out, I'm all about
I'm focused on defeating weak-minded rappers
My to-do list today is turn the party out
My goal is to make the party more exciting
Getting hot in here no room to breathe
It's getting crowded and uncomfortable here
I got my pen in my hand so you best not sleep
I'm ready to write lyrics, so don't underestimate me
No, I'm not Herman Munster or Dr. Spock
I'm not a fictional character from TV shows
I go by the name of the King Adrock
My name is King Adrock
So here's a match, my ass and your face
Here's a challenge; I'm going to humiliate you
Listen when I tell you dog
Pay attention to what I am saying
I'm in your crawlspace (crawlspace)
I am in your private space, out of sight
You're in front of my house and you know that's wack
You're standing in front of my house and that's not cool
Bite my rhymes with a scanner from Radio Shack
You're copying my lyrics with a cheap device
You suckers try to front like you've got the force
You're pretending to be strong, but you're not
But I'll slay like Vader sip you for a first course
I will defeat you like Darth Vader and consume you
Don't even get me started on that intercourse, aah!
I don't want to talk about that intimate subject
Don't step into my zone or even periphery
Don't enter my territory or come close to it
Can't grab a hold of my style it's too slippery
You can't imitate my style, it's too elusive
The way you act a fool son you can't erase
You can't undo the foolish things you've done
And you're running on your way like steeple chase
You're fleeing like a runner in an obstacle race
You tried to take my title now put it back in place
You attempted to claim my status, now relinquish it
But now you're busted wearing panties and lace
But now you're exposed and humiliated
Stealing my style from that trophy case
Copying my style that earned me recognition
But my drive's secure like on an army base
But my determination is strong like military security
You're sneaking and peeking and trying to give chase
You're following me and trying to capture me
But you ain't never gonna catch me, I'm in your crawlspace (crawlspace)
But you'll never find me, I'm hidden in your inaccessible space
Schematics, blueprints and microfilm
Technical documents and records
Calibrate your sonar when I'm in your realm
Be cautious and alert for my presence
'Cause you know we're getting scarier and scarier
Because you know we're becoming more intimidating
And this extends beyond the Tri-State Area
And this pertains to areas beyond the Tri-State region
Omnipresent and omnipotent
Everywhere and all-powerful
My rhymes are whales and yours are rodents
My lyrics are massive and dominant compared to yours
This means huge compared to very small
This represents a significant contrast in size
You look a little chilly, can I get you a shawl?
You seem uncomfortable, can I offer you some warmth?
'Cause these rhymes are two-hundred proof
Because these lyrics are powerful and intense
They're like anvils lined up on a roof
They're as heavy and imposing as anvils on a rooftop
Waiting to drop on your corny melon
Ready to strike your foolish mind
'Cause were not buying what you're selling
We're not interested in your false message or attitude
First you want to battle then you start to whine
At first, you challenged me, but now you're complaining
You're looking hungry, it must be snack time
You seem to want something to eat
So run home where you feel safe
Go back to your comfort zone
But don't sleep Cochise
But don't let your guard down
I'm in your crawl space (crawlspace)
I am still hiding in your inaccessible space
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM HOROVITZ, ADAM NATHANIEL YAUCH, MICHAEL LOUIS DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nestor Galaviz
on Body Movin' (Fatboy Slim remix)
dope