Beastie Boys: Most Universally Well Known Rap Group Of All-Time?

[M.C. Guevera]

So, I was reading a hip-hop blog, and I saw a comment which said that the Beastie Boys are the most universally well known rap group ever, with Run-DMC the second most well known. And it got me thinking, the dude's got a point.

I mean, sales wise, they are the best selling rap group in history. They've got a fan base that goes beyond people who normally listen to hip-hop. Even people who despise rap listen to the Beastie Boys. I just never thought that out of all the classic rap groups out there, Wu-Tang, OutKast, N.W.A., Public Enemy...that out of all of them, the Beastie Boys would be the ones people would recognize the most. Especially these days, what with the Beasties output beyond Licensed To Ill seemingly forgotten about in the hip-hop community.

This is probably a pretty easy question, but do you agree with that statement? Do you seriously think that the Beastie Boys are the most well known rap group that's ever existed?

[Otis Driftwood]

First rap groups I've known:
1) Beasties
2) Fat Boys
3) Run DMC

Rap was not getting much airplay back in the day here in Europe, if you don't count Herbie Hancock and Paul Hardcastle. So for a lot of people who are not into rap at all, the Beasties might be the first rap band they heard...

[Kid Presentable]

Think about how many generations know the Beastie Boys. They'll become the most well known through sheer longevity.

[ham and cheese]

Beastie Boys
Fat Boys
Run DMC

same for me too, now that's weird - but like you say back then who else was there that was in the public eye so much? public enemy i suppose, but i never really got into them - you know what's weird, 2 of my first 3 hip hop groups have lost a member, their dj - maybe that's good that the beastie boys never went the traditional 2 mc's and 1 dj - they broke the mould and in doing that saved a life!! rip - jay and buffy the human beatbox!!

[Brother McDuff]

doesn't surprise me at all. tickles me, in fact. its funny, cause even the heads that hate hip-hop love the beasties. and im not even talkin like on some sabotage and gratitude shit either; there're so many people that love the beasties and hate hip-hop that dont even realize that the beasties are hip-hop in the purest sense. they have a stereotype for what rap is, but are completely ignorant to the fact that "so what'cha want", "intergalactic", "fight for your right", etc. are hip-hop.

too many people, if asked, would say that they despise hip-hop but then would turn around and say that the beasties are one of their favorite groups, without even realizing the irony. they're so preconceived that rappers are only misogynistic, "hard" hoodrats to them, and when they see the beasties gettin live, rappin', and not doin the same old predictable bullshit, their minds dont even compute the fact that its some ill hip hop.


......it's called IRONY, and that's right!!!!!!

[TAFKASB]

On some levels I agree with what's been said. I've found that Beasties appeal to all genres, probably more alternative people like them that hip-hop heads. I've found that most people that are into their hip - hop, don't really care too much for BB, and some people who really don't care for hip-hop quite like BB.

If I had to name the 3 most universally known rap groups, I'd go in the order of
1) RUN DMC....everyone knows at least one of their songs

2) Beastie Boys....again, side the teenage hip-hop heads, everyone knows at least one song

3) Outkast...due to the fact they have only been around a few years, and most of the stuff is still newish to the ear

I was going to put Black Eyed Peas, but I'm not sold on the idea that they are Hip-Hop

[BBboy20]

Unless they somehow get a website that links to anything or affiliation like some G-Unit site, then that group got that title.

[Otis Driftwood]

Beastie Boys
Fat Boys
Run DMC

same for me too, now that's weird - but like you say back then who else was there that was in the public eye so much? public enemy i suppose, but i never really got into them - you know what's weird, 2 of my first 3 hip hop groups have lost a member, their dj - maybe that's good that the beastie boys never went the traditional 2 mc's and 1 dj - they broke the mould and in doing that saved a life!! rip - jay and buffy the human beatbox!!
I only heard about PE about 4 or 5 years later and the older kids were all like, if you go to one of their shows, they kill all whities on sight. What a load of crap and also some good marketing for the Security of the first world. Next rap I heard on the radio was LL Cool J and Tone Loc.

[TAFKASB]

I went to see PE about 3 years ago.....98% of the people there were white! I was surprised. I remember though a few years ago I saw Snoop at the Melon Arena in Pittsburgh...again, mainly white crowd!

[kleptomaniac]

beastie boys are at the center of MY universe, i know that much definitely. :cool:

how can you NOT love those guys?!! :D

hardly anyone says "who are the beastie boys?"
unless that's an answer on jeopardy then i guess they would.

know them, love them, worship them....they're the best. (y)
even if you don't love/worship them, you know them. whether you like it or not! HA! beastie boys own y'all.

