BEASTIE BOY YAUCH: 'I'VE MATURED' pr-inside.com 2006-06-26

[lyneday]

Entertainment

News - Music, movie, Entertainment
BEASTIE BOY YAUCH: 'I'VE MATURED'

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
2006-06-26 18:58:58 -



BEASTIE BOY ADAM YAUCH has denied becoming more politically correct as he gets older, insisting he has just matured.
The 41-year-old rapper no longer writes lyrics which may upset some listeners, whereas 20 years ago he wouldn't have hesitated to do so.
He says, "You just take more responsibility. I used to rap about sniffing glue. I wasn't into sniffing glue but it sounded funny to me.
"I would think twice about doing that now. You go through different phases."

http://www.pr-inside.com/beastie-boy-yauch-ive-matured-r9352.htm

[Deep_Sea_Rain]

Thanks (y)

[ggirlballa]

so they're @ the "messing around" phase of a new album at least they're doin sumthing(y)

[acamus]

It makes sense. I've gone through phases of life and thought too. It's disconcerting when someone gets older and doesn't change/mature. It's not like some kind of progressive evolution necessarily; sometimes it's just changes/phases. I totally get that. I work with someone 16 years my senior who is dedicated to self-analysis and progress. I've grown in ways to hold views he once did, once held views that he does now, etc. and vice versa.

On the other hand, I tried to write about this before on the boards by using Yauch's SOS liner notes about FFYRTP and I believe I was misunderstood (or I didn't try hard enough to explain myself). He's even changed since then, at least going by his interview on Fresh Air (e.g., "People know it's [sexist and other lyrics] just a goof.") That was exactly what I was trying to get at. I wouldn't expect a 40 year-old father to write new material about doing the sheriff's daughter with a wiffle ball bat. If for no other reason than how many times can you joke around about any one thing? On the other hand I was baffled that they were, at least for a time, distancing themselves from what is STILL funny, raunchy humor. It doesn't seem the same as BEING sexist, racist, homophobic, etc. That stance seemed PC, but then again I can also understand thesis, antithesis, synthesis. God knows I've done this and can look back and laugh at myself for some of the things I've done or said. When I originally wrote about this, I wanted a discussion. I wanted to test my own belief that you could say some pretty funny, fucked-up sounding shit as jokes and still not be an asshole, dick head, sexist, racist fuck. Honestly I'm wanting to have coffee with Horovitz and Hanna and get their take because they SEEM to be that major influence on these issues. Until that unlikely event, I'll keep it going with friends and this board. Anyone game?

On the other hand I also understand something about the kind of responsibility that Yauch's talking about. If you rap about smokin' elephant tranquilizers, some kid (god knows I didn't catch the irony in LTI when I was 14) might not catch the joke or might and still try some stupid shit and ruin his/her life, the lives or their friends or some stranger they t-bone. It's understandable when you're a young revolutionary to barrel through life without this kind of perspective leaving a lot of interesting and challenging but damaging stuff in your wake. The Besaties still do things that middle-agers around me find risky like putting out the dirty version of the Triple Trouble video where they're cutting-up pot, having "fuckin'" in their movie title or their jokes on Fresh Air about weed. I end up defending these moves because I still listen to Marley and Tosh, Tom Petty or The Traveling Willburys (all squarely boomer material boomers hold sacred) talking about legalizing it, because of my own Jamaican heritage, because of my own values and experiences about that particular drug. However, I can see how these moves seem irresponsible to my elders. It's the middle-agers bristling to the word "fuckin'" that, at least at this point in my life, I don't get at all. I see less gray area here and ask what the fuck is wrong with "fuck"? I know from an interview with Mike D that Tamra doesn't want their kids growing up around that kind of language. Why? And for god's sake I'm not arguing with her; I'm open to understanding what kind of damage she thinks this will incur. I welcome any alternate perspectives on this one because the ones I've gotten so far aren't convincing. I teach kids knowing that behind the adult's backs they're cursing just like we do behind theirs. How come it's wrong to be honest about it between these two worlds? Why do some people think that restricting four letter words are somehow going to expand their vocabulary or help them become more articulate?

