While the Beastie Boys’ original lineup experienced an insufferable loss in 2012 with the death of Adam “MCA” Yauch, the surviving members — Mike “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz — are carrying the torch for the legendary New York Hip Hop trio.
On Friday (May 31), they unleashed a short film called Still Ill in honor of the 25th anniversary of 1994’s Ill Communication, their fourth Hip Hop album.
Mike D also got back to work on his Apple Music podcast, The Echo Chamber. The new episode features special guests Ice Cube and Q-Tip, the latter who appeared on the aforementioned album.
During the phone conversation with Q-Tip, Mr. Diamond reveals the Licensed To Ill masters are missing.
When A Tribe Called Quest’s de facto leader asks if he has the masters to Paul’s Boutique or Licensed To Ill, Mike admits, “No, License To Ill, we don’t have. License To Ill, like nobody can find. I’m not even lying. Def Jam’s shit is all fucked up. Nobody can find anything. Nobody can find it, literally nobody can find shit.”
Licensed To Ill was released in 1986 and served as the Beasties’ first No. 1 album. Produced by Def Jam Recordings co-founder Rick Rubin, the seminal album disrupted the whole scene with rock-based samples and rowdy lyrics from the young motley trio.
Elsewhere in the interview, Cube and Mike D chop it up about the influence Beastie Boys had on N.W.A and respecting J. Cole’s lyrics, while Q-Tip touches on the making of “Get It Together.”
Check out the full episode here.
The softer rappers get, the more I appreciate old school hiphop. I grew up on it, so at the time we didn’t even realize how hard it was. Now I go back and listen to Ill Communication and it makes me wanna stomp somebody out. They’re hardcore without talking tough, they have a sense of humor and are goofy but the music itself is hard. Rappers now are the opposite, they tough talk all day but the music itself is SOFT. In the 80s and 90s this thing was serious. Peace. Rip MCA.
Realist shit I ever read on here
So well put Storm. Bring back old school rap. The iIlinist B Boyz!
If I hear a song that makes me want to shake my ass no matter what I’m doing or what mood I’m in, then that right there is a great song. That’s what a lot of old school rap does for me. I’m also into other musical genres, but anything with an infectious beat is right in my wheelhouse. This includes a lot of Beasties’ stuff. Anyone listen to the beat in UTFO’s Roxanne,Roxanne lately? Try hearing that without moving your head or your ass. Impossible!
PREACH! This new school rap & bullshit is soft AF.
Russell Simmons has them!!!!
If they find those, A reissue is in order with all the 12″ mixes on the second disc and all the things that were left off!
Lol no Def Jam has them. There just hiding them
One of the most overrated musical acts to exist. WOAT vocals.
They contributed significantly to the culture. BTW, where tf is Run DMC wiki page? And Russell Simmons??
I know they contributed to the culture. I know my hip hop history. It doesn’t mean their vocals were any good though does it? They just shouted. Fkn terrible. & Fk AndyC U N T.
Worst vocals? Lololol excellent critique. You’re a genius
Yeah,they used effects on their vocals and such but not because their voices or delivery were terrible. The effects fit the sound they were looking for, and delivery was always on point. Ad-rock’s lyrics would never have come off the same without that slight nasal thing. And the conviction in MCA’s lyrics you could really believe. You also have to remember that they have punk influences.
“FactsAgain”. Your username alone tells me you’re an absolute idiot. Your comment further proved it.
You really brought a lot to the discussion, Andy Pandy. Such an intelligent, un-‘idiotic’ comment. Fk yourself and anybody in your family.
Oy Vey You Anti-semite How Dare You Criticize God’s Chosen People Beastie Boys Like That? Remember The Six Billion!
You sir, is a pendejo!
That’s about the most wrong anybody can ever be
The Beastie Boys? The Beastie Boys, I’ve hated them for 30 years. Maybe too strong a word, hate. But I sure as hell didn’t like them. I liked a song, Sabotage. That’s about it. Cool song. I saw them do it on MTV years ago. They actually pretended to play instruments. Or had learned play them well enough that they could pretend to play them on stage. I thought, well that’s cool.
About a month ago I found out, they don’t just know how to play their instruments: they are accomplished musicians. They are and always have been, first and foremost, a musical act. They write that music. They write those words. I almost couldn’t believe it. I went looking for a video of them playing. Found it right away. On Letterman. Sabotage.
They were amazing. They are amazing.
Had the complete wrong idea about them for these years because of that stupid fight for your right to party song. That I found out they didn’t really like either. If the Beastie Boys do it and you don’t like it: it’s because you don’t get it. They are amazing
You dick riding like a hoe on a mechanical bull.
God working it out because it’s in your memory bank ! Song of the Day Rocky Fresh ( God Is Great )
Rock n’ rap.
Ask Russel Simons
If you can’t find the masters it’s time to remaster
You need the ORIGINAL MASTERS to REMASTER unless you produce the whole album from scratch— and that can’t be done.
you serious dude? Ah man that’s jacked up. Their first album needs to be remastered. Not cool at all.
I want to make out w/ Mike (BIG) D! ;P
The Beasties have been and will always remain to be the best MCs the world has ever seen. If you don’t get it thats ok. Cause there are the rest of us that do. B-girls to the break of dawn. B-Boys keep rockin on and on. MCA resting in peace and love, lookin down and waitin’ with the mic in his hand. Ready to be reunited with his boyz.