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 Illin 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.
AD LOADING...
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.”
AD LOADING...
Check out the full episode here.