Maybe what some fans (i.e., younger ones and those who grew older but didn't change) miss is the shock factor that, at least in part, marked the Beasties as revolutionary. As one journalist once said, "they came along in a time when America needed to be reminded how not to give a fuck." It's like the tag line in the recent issue of Little White Lies says about revolutionary music: "From Beethoven to the Beastie Boys ... the mark of revolutionary music is when it kicks heads in." What could the boys do at this point that would sit well with Yauch's Buddhism, Horovitz's feminism and whatever trip D's on and still unsettle convention? AIFST remake of conventional concert movies? TT5B's defiance of fashion? Their self-conscious goof humor in interviews? Maybe, maybe not. Hell, name a current group that is as revolutionary. I'm not saying there isn't great music happening, but none of it feels as unsettling as LTI or PB.

In the end I still like what they're doing not so much as a fan (which I am), but as a cultural anthropologist watching revolutionaries age, mellow, evolve, expand. They may be considered rear-guard boomers, but their vernacular is squarely gen-x to me and wholly like the pieces of that culture that I identify with. Horovitz often wonders how it could be possible for fans of LTI to still be into what they're doing now. His bafflement makes sense to me, yet I'm still digging it. Why? I didn't get the irony in LTI; I took it seriously and enjoyed it that way. I missed PB when it dropped; few people are telling the truth when they say they didn't. CYH and IC are obvious; what youth couldn't dig it? HN is still growing on me. It didn't immediately strike me and I still have some resistance to it. TT5B hit me immediately as the kind of fun shit I love. I didn't go into that one wanting any pretense or experiments; it's just something that hits my brain and tickles my ass. Their punk stuff is part of the study but not much more for me. That's one disjointed way that audience and performer can grow together; they certainly don't always agree.

[enree erzweglle]

^^^Oh dear God, if you're a male--and no offense to the lovely marsdaddy who was already assigned to me--but you should absolutely be my BBMB opposite sex equivalent (http://www.beastieboys.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=67680&highlight=BBMB+opposite+sex+equivalent) because that's a whole lot of stream of-consciousness-style words and thoughts and I think you've trumped even my longest post.

Which particular issue do you want to discuss? Because you'll have to extract it, distill it to a few key/representative thoughts using tiny & digestible words, and then keep your fingers crossed that someone will read it. I will but I won't be on much in the coming weeks and months. Maybe even years or lives. :)

[acamus]

Part 1

Keywords: fuck, shit, damn, hell, ass.
Question: What damage does the use of these words present to children?

Part 2
Keywords: bitch, whore, wiffle ball bat
Question: Can one joke about these things/use these words and not be sexist?

Discuss :)

[enree erzweglle]

Part 1

Keywords: fuck, shit, damn, hell, ass.
Question: What damage does the use of these words present to children?

Part 2
Keywords: bitch, whore, wiffle ball bat
Question: Can one joke about these things/use these words and not be sexist?

Discuss :)
This made me smile. So funny.

Part 1: "What damage does the use of these words present to children?"
I believe that it's more the intent of a word--how you load it--v. the word itself that's damaging. Despite that, though, I also think that controversial language should be used discerningly, discreetly.

I avoided using certain words, putting myself in certain situations, talking about certain things with my kid until he was old enough to understand it all and to treat those things with the right amount of respect. About swearing: to me, it's not inherently a bad thing and, in fact, it can be advantageous--certain words punctuate well, drive the message home perfectly in particular situations. But I avoided it [swearing] outright with my kid partly because I wanted him to develop a full and descriptive vocabulary first--I wanted him to work at that--and also to understand a lot about appropriateness before diving in.

There came a point when he was older when, without saying so explicitly, we both understood that it was okay to use a subset of that language in front of each other and so we did it and do it still. (There's a class of words that we never use either in front of each other or otherwise.) My kid occasionally swears lightly in front of my dad and when he does, it usually stuns my dad for a second--I can see it flicker briefly in his expression--but then he gets another flicker and it's like he's thinking that he forgot that his grandson is fully grown.

