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."
Long Burn the Fire
Beastie Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jump out of the window onto a parade balloon
My style is iller that the goblins in "Troll 2"
'Cause I'm the type of MC with the most pizazz
You're trying to borrow my book like I was Grandmaster Caz
Got rhymes about antihistamines and analgesics
Rhyme about expectorants, you no see it
Sueth sayer not a play rhyme sayer extreme
I've got shark's teeth so I can bite your head
I've got tiger's claws that'll scratch you dead
I've got wings like a dragon when I'm flying above
Shoot venom from my eyes when it's time to get rough
So step back, and check yourself
This MC's got weapons that'll ruin your health
So if you're feeling strong then reach for yours
My book is my shield and my mic is my sword
Long burn the fire the truth shall set you free
Long burn the fire the truth shall set you free
Long burn the fire the truth shall set you free
Long burn the fire the truth shall set you free
Now it's Adrock rappin' I'm back again
Like a Big Mac attack on your gut and that's wack my friend
I'm a maxer relaxer and I'm chillin'
I take that shit serious like Jerome to grillin'
I burn you to a crisp sucker back up off the toaster
I make you sick like at Kenny Roger's Roaster
See this rap thing is all about the bragadocia
I check my rear view MC"s ain't gettin' closer
People think I'm slow 'cause I'm just I'm underchallenged
See me you're like "Man, that's remarkable talent"
Live round the clock like disco donut
I'm like a tailor 'cause I got the thing sewn up
Or a proctologist I move asses
Got so much heat that I fog your Mom's glasses
Proof is in the pudding and the pudding's in my pants
You heard me rap and now watch me dance
Long burn the fire the truth shall set you free
Long burn the fire the truth shall set you free
Long burn long burn long burn
Save the date for when they hoist our number to the rafters
Above the haters you can hear our laughter
Like Willis Reed or Elton John
We done been in the game and our game's still on
It's not Tic Tac Toe or Operation
Just holding it down like the gravitation
To all the heads that said "No can do"
Adrock's in the bath filled with chocolate fondue
Straight up nuts like my name is Mike Bassini
Bonafide household name like Sergio Tacchini
"Wasn't we here back on Raising Hell?"
Running wild like rats in the Taco Bell
On the mic I spit, the match it's lit
Mike Dino the Jewish Brad Pitt
Making music for librarians to burly jocks
The rapper Mike D know for my curly locks
In Beastie Boys's song, Long Burn the Fire, the artists utilize rapid-fire rhymes and vivid imagery to create a hard hitting rap song. The first verse speaks of the MC's prowess and unique style, claiming to have rhymes about medical drugs and mythical creatures. They suggest that if anyone tries to challenge them, they have weapons that will ruin their health. The second verse is performed by Adrock, who comes in boasting about his talent and skill as a rapper. He likens himself to a chef with a grill or a doctor moving asses (with rhythm). He clarifies that while some may think he's slow, they are merely underchallenged. Finally, the song ends with an affirmation of longevity and success in the industry, likening their legacy to that of Willis Reed or Elton John.
Line by Line Meaning
This is it chall, some nasty shits for ya
Listen up, I've got some tough rhymes to share with you
Jump out of the window onto a parade balloon
My rhymes are so wild that you'll feel like jumping out of a window onto a parade balloon
My style is iller that the goblins in "Troll 2"
My rhymes are even sicker than the grotesque monsters in the movie 'Troll 2'
'Cause I'm the type of MC with the most pizazz
I'm a rapper with incredible flair and charisma
You're trying to borrow my book like I was Grandmaster Caz
You want to copy my rhymes like you were imitating a legendary hip-hop artist
Got rhymes about antihistamines and analgesics
I rap about medications like antihistamines and analgesics
Rhyme about expectorants, you no see it
I even rap about expectorants, can you keep up?
