The 9 Best Beastie Boys Tracks

Paul’s Boutique sustained strut but also developed a kind of shimmying soulful expression. Teeming with samples, it can respectfully be described as the much-loved bastard child of a thousand fathers.

Its list of samples runs at five pages and includes a wide and vast array of genres and artists ranging from well known artists such as Kool and The Gang, Chic, Tower Of Power, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Commodores, Led Zeppelin and AC/DC – all which resulted in the creation of a musical amalgamation that was not geared towards satisfying the commercial masses.

Paul’s Boutique is legendary, iconic not just in the hip-hop sphere, but far beyond.

Embarking on the near impossible mission, DJs Food, Cheba, and Moneyshot sorted through the labyrinthian mess of samples used on the iconic Beastie Boys LP and sourced all original vinyl samples of every track that the hip-hop trio and production crew The Dust Brothers used to create it. Caught In The Middle Of A 3-Way Mix is the result, weaving together all the original samples plus a cappellas, period interviews and the Beasties’ own audio commentary from the reissued release into an electrifying audio-visual experience that is slick, fresh yet nostalgic, and completely unmissable.

We caught up with the three DJs behind the mega-mix; Food, Moneyshot, and Cheeba – to ask them what their personal favourite Beastie Boy tracks are, ahead of their performance at the Prince Bandroom in Melbourne this Friday 21st February.

‘So What ‘Cha Want?’

(From Check Your Head, 1992)
“Probably my favourite BB track, ‘Check Your Head’ yielded this second organ-led stomper of a single. With a keyboard figure by Money Mark and some very large samples from Southside Movement’s ‘Ive Been Watching You’, it always works on a dancefloor.”

‘Do It’

(From Ill Communication, 1994)
“A similar vibe to ‘So What Cha Watch?’ with a grinding bass stomp and low-slung, two-note guitar lick. From their ‘Ill Communication’ LP and featuring Biz Markie, this is sometimes forgotten in amongst all the great singles from that time.”

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‘A Year & A Day’

(From Paul’s Boutique, 1989)
“Hard to choose just one track from Paul’s Boutique but this MCA solo joint from the middle of ‘B-Boy Bouillabaisse’ instantly pricked up my ears when I first got the album. With John Bonham’s drums from ‘When the Levee Breaks’ sped up to 45 and the Isley Brothers’ ‘That Lady Pt.2’ guitar freak out in the background, he lets rip into a loud hailer and it all ends in a train wreck of call and response scratching.”

‘Electrify’

(From Hello Nasty, 1998)
“Picking one Beasties track is like sticking with the same sandwich for the rest of your life – Moods change. One day beef, the next cheese…maybe with onion. That’s the dope thing about the Beasties – They cater for all tastes. Today it’s Stravinsky loops and verses about the institutionalized juggernaut of society’s capitalist greed. Yum.”

‘Alive (Bentley Rhythm Ace Remix)’

(From Beastie Boys – Alive (Bentley Rhythm Ace Remix) promo, 1999)
“As the Beasties have 99.9% of their a capellas available online in some form or another, the market is awash with third-rate ‘remixes’. Most official ones were predictably boom bap, but this one from bonkers Brummy boys B.R.A has an unhinged pomp that fits them like a glove.”

‘Get it Together’

(From Ill Communication, 1994)
“Moody sample. Neck snap drums. Snatches of half thought out cuts. A verse from Q-Tip that, some scant Googling should corroborate, sounds like it’s made up from edits from a rudderless freestyle session. It’s loose. It’s fun. It’s throwaway. It’s effortless. It’s a classic example of living and breathing pure hip-hop.”

‘(You Gotta )Fight For Your Right (To Party)’

(From Licensed To Ill, 1986)
“(You Gotta )Fight For Your Right (To Party) from the debut album License To Ill was the track that really blew the beasties wide into the mainstream. Originally intended as a parody (whose message was largely overlooked by most) its riotous blend of punk riffs, hip hop raps and the anarcic video went on to land the group heavy rotation on MTV and a top ten hit worldwide which subsequently launched their tours and popularity into orbit.”

‘Sabotage’

(From Ill Communication, 1994)
“Spurred partly on by a much celebrated and award winning video (directed by Spike Jonze) ‘Sabotage’, from the first note, is one of the most instantly recognisable BeastieBoys tracks. It continued their style of bridging genres, continues to still kickstart a million mosh pits and went a long way to underline their ability to rock both instruments and mics.”

‘Sabrosa’

(From Ill Communication, 1994)
“Beyond the obvious raps, the beasties played instruments from the outset, but it was their 1996 album The In Sound From Way Out (Featuring Money Mark on keys and Eric Bobo on percussion) that showed they were not only capable of playing but were highly accomplished musicians. The track ‘Sabrosa’, I think, especially highlights their ability to produce intricate instrumental arrangements and really, truly bring the funk.”