betaband
08-16-2005, 05:21 PM
What About the Beastie Boys: Do the White Boy Kings of Rap Still Matter?
The Source, 10.98
Words: John Gill
They raised hell with Run-DMC. Showed how creative the use of sampling can be. Demonstrated how live music has its place in hip-hop. And recently, they sold more records in one week than some rappers do their whole career.
With Ad Rock, MCA and Mike D enjoying phenomenal success with their current LP, Hello Nasty, we wondered about the Beastie Boys’ place in the rap world’s current state of affairs. So we posed the question to some of their peers: Are the Beastie Boys still relevant to today’s hip-hop audience?
Raekwon: “I like the Beastie Boys, them niggas is a-ight. They’ve been around for a minute with Run-DMC and all that; and I know they still know what’s going on in hip-hop too. They on point.”
Heltah Skeltah’s Ruck: “There’s room in hip-hop for that champagne poppin’, there’s room for the hardcore and there’s definitely room for the Beasties. We need variety in this shit. Plus Ad Rock’s my nigga.”
Ras Kass: “I think they moved on to a new genre. They’re incorporating alternative music; but they’re still relevant in that they’re taking their following into that field and broadening hip-hop.”
Erick Sermon: “Hell yeah, the Beastie Boys are still relevant to hip-hop today! They are on of the few groups still keepin’ it real from way back. Even their new shit sounds like it used to be.”
Luniz’s Yukmouth: “Hell yeah, they are still bringin’ that shit! To everyday Black folk they’re probably looked at as rock-n-roll, and they probably wouldn’t buy their album, but they’re still rappin’ and still poppin’. They will always be pioneers.”
John Forte: “Oh, that’s ridiculous. The Beastie Boys are pioneers in the game. They went against the grain and proved that they were three white guys who really have an appreciation for hip-hop. They didn’t front like they was from the ghetto, they just came out and made good music. They’re still in a class by themselves.”
E-40: “The Beasties have always been ahead of their time. They’re real crafty with theirs. Their music has always come from a base of hip-hop. It’s a different kind of hip-hop, but it’s still influenced by the essence so it’s relevant.”
Wyclef Jean: “If you into hip-hop, you gotta love the Beastie Boys. They held it down with Run-DMC and they’re some talented musicians. They’re relevant for even what I do, pickin’ up a guitar and playin’ it. I heard like four joints from the new album and I’m feelin’ it. I’m a fan. They could do a horrible song and I’d still like it.”
Schoolly D: “The thing you gotta remember about hip-hop is if you go back to like Grandmaster Flash, Funky Four Plus One, those guys were in the studios with bands. The Beastie Boys came from a band, so they should be able to express hip-hop any way they want to.”
Xzibit: “The Beastie Boys are tight. They went away from where they began musically, so I wouldn’t consider them hip-hop artists now because they’re more alternative. They’re original, though, and hip-hop influences what they do.”
B-Real: “I definitely like the Beasties, always have. I think they can still appeal to everybody. I know a lot of hip-hop kids that like that record that I didn’t think would. When I heard it I was like, ‘Yo, they came with some shit.’”
DJ Premier: “I copped the new album but I haven’t heard it yet because we’ve been runnin’ around so much. I know they came out with punk music first before hip-hop, so I ain’t mad at them, ‘cause that was their style to begin with. I’m still into ‘em because I have a wide range of music that I like. I would love to work wit’ em. Word, I’d give ‘em an ill joint. Maybe that’ll happen some day.”
Flip Mode Squad’s Lord Have Mercy: “Anybody that comes and offers more freedom in the rap game is extremely important because not everybody is a player or a thug. If you are a real hip-hop fan, they got joints that’ll still bang you in the head, B.”
Funkmaster Flex: “I think they weren’t relevant for a minute. I think when they left Def Jam, people kinda started to think of them as not bein’ hip-hop ‘cause they were on another label; but sellin’ records like they’re doin’ now shows that hip-hop kids are buying it too. I listened to the new album and I think it’s their time again.”
