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."
Shazam!
Beastie Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody get down, huh
Everybody get down, huh
Huh, huh, huh, huh, shazam
I sneak a chicken tikka
Marsala at a gala event
I represent that stupid, that's for sure
I'd like a lettuce, tomato and Munster on rye
All this cheese gonna make me cry
Gorgonzola, Provolone
Don't even get me started on this microphone
I'm blowin' up like my name is Joe Bazooka
I'm a super-dooper MC party pooper
On a track so slick it'll make you feel all queasy
Make you do like Fred Sanford with "I'm comin' Wheezy!"
Everybody get down, huh
Everybody get down, huh
Everybody get down, huh
Huh, huh, huh, huh, shazam
On the court I go by the name Praying Mantis
Got the edge and I've got the advantage
If you could see things from my vantage
Point then you could better understand this
I'm in the lab all day I scrabble all night
I got a bedazzler so my outfit's tight
When it comes to panache I can't be beat
I got the most style from below Fourteenth Street
Internationally known as the Keebler Elf
Can't keep a catalog up on the shelf
You know I splash on beats like sauce on spaghetti
Putting MCs out of business like they're Crazy Eddie
Everybody get down, huh
Everybody get down, huh
Everybody get down, huh
Huh, huh, huh, huh, shazam
I know you're sitting pretty in the Hampty Hamps
Posing like you're rolling with that camp
In layman's terms let me break it down
You're flipping and flopping just like a flounder
I'm a hip hop scholar while you're left back
So Jeckle and Rush go back to Lefrac
I'm a simple man like Chance de Gardner
I'm working nine to five, Dolly Parton
I got rhymes for jerks that's bringing on drama
Which rhyme you want first, the one about your mama?
Goodness gracious, golly-gee
Shazam, freak out with the genie
Everybody get down, huh
Everybody get down, huh
Everybody get down, huh
Huh, huh, huh, huh, shazam
The Beastie Boys' song "Shazam!" is a rap song that makes use of witty wordplay and clever rhymes to create a humorous and engaging track. The lyrics are all about boasting and showing off, with the rapper bragging about his skills on the microphone, his style, and his ability to hold his own in a rap battle. The chorus encourages listeners to "get down" and get into the beat and rhythm of the song.
The first verse of the song features the rapper talking about his taste in food, with references to Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala. He also references different types of cheese and bread, all while poking fun at himself and his own immaturity. The second verse shifts to sports, as the rapper takes on the persona of a basketball player known as "Praying Mantis." He talks about his skills on the court and his unique perspective on the game. The final verse is an attack on other rappers who try to compete with the Beastie Boys, with references to famous people like Chance de Gardner and Dolly Parton.
Overall, the song is a lighthearted and playful take on the genre of rap, with the Beastie Boys using their signature humor and clever wordplay to create a memorable track that is sure to get listeners dancing and having a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody get down, huh
The singer is requesting that everyone dance and have a good time.
Huh, huh, huh, huh, shazam
The singer is using 'shazam' as an exclamation of excitement or surprise.
I sneak a chicken tikka
Marsala at a gala event
The singer secretly eats Indian food at a fancy gathering, indicating his non-conformist tendencies.
I represent that stupid, that's for sure
You be like 'oh yeah Adam, real mature'
The artist acknowledges that he presents himself as foolish, and predicts that others will mock him for it.
I'd like a lettuce, tomato and Munster on rye
All this cheese gonna make me cry
Gorgonzola, Provolone
The artist expresses a desire for a sandwich, but is overwhelmed by the variety of cheese options available.
Don't even get me started on this microphone
I'm blowin' up like my name is Joe Bazooka
The singer is excited about his musical career and the attention he is receiving.
I'm a super-dooper MC party pooper
On a track so slick it'll make you feel all queasy
The singer is a talented rapper who can both hype up a party and make listeners feel disoriented with his flow.
Make you do like Fred Sanford with 'I'm comin' Wheezy!'
Thee speaker references a sitcom and suggests that his music will make listeners laugh and feel good.
On the court I go by the name Praying Mantis
Got the edge and I've got the advantage
The artist's nickname in basketball is 'Praying Mantis', and he believes he is skilled and in control.
If you could see things from my vantage
Point then you could better understand this
The artist offers insight into his perspective, and suggests that it would help others comprehend his message.
I'm in the lab all day I scrabble all night
I got a bedazzler so my outfit's tight
The singer is dedicated to his art, both as a musician and a fashion-forward individual.
When it comes to panache I can't be beat
I got the most style from below Fourteenth Street
The artist is confident in his sense of style and asserts that he outshines others in his neighborhood.
Internationally known as the Keebler Elf
Can't keep a catalog up on the shelf
The singer boasts that he is famous and has a lot of merchandise, and implies that his popularity hinders supply.
You know I splash on beats like sauce on spaghetti
Putting MCs out of business like they're Crazy Eddie
The singer asserts that he is skilled at rapping and is so good that he causes less-talented rappers to go bankrupt.
I know you're sitting pretty in the Hampty Hamps
Posing like you're rolling with that camp
The singer recognizes that his competition is trying to look cool or intimidating.
In layman's terms let me break it down
You're flipping and flopping just like a flounder
The artist is frustrated with the conflicting and indecisive behavior of his rivals.
I'm a hip hop scholar while you're left back
So Jeckle and Rush go back to Lefrac
The artist believes he is smarter and more talented than his competition, and references car dealerships in the process.
I'm a simple man like Chance de Gardner
I'm working nine to five, Dolly Parton
The singer values humility and likens himself to a simple, unassuming character from a movie. He also references a popular song about work.
I got rhymes for jerks that's bringing on drama
Which rhyme you want first, the one about your mama?
The singer has many insults prepared for anyone who tries to start trouble. He playfully offers to begin with an insult about someone's mother.
Goodness gracious, golly-gee
Shazam, freak out with the genie
The artist is excited and enthusiastic about his music career, and exclaims that it's like magic or a wish come true.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT BELL, RONALD NATHAN BELL, GEORGE MELVIN BROWN, MICHAEL LOUIS DIAMOND, ADAM KEEFE HOROVITZ, CLAYDES SMITH, DENNIS RONALD THOMAS, ADAM NATHANIEL YAUCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nestor Galaviz
on Body Movin' (Fatboy Slim remix)
dope