“Ill Communication” by the Beastie Boys

A Beastie Boys classic turns 30.

Hello! 😊👋

Welcome to a new edition of the Best Music of All Time newsletter!

Today’s music pick celebrates the 30th anniversary of a Beastie Boys classic.

Genre: Alternative, Hip-Hop

Label: Capitol

Release Date: May 31, 1994

Vibe: 💪💪

Not enough people talk about the Beastie Boys as incredible musical innovators. In less than a decade, they helped usher rock-rap into the mainstream (License to Ill), reset the boundaries of hip-hop sampling (Paul’s Boutique), and, improbably, proved they were capable of crafting a groovy lo-fi masterpiece (Check Your Head). But, of all the exceptional records they released during their peak period, Ill Communication may be the one that’s aged the best. They built on the experimental alt-rock template of Check Your Head, adding more muscular riffs and rhythms to nearly every track. They also put a renewed emphasis on rapping without resorting to as many cringeworthy frat boy anecdotes as they did on their record-setting debut. What you’re left with is arguably the best cross-section of the Beasties’ signature sound—a pastiche of wide-ranging genre influences presented in a package that, in its day, was as accessible to pop radio as it was to stoners looking to kick back in their college dorm rooms.

The highlights come fast and furious in this album’s first half. The swaggering “Sure Shot” and down-and-dirty funk of “Root Down” would garner tons of airplay throughout North America, while lead single “Sabotage” has become one of the group’s most beloved and enduring songs. The more you sit with this record, the more impressive, the deeper cuts sound. “B-Boys Makin’ with the Freak Freak” is an absolutely insane groove that’s surely blown out more than a few car stereos since its initial release. “Flute Loop” uses the eponymous instrument to create a terrific hook, while “Bodhisattva Vow” builds its beat around Mongolian throat singing. Perhaps the surest sign that the Beasties had gained enormous industry respect is “Get It Together,” a collaboration with Q-Tip, then regarded as one of the top emcees in the business. The fact that the trio could hang with Q and not get caught in his shadow is a testament to how their confidence had exploded since Check Your Head signaled their rebirth.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Beasties’ greatness, this album presents an excellent in-point.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