Anyway, that's what worked for me and my particular kid.

Part 2: "Can one joke about these things/use these words and not be sexist?"
"What's wrong with being sexy?" :)

[Laver1969]

Part 1

Keywords: fuck, shit, damn, hell, ass.
Question: What damage does the use of these words present to children?

Part 2
Keywords: bitch, whore, wiffle ball bat
Question: Can one joke about these things/use these words and not be sexist?

Discuss :)

Acamus, I'll do my best to answer/discuss my thoughts on the issues with you. I've grown up with the Beasties and have enjoyed each album in its respective time period.

As a father, I carefully monitor my vocabulary in front of my young kids. And what they are exposed to. When questionable language comes up I try my best to explain what is meant, and why some words are "not so nice". I do understand that as they get older and experience more and more...I hope to continue the dialog with them so they can understand it better.

[acamus]

Okay, I have intermitent internet access so I just want to thank you both for thoughtful and reasoned responses. I guess it takes time on the boards to locate your general tribe. I'm going to roll this around on my tougue and if I have more questions, I'll get back to you. Point is: thank you both.

[acamus]

This made me smile. So funny.

Part 1: "What damage does the use of these words present to children?"
I believe that it's more the intent of a word--how you load it--v. the word itself that's damaging. Despite that, though, I also think that controversial language should be used discerningly, discreetly.

I avoided using certain words, putting myself in certain situations, talking about certain things with my kid until he was old enough to understand it all and to treat those things with the right amount of respect. About swearing: to me, it's not inherently a bad thing and, in fact, it can be advantageous--certain words punctuate well, drive the message home perfectly in particular situations. But I avoided it [swearing] outright with my kid partly because I wanted him to develop a full and descriptive vocabulary first--I wanted him to work at that--and also to understand a lot about appropriateness before diving in.

There came a point when he was older when, without saying so explicitly, we both understood that it was okay to use a subset of that language in front of each other and so we did it and do it still. (There's a class of words that we never use either in front of each other or otherwise.) My kid occasionally swears lightly in front of my dad and when he does, it usually stuns my dad for a second--I can see it flicker briefly in his expression--but then he gets another flicker and it's like he's thinking that he forgot that his grandson is fully grown.

Anyway, that's what worked for me and my particular kid.

Part 2: "Can one joke about these things/use these words and not be sexist?"
"What's wrong with being sexy?" :)

I agree with your point about intent and discerning, discrete use. I also understand from teaching little ones that they want to use/do things long before they understand appropriate use. (Again I'm not yet a parent, so I'm fully aware that I'm trying to understand this without that key experience.) It's this part about a full and descriptive vocabulary that I hear a lot and still don't understand. I think it might be an anti-intellectual tendency I have and it might be more productive to analyze myself about this first, but do you mean that introducing these words somehow blocks the absorbtion or willingness to use a broader range? I'm not being facetious.

I'm also curious about the class or words that are off limits. I can imagine they are the ones George Carlin highlights, but what are your reasons for this limit. (Yeah, I totally see my neurosis for complete freedom, but your responses are well thought out and measured and I'm sure this is just what I need.)

As for part two, perfect answer.

Again thanks for your help and you sound like a great parent; your child is lucky.

[acamus]

Acamus, I'll do my best to answer/discuss my thoughts on the issues with you. I've grown up with the Beasties and have enjoyed each album in its respective time period.

As a father, I carefully monitor my vocabulary in front of my young kids. And what they are exposed to. When questionable language comes up I try my best to explain what is meant, and why some words are "not so nice". I do understand that as they get older and experience more and more...I hope to continue the dialog with them so they can understand it better.

Another great parent. Even better, a great dad. We need more of y'all. Thank you.