Sueth sayer not a play rhyme sayer extreme
I'm not just playing around, I'm a serious MC who speaks the truth
Burn like fire when I step on the scene
I bring heat and intensity when I enter the stage
I've got shark's teeth so I can bite your head
I'm fierce and ready to attack like a shark with razor-sharp teeth
I've got tiger's claws that'll scratch you dead
My rhymes are deadly like the claws of a powerful tiger
I've got wings like a dragon when I'm flying above
I possess incredible power and freedom like a dragon soaring in the sky
Shoot venom from my eyes when it's time to get rough
I'm like a venomous snake ready to strike with my fierce gaze
So step back, and check yourself
Take a step back and be prepared for what I'm about to bring
This MC's got weapons that'll ruin your health
My arsenal of rhymes is so powerful that it can harm you
So if you're feeling strong then reach for yours
If you think you can handle it, then come and face me
My book is my shield and my mic is my sword
My rhymes are my defense and my weapon when I rap
Long burn the fire the truth shall set you free
The passionate energy of music can reveal the truth and set you free
Now it's Adrock rappin' I'm back again
Now it's my time to rap again, I'm Adrock and I'm back
Like a Big Mac attack on your gut and that's wack my friend
My rhymes will hit you hard like a junk food craving and you won't like it
I'm a maxer relaxer and I'm chillin'
I'm a laid-back rapper who is relaxed and cool
I take that shit serious like Jerome to grillin'
I take my craft seriously, like a BBQ master honing his skills
I burn you to a crisp sucker back up off the toaster
I'll burn you so badly that you'll back away from me, like you would from a hot toaster
I make you sick like at Kenny Roger's Roaster
My rhymes will make you feel ill, like eating at a bad fast food joint
See this rap thing is all about the bragadocia
Rap music is all about boasting and exuding confidence
I check my rear view MC"s ain't gettin' closer
I'm always ahead of the competition and they can't catch up
People think I'm slow 'cause I'm just I'm underchallenged
People underestimate me because I'm not being challenged enough
See me you're like "Man, that's remarkable talent"
When people see me perform, they recognize my raw talent
Live round the clock like disco donut
I'm always on and ready to showcase my skills, like a 24-hour donut shop
I'm like a tailor 'cause I got the thing sewn up
I'm a skilled and precise rapper, like a tailor sewing a garment
Or a proctologist I move asses
I'm like a doctor who can get things moving, but in this case, it's the crowd
Got so much heat that I fog your Mom's glasses
My rhymes are so intense that they can even fog up your Mom's glasses
Proof is in the pudding and the pudding's in my pants
I have the evidence to back up my rhymes, and it's all in my performance
You heard me rap and now watch me dance
I've impressed you with my rhymes, now see me show off my moves
Long burn long burn long burn
The passion and energy of music will keep burning long after the performance is over
Save the date for when they hoist our number to the rafters
Remember this moment, when we become so celebrated that our names will be on display in the rafters
Above the haters you can hear our laughter
We'll rise above the negative comments, and our laughter will be heard throughout the arena
Like Willis Reed or Elton John
Like these iconic figures, we will leave a lasting legacy through our performances
We done been in the game and our game's still on
We've been in the music industry for a long time, and we're still going strong
It's not Tic Tac Toe or Operation
This is not a simple game, it's a complex and challenging art form
Just holding it down like the gravitation
We're keeping it steady and grounded, like the force of gravity
To all the heads that said "No can do"
To all the doubters who said we couldn't do it, we've proven them wrong
Adrock's in the bath filled with chocolate fondue
I'm kicking back and relaxing, enjoying the sweet pleasures of life like chocolate fondue
Straight up nuts like my name is Mike Bassini
I'm crazier than anyone else, like a wild character named Mike Bassini
Bonafide household name like Sergio Tacchini
I'm a well-known and respected name, like the famous fashion designer Sergio Tacchini
"Wasn't we here back on Raising Hell?"
Remember when we were part of the classic hip-hop album 'Raising Hell'?
Running wild like rats in the Taco Bell
We're like a group of uncontrollable rats causing chaos in a fast food joint
On the mic I spit, the match it's lit
I'm rapping at full force, like a match lighting a fire
Mike Dino the Jewish Brad Pitt
I'm like a Jewish version of the famous actor Brad Pitt, but in music form
Making music for librarians to burly jocks
Our music appeals to everyone, from quiet intellectuals to muscular athletes
The rapper Mike D know for my curly locks
I'm known for my distinctive curls that make me stand out
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