No Dogs in Space Beastie Boys Pt IV: Licensed to Ill
May 8, 2021
The podcast delves into the rise of The Beastie Boys in the music industry, their collaboration with Russell Simmons, the accessibility and differences between hardcore punk and hip hop, their tour with Madonna, the turning point song 'Hold It Now Hit It', the use of tape loops in music, their collaboration with Run-DMC, the positive feedback from Run DMC on their debut album, and discussions with Adam Dubin about iconic music videos and his documentary 'Murder in the Front Row'.
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Russell Simmons' Early Hip Hop Anecdote
- Russell Simmons' rise in hip hop started by handing out flyers to get club entry and promoting events.
- His breakthrough came managing Curtis Blow and pioneering rap records like "Christmas Rapping."
Hardcore Rap and Punk Parallel
- Run DMC and Beastie Boys were two sides of the same coin: hardcore rap and hardcore punk.
- Their accessibility made entry into music easier compared to traditional genres needing years of theory.
Beastie Boys' Madonna Tour Antics
- Beastie Boys toured with Madonna in 1985 with only four songs and minimal luggage.
- They intentionally antagonized the pop crowd to gain attention, leading to frequent booing but lasting exposure.