Homophobia in Licensed to Ill?

[JeremyM]

Please keep in mind I'm not attacking the band here....I like that album, and though I'm a fairly new fan (just started really listening this past summer) I love The Beastie Boys in general, especcially their later stuff. So that title isn't an accusation.

But anyway, doing some random searching recently I happened across some articles about one of the Boys apologizing publically for homophobic statements in that album. I think that's really admirable, but....what exactly were the statements? Maybe I haven't listened to some of the songs carefully enough, but I haven't ever really noticed any. I know the album title was originally "Don't Be a F***ot," but I read that they've altered some of the lyrics in concert too...so what exactly were the offending lyrics? Does anyone know?

[Junker]

You mean the offending lyrics talking about homophobia or the offending lyrics in general?

[JeremyM]

The offending homophobic lyrics...although was there anything else they eventually changed? I have no idea.

[Lex Diamonds]

Rap has always had a large homophobic streak. The original title for Licensed To Ill was "Don't Be A Faggot", until Columbia made them change it.

[Laver1969]

You like men and we like beer.

-Hold it Now.

[AndILoveMike!]

And about sexism, then?
Yes, LTI is a concentrate of good feelings.. Is not easy listen to it like feminist and like girl. But luckily Beasties have changed. The apologize was made by Adrock in 1999.

[pshabi]

Rap has always had a large homophobic streak. The original title for Licensed To Ill was "Don't Be A Faggot", until Columbia made them change it.
I'm sure the OP thanks you for that groundbreaking piece of info.

[Kid Presentable]

Fuck, it was the 80's. They turned into that friend who always says 'sorry' in 1998.

That's why I'm glad Hello Nasty was good enough for me to like later down the line.

[Laver1969]

I love being a man, but sometimes I love men, too.

[kleptomaniac]

those were the LTI days...let's move on, shall we? (y)

And about sexism, then?

I Want To Say a Little Something That's Long Overdue
The Disrespect To Women Has Got To Be Through
To All The Mothers And The Sisters And The Wives And Friends
I Want To Offer My Love And Respect To The End (!)

I love being a man, but sometimes I love men, too.

hehe (http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6263/65745674567lf0.png) :D

[ggirlballa]

those were the LTI days...let's move on, shall we? (y)



I Want To Say a Little Something That's Long Overdue
The Disrespect To Women Has Got To Be Through
To All The Mothers And The Sisters And The Wives And Friends
I Want To Offer My Love And Respect To The End (!)



hehe (http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6263/65745674567lf0.png) :D


wheres that from dana? is it the criterion dvd?

[kleptomaniac]

wheres that from dana? is it the criterion dvd?

yes, under sabotage, "ciao la"

[Kid Presentable]

It was fucking bold to speak up about that stuff, though.

[KENNY GUIDO]

And about sexism, then?
Yes, LTI is a concentrate of good feelings.. Is not easy listen to it like feminist and like girl. But luckily Beasties have changed. The apologize was made by Adrock in 1999.

is that how RAP/HIP HOP is today? always talking about hoes and bitches?


the beasties were way ahead of thier time, once again!

[ggirlballa]

is that how RAP/HIP HOP is today? always talking about hoes and bitches?


the beasties were way ahead of thier time, once again!

lolz umm yea about that:rolleyes: :p


its amazing how the stuff they did first but don't get credit for, everybody says hype williams was the first to use fishscale lens in music videos (whatever its called used in hold it now hit it & shake your rump) but it was really the b-boys

[Bobtwi]

those were the LTI days...let's move on, shall we? (y)



I Want To Say a Little Something That's Long Overdue
The Disrespect To Women Has Got To Be Through
To All The Mothers And The Sisters And The Wives And Friends
I Want To Offer My Love And Respect To The End (!)



hehe (http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6263/65745674567lf0.png) :D
Whats that got to do with gays?

[MaestroDenis]

it was the 80s man, you could still call faggots faggots. Anyhow, I think I read it in "Beastie Boys Companion - Two Decades of Commentary" where Adrock explains exactly why they were angry with homosexuals - it was something along the lines of Adam being disgusted by what he saw happen constantly in his neighbourhood - rich older men paying off young boys from poorer backgrounds for sexual favours. Apparently, this was quite common and was conducted quite openly, so this is who they refered to as faggots.

[kleptomaniac]

Whats that got to do with gays?

well nothing, which is why i say "let's move on..." is that what you mean? :confused:

its amazing how the stuff they did first but don't get credit for, everybody says hype williams was the first to use fishscale lens in music videos (whatever its called used in hold it now hit it & shake your rump) but it was really the b-boys

fish eye lens lol (y)


edit: there are some here (http://www.beastieboys.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=36902)
(i would find s'more but i'm too lazy!)

[KENNY GUIDO]

it was the 80s man, you could still call faggots faggots. Anyhow, I think I read it in "Beastie Boys Companion - Two Decades of Commentary" where Adrock explains exactly why they were angry with homosexuals - it was something along the lines of Adam being disgusted by what he saw happen constantly in his neighbourhood - rich older men paying off young boys from poorer backgrounds for sexual favours. Apparently, this was quite common and was conducted quite openly, so this is who they refered to as faggots.


You can still call "faggots" "faggots". They dont mind. I call my gay friends "faggots", "queers", "pole smokers", "rump riders", "ass masters" and all sorts of names and they dont mind. they accepted those words and they use them just like blacks use the word "Nigger", except they dont go crying when someone that is not one of their own use the word against them. Gays are proud to be "faggots".


that practice still goes on today where poor white kids sleep with men for money. I, unfortunetly, had a friend, who happened to get me into the beastie boys back in 86, that was living on the streets of manhattan and was a drug addict and he resorted to be a male prostitute to feed his hunger for his addiction. Sadly, it involved having sex with men as old as his grandfather.

[Kid Presentable]

In the 80's everybody was a jerk. Didn't make it right, it's just how it was.

The more I think about how vociferous the group became in the late 90s, the happier I am for it. Because now everybody knows where they actually stand, and they can perform older stuff in a fun spirit.

[laurie_hammy]

In the 80's everybody was a jerk. Didn't make it right, it's just how it was.

The more I think about how vociferous the group became in the late 90s, the happier I am for it. Because now everybody knows where they actually stand, and they can perform older stuff in a fun spirit.

I fuckin love the way they perform the older shit. Its the same, but not with the same like long rhyming at the end (hard to explain) Its like they bring new sounding hip hop into there old songs.

[Supertouch87]

Being ignorant was what they made into an art form.

When youre 19, you call anyone you dont like a faggot, its just life. They grew up and so does everyone else. Its not a big deal, LTI was 20 years ago now!

[Loppfessor]

You guys are a bunch of fags!!

[JeremyM]

You like men and we like beer.

-Hold it Now.

Yeah this is more or less what I was looking for. Thanks.

Personally I don't think it's that big a deal....yeah, I can see why they'd regret it later, but given that whole album is basically a joke (in the best intentional sense) and not really to be taken seriously I think it's okay. I mean the whole thing is a spoof anyway.

I love that they became so socially aware and involved though. They definitely matured as artists. I love the stuff on "To the 5 Boroughs" and that single "In a World Gone Mad."

[Laver1969]

You guys are a bunch of fags!!

I quit smoking two years ago, Loopington.

[Loppfessor]

Loopington.

My favorite one to date! (y)