What decade best describes the Beastie Boys?

[JasonP]

I recently got into an argument as to what decade the Beastie Boys should be labeled as (i.e. 80's, 90's. 2000's). I'm not going to say what I thought as I don't want to sway this poll.

Please post the decade and your reasoning. Thanks!

[Nerd Fight]

If you had to pick one decade I'd say the 80's because:
- Their most influential music is from the 80's - Paul's Boutique with its sampling and LTI with its rock and rap fusion
- Paul's Boutique is also generally considered their best work
- They had the biggest cultural impact in the 80's, during the LTI era, and that's when they were probably the most famous.

But they carried on so strong through the 90's that I think it undervalues them to call them an 80's band.

[destructo]

I've always thought of the Beasties as The Beatles of my generation, only they never broke up and quit making great music. It is kind of hard to label them with a decade since they experiment with several different types of music. Hip hop, punk, instrumental, bossa nova and more. They sample and they play instruments, sometimes they do both in the same song. This is why the Beasties are still around and selling records. They have always found a way to fit in each decade since they first started making music in the 1970's.

[tjpop]

equally both 80s and 90s. you can't say just one. but I'd exclude 00s.
They were huge in both 80s + 90s, and just as influential in each.

80s: Punk roots, biggest rap lp of all time with License To Ill, first white rap stars, big + brash concerts/videos/images appeal to both male + female, then put out subtle masterpiece Paul's Boutique

90s: Check Your Head ushers in new found coolness, brought back oldschool sneakers + influential fashion/dress, started own label/mag/clothing line, huge hit video Sabotage, hit lps in IC and HN, put on 3 important Free Tibet concerts which included almost every great musical act of the time

[Brother McDuff]

i vote 90s. influential impact of the 80s aside, I think the 90s because it encompassed all of their sounds equally. each facet is represented. not to mention its where they just really came into their own general.

[Thunder D]

Easy, 90's....they released 3 LP's during that decade......if anyone has the 1992 NJ show to listen to, today is the day. Its from 5/22/92.....

[pm0ney]

I think it's pretty obvious most of their fans are fans from the 90's. They kind of meshed with the Lollapalooza crowd, and I see a lot of birckenstock wearing peeps at B Boys shows... A lot more than I'd care to see to be honest. But, whatever blows your hair back.

To answer the question, their remembered more for the 80's. Every group is remembered most by when they first burst onto the scene. I think the decade that best describes them though is the 90's. Their current incarnation is more of a reflection of the stuff they did in the 90's then it is of the stuff from the 80's.