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."
So What
Beastie Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, just plug me in just like I was Eddie Harris
You're eating crazy cheese like you would think I'm from Paris
You know I get fly, you think I get high
You know that I'm gone and I'm-a tell you all why
So tell me who are you dissing, maybe I'm missing
In my head, I just want to take 'em down
Imagination set loose and I'm gonna shake 'em down
Let it flow like a mud-slide
When I get on, I like to ride and glide
I've got depth of perception in my text, y'all
I get props at my mention cause I vex, y'all
So, so what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I get so funny with my money that you flaunt
I said, "Where'd you get your information from" huh?
You think that you can front when revelation comes?
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
Well they call me Mike D, the ever-loving man
I'm like Spoonie Gee, well I'm the metropolitician (yeah-yeah-yeah)
You scream and you holler 'bout my Chevy Impala
But the sweat is getting wet around the ring around your collar
But like a dream I'm flowing without no stopping
Sweeter than a cherry pie with Reddi-wip topping
From mic to mic, kickin' it wall to wall
Well, I'll be calling out to people like a casting call
Ah, well, it's wack when you're jacked in the back of my ride
With your know, with your flow, when you're out getting by
Believe me, what you see is what you get
And you see me, I'm comin' off as you can bet
Well I think I'm losing my mind, this time
This time I'm losing my mind, that's right
Said I think I'm losing my mind, this time
This time, I'm losing my mind
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
But little do you know about something that I talk about
I'm tired of driving, it's due time that I walkabout
But in the meantime, I'm wise to the demise
I've got eyes in the back of my head so I realize
Well, I'm Dr. Spock, I'm here to rock, y'all
I want you off the wall, if you're playing the wall
I said what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Y'all suckers write me checks and then they bounce
So I reach into my pocket for the fresh amount
See, I'm the long-leaner, Vincent the Cleaner
I'm the illest motherfucker from here to Gardena
Well, I'm as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce
You've got the rhyme and reason, but got no cause
But if you're hot to trot, you think you're slicker than grease
I've got news for you crews, you'll be sucking like a leech
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said, what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said, what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
The lyrics to Beastie Boys' "So What'cha Want" are full of clever wordplay and braggadocious verses. From the very first line, the band sets the tone with their confident delivery, likening themselves to jazz musician Eddie Harris. The chorus, "So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want?" is an assertive challenge to their listeners and those who doubt their talent. The verses touch on a variety of themes, from calling out fake friends who front on their success to boasting about their flow and sense of style.
One of the key features of the song is the use of multiple vocal tracks, with different members of the group delivering lines that overlap and complement each other. This creates a dynamic and energetic effect that makes the song feel like a conversation between friends. The lyrics also play with different sounds and rhythms, incorporating slang and cultural references that reflect the band's New York City roots.
Overall, "So What'cha Want" is a confident and creative expression of Beastie Boys' talent and personality. It showcases their ability to blend different genres and styles into something wholly their own, and it remains a beloved classic in their catalog to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, just plug me in just like I was Eddie Harris
I am ready to go and perform, just like Eddie Harris
You're eating crazy cheese like you would think I'm from Paris
You are enjoying some exotic cheese, as if it came from Paris
You know I get fly, you think I get high
You think I look cool, but you also think I might be on drugs
You know that I'm gone and I'm-a tell you all why
I'm in a different mindset than you and I'm going to explain why
So tell me who are you dissing, maybe I'm missing
Who are you disrespecting? Maybe I don't understand
The reason that you're smilin' or wildin', so listen
Please explain why you're acting happy or crazy, I'm listening
In my head, I just want to take 'em down
In my mind, I want to defeat my enemies
Imagination set loose and I'm gonna shake 'em down
I'm using my creativity to defeat them
Let it flow like a mud-slide
Let the music flow like a natural disaster
When I get on, I like to ride and glide
When I perform, I like to smoothly move around
I've got depth of perception in my text, y'all
My lyrics have a deep meaning behind them
I get props at my mention cause I vex, y'all
I receive recognition when my name is mentioned because I cause a reaction
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
What is it that you want from me? (What do you want?)
I get so funny with my money that you flaunt
I make a lot of money and you like to show it off
I said, "Where'd you get your information from," huh?