The Source, 10.98
Words: John Gill
They raised hell with Run-DMC. Showed how creative the use of sampling can be. Demonstrated how live music has its place in hip-hop. And recently, they sold more records in one week than some rappers do their whole career.
With Ad Rock, MCA and Mike D enjoying phenomenal success with their current LP, Hello Nasty, we wondered about the Beastie Boys’ place in the rap world’s current state of affairs. So we posed the question to some of their peers: Are the Beastie Boys still relevant to today’s hip-hop audience?
Raekwon: “I like the Beastie Boys, them niggas is a-ight. They’ve been around for a minute with Run-DMC and all that; and I know they still know what’s going on in hip-hop too. They on point.”
Heltah Skeltah’s Ruck: “There’s room in hip-hop for that champagne poppin’, there’s room for the hardcore and there’s definitely room for the Beasties. We need variety in this shit. Plus Ad Rock’s my nigga.”
Ras Kass: “I think they moved on to a new genre. They’re incorporating alternative music; but they’re still relevant in that they’re taking their following into that field and broadening hip-hop.”
Erick Sermon: “Hell yeah, the Beastie Boys are still relevant to hip-hop today! They are on of the few groups still keepin’ it real from way back. Even their new shit sounds like it used to be.”
Luniz’s Yukmouth: “Hell yeah, they are still bringin’ that shit! To everyday Black folk they’re probably looked at as rock-n-roll, and they probably wouldn’t buy their album, but they’re still rappin’ and still poppin’. They will always be pioneers.”
John Forte: “Oh, that’s ridiculous. The Beastie Boys are pioneers in the game. They went against the grain and proved that they were three white guys who really have an appreciation for hip-hop. They didn’t front like they was from the ghetto, they just came out and made good music. They’re still in a class by themselves.”
E-40: “The Beasties have always been ahead of their time. They’re real crafty with theirs. Their music has always come from a base of hip-hop. It’s a different kind of hip-hop, but it’s still influenced by the essence so it’s relevant.”
Wyclef Jean: “If you into hip-hop, you gotta love the Beastie Boys. They held it down with Run-DMC and they’re some talented musicians. They’re relevant for even what I do, pickin’ up a guitar and playin’ it. I heard like four joints from the new album and I’m feelin’ it. I’m a fan. They could do a horrible song and I’d still like it.”
Schoolly D: “The thing you gotta remember about hip-hop is if you go back to like Grandmaster Flash, Funky Four Plus One, those guys were in the studios with bands. The Beastie Boys came from a band, so they should be able to express hip-hop any way they want to.”
Xzibit: “The Beastie Boys are tight. They went away from where they began musically, so I wouldn’t consider them hip-hop artists now because they’re more alternative. They’re original, though, and hip-hop influences what they do.”
B-Real: “I definitely like the Beasties, always have. I think they can still appeal to everybody. I know a lot of hip-hop kids that like that record that I didn’t think would. When I heard it I was like, ‘Yo, they came with some shit.’”
DJ Premier: “I copped the new album but I haven’t heard it yet because we’ve been runnin’ around so much. I know they came out with punk music first before hip-hop, so I ain’t mad at them, ‘cause that was their style to begin with. I’m still into ‘em because I have a wide range of music that I like. I would love to work wit’ em. Word, I’d give ‘em an ill joint. Maybe that’ll happen some day.”
Flip Mode Squad’s Lord Have Mercy: “Anybody that comes and offers more freedom in the rap game is extremely important because not everybody is a player or a thug. If you are a real hip-hop fan, they got joints that’ll still bang you in the head, B.”
Funkmaster Flex: “I think they weren’t relevant for a minute. I think when they left Def Jam, people kinda started to think of them as not bein’ hip-hop ‘cause they were on another label; but sellin’ records like they’re doin’ now shows that hip-hop kids are buying it too. I listened to the new album and I think it’s their time again.”