I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus in recent times when it comes to fully submerging myself in any Beastie Boys experience, but to this day I still tell people who ask that my fave musical act is the Beasties. And even though “To the 5 Boroughs” still hasn’t received nearly enough attention from me, I’m feeling very ready for a new album from the boys. I think y’all should watch out for this one. I think Hot Sauce Committee is about to blow some minds, and remind hip hop what makes it great.
Aaaaaah, Bringin’ -bringin’ back that old New York Rap. I can tell you for sure that the Beastie Boys were my gateway into not only Hip Hop, but Hip Hop snobbery. I enjoyed their music from the beginning, but no more than your average clod. Then in high school, “Sabotage” and the Spike Jonze directed video for it hit. I bought the CD twice (due to my 1st copy getting stolen), and when I’d worn it out, I worked my way backwards through “Check Your Head“, “Pauls Boutique“, and “Licensed To Ill“. Each album got it’s own chunk of my teenage years, and deservedly so. Each song spoiled me so much that although not exactly a Hip Hop historian, I became meticulously choosy about what artists I allowed access to my ear drums. The Beastie Boys taught me that good beats and a good time are way more important than bein’ a baller.
It didn’t stop there though. Next came the bootleg CDs, and the Beastie List: the official Beastie Boys emailing list that was in full swing in the late 90’s. This is what went down before online Forums were really big. I met a lot of Beastie Boys fans through there, and got hooked up with many a mail order VHS tape, each brimming with amazing Beastie Boys footage. Ahh the days before You Tube. Also, my screen name became Tadlock, after the Beasties’ tour bus driver (a little factoid I learned on MTV’s Squirt TV in a Beck / Mike D interview) during Run DMC’s Raising Hell tour; and actually, “Tadlock’s Glasses” was almost the title for the upcoming album, before it was renamed to “Hot Sauce Committee”. I made my own Beastie Boys t-shirt too; to wear to the Barrie, ON date of the Hello Nasty tour, which my girlfriend at the time and I rode a greyhound bus 30 hours to get to! It was an amazing time. So many nice people!
So as you can tell, I have a history of being a Beastie Boys freak, and I hope to resume with this next album. I’m pumped that Nas (let alone other guests like Santigold) decided to join the boys on a track (Too Many Rappers -see above), and I think we’re about to hear, yet again, a masterpiece of a record. Enjoy the above track, and the below videos, which are some of my fav beastie bits that I’ve seen over the years! Give ‘em your attention for a minute or two at least. Some of the moments of amazingness take a few to jump on you; the 1st one quite honestly makes me wanna cry tears of joy around 2:06!

Please check Root Down as well. Wasn’t able to embed in page, but great vid.