Where did you learn what you think you know?
You think that you can front when revelation comes?
You think you can act like you knew all along when the truth is revealed?
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
(Yes, you cannot deny that)
Well they call me Mike D, the ever-loving man
My name is Mike D, and I'm always spreading love
I'm like Spoonie Gee, I'm the metropolitician
I'm a skilled rapper, like Spoonie Gee, and I'm from the city
You scream and you holler, 'bout my Chevy Impala
You make a fuss about my car, a Chevy Impala
But the sweat is getting wet around the ring around your collar
But you're nervous, because you're sweating around the ring of your collar
But like a dream I'm flowing without no stopping
My flow is like a dream, continuous and smooth
Sweeter than a cherry pie with Reddi Whip topping
My flow is sweet, like a cherry pie with whipped cream topping
From mic-to-mic, kickin' it wall-to-wall
I'm performing from one microphone to another, rocking every venue
Well, I'll be calling out you people like a casting call
I'll be shouting out to the crowd, like a movie director casting actors
Ah, well, it's wack when you're jacked in the back of a ride
It's not cool when you're hidden in the back of a car
With your know, with your flow, when you're out getting by
You think you know what to say and how to act, as you're just getting by
Believe me, what you see is what you get
Trust me, I am what I appear to be
And you see me, I'm comin' off as you can bet
You can be sure that I'm coming off well
Well I think I'm losing my mind, this time
I feel like I'm going crazy, right now
This time I'm losing my mind, that's right
Yes, I am definitely losing my mind
Said I think I'm losing my mind, this time
I'm telling you that I think I'm losing my mind
This time, I'm losing my mind
Right now, I am losing my mind
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
(Yes, you cannot deny that)
But little do you know about something that I talk about
You don't really know what I'm talking about
I'm tired of driving, it's due time that I walkabout
I'm tired of driving, it's time for me to take a walk and clear my mind
But in the meantime, I'm wise to the demise
But for now, I am aware of what's going wrong
I've got eyes in the back of my head so I realize
I am very aware of what's happening around me
Well, I'm Dr. Spock, I'm here to rock, y'all
I'm like the fictional character Dr. Spock, and I'm here to entertain
I want you off the wall, if you're playing the wall
I want you to join the party and stop standing around, if you're not already dancing
I said what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I ask you again, what is it that you want from me? (What do you want?)
Y'all suckers write me checks and then they bounce
You all write me bad checks, and then they bounce back
So I reach into my pocket for the fresh amount
So I pull out cash from my pocket, to cover the amount
See, I'm the long-leaner, Vincent the Cleaner
I'm tall and lean, and I clean up any competition
I'm the illest motherfucker from here to Gardena
I'm the most talented rapper around, all the way to Gardena
Well, I'm as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce
I'm very calm, even in a difficult situation
You've got the rhyme and reason, but got no cause
You have skills as a rapper, but you lack a good reason for rapping
But if you're hot to trot, you think you're slicker than grease
But if you're excited to perform, you think you're very talented
I've got news for you crews, you'll be sucking like a leech
I have bad news for your group, you're actually not very good and will only disappoint
Yeah, you can't front on that
Yes, you have to agree with that
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Again, what is it that you want from me? (What do you want?)
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Another time, what is it that you want? (What do you want?)
I said, what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Once more, I ask you, what is it that you want from me? (What do you want?)
I said, what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Again, I ask you, what is it that you want from me? (What do you want?)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Horovitz, Adam Nathaniel Yauch, Michael Louis Diamond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@staffh3815
Played this to my ten year old daughter she said it was terrible she's now doing well with her foster family
@cat_lover007
LMAO!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@jcee7714
lololz !!
@bhulet
I should try with my grand-daughters 😇
@kdb_777
😆😆😆
@gia444_
@@bhulet please dont
@10000fps
If I owned a country, this would be the National Anthem.
@micahjared8082
Im about to make a country : VoTE for ME, and this shall be the Theme.
@ciaranjefferies
Hell yes. Anyone who appreciates this must have a better idea than our current crop of idiots. It’s that bad we don’t have an opposition that seem able to tie their own shoe laces.
@jocelynlewis1843
Yes!