ALIENS out in outer space are groovin' to hello nasty as we speak! ;D

that is how well known they are.

[freetibet]

I'm not surprised. Living legends.

[milkboy009]

beasties and run-dmc seem like the most well known for sure, but fat boys? lots of people here don't even know who they are. They don't really have any big time singles or anything..... I think i would put wu-tang as my 3rd

[Gordon Gecko]

most people that are into their hip - hop, don't really care too much for BB, and some people who really don't care for hip-hop quite like BB.


This is what i've found. hip hop purists dont even consider beasties hip hop. They're not to a lot of hip hop-heads tastes...

However, i think snoop HAS to be one of the most well known hip hop acts around, but yea, i'd say beasties were the most well known, with wu tang a 3rd.

It's a pretty close run thing though and you'd have to go to less develeloped places and ask them which of the 3 they'd heard of, cos everybody in england has heard of all 3 (due to negative press coverage at one time or another).

The person that said thhis:


I definitely don't think so.
Run DMC are surely well known because of the stuff they did do, followed by Jason Nevins.
Loads of people know RUN DMC, not a lot know Beasties. This is what i've found.
But then, you know, everyone knows house of pain and cypress hill because of like 1 track, plus a load of other bands who may seemingly have just 1 hit, when they are actually a full flowing group. This is the way I see it.
Intergalactic and sabotage. Not a lot of clubs play them all the time.


Sorry - bit i don't agree at all. I run a hip hop night in the UK and intergalactic is one of the main beasties tunes that gets played. Nobody plays Run DMC any more in clubs, or Jason Nevins. A lot of people do know of cypress hill, but to say not a lot of people know of the BBs is crazy talk. Unless you're an eskimo or something i guess...

[easy 3]

[quote=Gordon Gecko;1494952]This is what i've found. hip hop purists dont even consider beasties hip hop. They're not to a lot of hip hop-heads tastes...

I'm finding it interesting what type of stuff people are into or consider to be hip hop - as far as I can tell hip hop (or at least gangster rap) has been really popular over say the last ten years - but HIP HOP with a tradition running back to the early Bronx days also has a huge dedicated underground following here in the UK and I'd say generally amongst this crowd the Beasties are loved and respected - pure heads know that even thier funk and hardcore stuff is basically hip - they're fresh to the bone!

It's a very interesting thread as the Beasties generally push the hip hop envelope so far that they are often interpreteed as an alternative rock band or something - but that's generally by people who don't really know thier hip hop history or who haven't really explored hip hop a lot.

It's interesting what impression different age groups and territories have of what the Beasties (and hip hop) are all about.

[TAFKASB]

[quote=Gordon Gecko;1494952]This is what i've found. hip hop purists dont even consider beasties hip hop. They're not to a lot of hip hop-heads tastes...

I'm finding it interesting what type of stuff people are into or consider to be hip hop - as far as I can tell hip hop (or at least gangster rap) has been really popular over say the last ten years - but HIP HOP with a tradition running back to the early Bronx days also has a huge dedicated underground following here in the UK and I'd say generally amongst this crowd the Beasties are loved and respected - pure heads know that even thier funk and hardcore stuff is basically hip - they're fresh to the bone!

It's a very interesting thread as the Beasties generally push the hip hop envelope so far that they are often interpreteed as an alternative rock band or something - but that's generally by people who don't really know thier hip hop history or who haven't really explored hip hop a lot.

It's interesting what impression different age groups and territories have of what the Beasties (and hip hop) are all about.

The last comment there hit the nail on the head...different age groups define what they are all about. Isn't this one of the great reasons they are such a great band?

[funkdoc2005]

I would have to agree. If DMC never lost his voice, I believe they've would've been touring up to JMJ's death, and touring is how the Beastie Boys are still relevant. People talk about most hip-hop heads don't consider the Beastie Boys hip-hop, but the topic was well known. Everyone knows who the Beastie Boys are whether you love them or hate them. They're alot people who are simply more well known than other rappers. As much as people clown Hammer and Vanilla Ice, even the black kids today still know them more than Black Moon, Kool G Rap, Pharcyde or most other 80's and 90s rappers. Good or Bad if you sell records you're remembered.

By the way I don't consider the Beastie Boys as just a rap group anymore. If you're a true Beastie Boys fan you probably stopped that after listening to all their music. I just consider them as artists now.