[enree erzweglle]

I agree with your point about intent and discerning, discrete use. I also understand from teaching little ones that they want to use/do things long before they understand appropriate use. (Again I'm not yet a parent, so I'm fully aware that I'm trying to understand this without that key experience.) It's this part about a full and descriptive vocabulary that I hear a lot and still don't understand. I think it might be an anti-intellectual tendency I have and it might be more productive to analyze myself about this first, but do you mean be introducing these words somehow blocks the absorbtion or willingness to use a broader range? I'm not being facetious.There's debate about that, and not just related to swearing, but related to shortcuts in speech. Examples: the overuse of filler words such as "like" and "you know" and AIMspeak, which is making its way into spoken conversation (not just written conversation). There's debate about acceptability and how overuse of those words/phrases and obscenities, the introduction of those shortcuts, maybe weakens vocabulary, discourages development (discourages the kid from working to express himself more clearly, using a broad range of sort of traditionally accepted words). I don't know of any formal studies into this (although I'm sure they exist), I do know that it's a concern that I've heard over the years in various social circles and that I've read about here/there.

I don't know if I 100% buy that correlation--and when my kid was little, AIMspeak (or whatever it's called) didn't much exist--but I didn't want to take a chance with him. Regardless of whatever debate was raging, I think I just wanted to encourage him to explore the world of words and reading and expression of thoughts intelligently, colorfully. I remember several times being around his friends and I'd hear them use a word that I didn't know and I'd ask them to explain it to me and they would, but they'd struggle with it. I'd ask them to rephrase what they said without changing the meaning but eliminating certain words. They struggled with that. That's not a formal study, but it maybe drove that home a little bit more for me. Language is imporant in terms of my understanding about how it's evolving--it's living--and in terms of him (my kid) understanding what's appropriate and what's respectful, how some words have dual meanings, are loaded.

I'm also curious about the class or words that are off limits. I can imagine they are the ones George Carlin highlights, but what are your reasons for this limit. (Yeah, I totally see my neurosis for complete freedom even in writing this, but your responses are well thought out and measured and I'm sure this is just what I need.) It's been awhile since I looked at that list, but I don't think all of the George Carlin words are off limits for us in that implicit sort of understanding that he and I have (he being my kid, not George Carlin :)).

My reasons are all about appropriate use and setting, and extending respect.

Some words are okay in some contexts (given certain uses) but not in others. For example, we seem to know that it's okay (with each other) to say "fuck" as an expression of exasperation, but never as a serious "fuck you" to each other because that's way beyond the scope of our relationship. We're too close and respectful to be that angry or venomous, dismissive with each other. (Things would have had to decline a long way to get to the point where we'd say that, worse if we said it and meant it.) But a "Fuck, but Dick Cheney is scary." is something we have said and still say fairly often.

The other off-limits words are words that are loaded. Cunt and bitch, for instance, are too often used to seriously disparage women and that's flat-out offensive to a lot of people. I don't use those words in that way (I don't use one of them at all) and I don't think my kid does either. But for a long time, I defended their use elsewhere: "They're just words." I do think I realize now that those two words in particular upset a lot of people--even if they're used jokingly. Nasty when they're loaded the way they so often are. It's not worth going there and risking hurting or upsetting people. I haven't always felt that way, though. I do distinctly remember talking about that with my kid when he was younger and explaining that it's a matter of respect--extending respect--to people by avoiding those words when possible. This is a thorny problem.

There are other words in that category that I don't use with my kid just because it's a parent-kid relationship and those words, weird given the nature of things even though my kid is fully grown. I use those words occasionally with friends.

As for part two, perfect answer.I'm a Nigel fan. :)

Again thanks for your help and you sound like a great parent; your child is lucky.That's a terribly sweet thing to say, thanks. I was and am lucky to have him in my life. I always say that I learned more about myself and life from him than he learned about any/all of it combined from me. I absolutely got the better end of that deal.

Sorry for being so typeative. :o

[Laver1969]

I'm also curious about the class or words that are off limits. I can imagine they are the ones George Carlin highlights, but what are your reasons for this limit. (Yeah, I totally see my neurosis for complete freedom, but your responses are well thought out and measured and I'm sure this is just what I need.)


I think it's all from a matter of being age-appropriate. For instance, There are some words such as "stupid" and "butt" which are not considered profanity, but I don't feel are appropriate for my kids at their current ages. I think there are "nicer" words in our vocabulary that I prefer them to use.

But kids are also kids and they'll pick up on something and start chanting "ear wax, ear wax, ear wax" because it's funny. :D

[midzi]

I think it's all from a matter of being age-appropriate. For instance, There are some words such as "stupid" and "butt" which are not considered profanity, but I don't feel are appropriate for my kids at their current ages. I think there are "nicer" words in our vocabulary that I prefer them to use.


such as "siusiu" ? :p

[Laver1969]

such as "siusiu" ? :p

What's suisui? I'm not familiar with that?

[midzi]

What's suisui? I'm not familiar with that?

siusiu is pee

[Laver1969]

siusiu is pee

Ha...:eek:

[acamus]

Okay, I just noticed Yauch and D used "bitch" in a non-gender-specific way in the SXSW interview as in "clearing the samples was a bitch". We're on the same page now.

Are we all past the calling your friend-girls "a bitch" when they're doing something unkind or is this still considered sexist? Is it okay since it is now so widely used in non-gender-specific ways, like when I call my friend-guys a bitch for the same reason? I know there are competing femenist theories on this, I'm just pollin'.

Renee, who's Nigel? I'll Wiki right now. Just did and got no relevant entry.

[Shinmeiryuu]

Okay, I just noticed Yauch and D used "bitch" in a non-gender-specific way in the SXSW interview as in "clearing the samples was a bitch". We're on the same page now.

Are we all past the calling your friend-girls "a bitch" when they're doing something unkind or is this still considered sexist? Is it okay since it is now so widely used in non-gender-specific ways, like when I call my friend-guys a bitch for the same reason? I know there are competing femenist theories on this, I'm just pollin'.

Renee, who's Nigel? I'll Wiki right now. Just did and got no relevant entry.

(Ugh, I feel so out of place. -_-')

On the subject of "sexist vocabulary," it really depends on who you're talking to, and how they take your comment. In the first place, if someone is acting in a irrational manner, one should not stoop down to insults such as "bitch;" It's not neccesarily a "sexist" term, but it is a term that is hurtful, and it's one that should not be use if the situation doesn't call for it.

People who immediately jump to the conclusion of sexism when such terms are used, usually are just looking for a good excuse to employ their self-righteous beliefs; You don't run into sexists every day, so if someone is overly feminist they would look for a situation to voice their beliefs, even to someone who's not being sexist; this isn't always the case, though.

Once again, "bitch" is a hurtful term, and can be taken different ways by different people, but insults hurt no matter what gender you are. Saying that "bitch" is sexist is kind of redundant, if you ask me.

[acamus]

(Ugh, I feel so out of place. -_-')

On the subject of "sexist vocabulary," it really depends on who you're talking to, and how they take your comment. In the first place, if someone is acting in a irrational manner, one should not stoop down to insults such as "bitch;" It's not neccesarily a "sexist" term, but it is a term that is hurtful, and it's one that should not be use if the situation doesn't call for it.

People who immediately jump to the conclusion of sexism when such terms are used, usually are just looking for a good excuse to employ their self-righteous beliefs; You don't run into sexists every day, so if someone is overly feminist they would look for a situation to voice their beliefs, even to someone who's not being sexist; this isn't always the case, though.

Once again, "bitch" is a hurtful term, and can be taken different ways by different people, but insults hurt no matter what gender you are. Saying that "bitch" is sexist is kind of redundant, if you ask me.

I'm with you on this. It does take discretion and knowing the person or audience. It is often better to express how you feel, but there are circumstances where the shortcut works to alert the offender without causing harm. I appreciate all the responses I've gotten on this and the combination of speaking to the issue, other discussions I've had and the feedback here has satisfied what I was looking for. Thank you.