Hello Nasty...

[LuciferHam]

...may be my favourite Beasties album. Theres so many good ideas, the energy is so awesome in their rhymes, the beats are incredibly fresh, theres a lot of experimentation and its pretty much a sprawling epic. The jazz/funk tracks are particularly good, such as Song for Junior. Theres the almost jungle/drum n bass elements of And Me. Maybe I'm just really excited about it cause its the first Beasties album I've listened to right the way through in a while.

But it is fucking good.

Its good to know the album still excites and interests me as much as it did when I first got it second hand, eleven or so years ago.

That is all.

[Kid Presentable]

I love it some days, and don't love it on others. Best opening three songs on any of their albums, I reckon. I think I like reading McDuff's views on it because he's able to do it justice (as you have).

[FunkyHiFi]

HL is my favorite BB album. Lots of varied "stuff" in there so despite its length and number of tracks it never gets boring, so yea, "sprawling epic" is a good way to describe it.

[MCScoobyT]

I listen to every album all the way through (even non-Beasties shit)... Never understood why people would skip songs? The artist's made all the songs into an album... to be heard together, in sequence and as a reflection of the whole group of songs.

Glad you enjoy HN as I do
and the above is...
Just my opinion about how art should be consumed.

[Bernard Goetz]

Hello Nasty is my least favorite for a few reasons, #1 being that no other album has anything as unlistenable as Dedication. [/nooffenseintended]

[alleyezonme6198]

Hello Nasty is my least favorite for a few reasons, #1 being that no other album has anything as unlistenable as Dedication. [/nooffenseintended]

WHAT? To All The People In The Dead Sea!! I love that beat!

[Rodie]

I listen to every album all the way through (even non-Beasties shit)... Never understood why people would skip songs? The artist's made all the songs into an album... to be heard together, in sequence and as a reflection of the whole group of songs.

Glad you enjoy HN as I do
and the above is...
Just my opinion about how art should be consumed.

I completely agree, I generally listen to albums from beginning to end and always on the first listen. And Hello Nasty is amazing from beginning to end and easily my favorite album. Awesome thread.

[JoLovesMCA]

Hello Nasty is timeless. I don't like for my artists to always do everything cookie cutter clean from beginning to end. I like the experimentation with sounds and really I don't know any other hip hop artists like the Beastie Boys who continuously reinvent themselves. This is why they've managed to keep coming back with amazing records cuz people know they are going to deliver.

[Guy Incognito]

its the most inventive and diverse of their albums. And it was the first for a while that didnt really feature any hardcore business but still went in lots of new directions.

Adrock is the key on this album.

I think some of it is a bit weak, good ideas maybe but didnt really impress (i'm thinking of Dr Lee for start). But that said, the opening 8 or so tracks rule. The first time i heard it is still a great memory for me.

Its my second favourite.

[rhymesayer211]

"I'll be smokin roaches in the vestibule, in the next millenium I'll still be old school"

[Bernard Goetz]

I wonder if it's an age thing. I was 16 for PB and 19 for CYH, and those will always be my favorites. All y'all whose favorite if HN: were you in your late teens/early 20s when it came out?

[DJ Pioneer]

I really like the Hello Nasty era too. I always thought that Adrock made a lot of the hip hop beats on his own. This was the time when he was really chopping up those beats and into the SP-1200 and floppy disks. He came up with a lot of interesting stuff. They also got Mix Master Mike involved on this album, which was fantastic. I guess after this album, they switched to Reason and more computer-based stuff. I liked the experimentation and stuff too. The song I had a really hard time getting into was Dr. Lee Ph.D. (and the "Dub Mix").

Funny thing too, this may have been their "preachiest" era, not that there is anything wrong with that. This was when they confronted Prodigy about their song, tried to really distance themselves from the LTI era, and spoke out against violence against women and Islamophobia at awards shows. From the couple live show bootlegs I've heard, they stopped concerts a few times, even right in the middle of a song, when they saw people fall down or get hurt. They also told people to stop crowd surfing.

Some interesting b-sides: Peanut Butter and Jelly, You + Me Together, Start!

Some great remixes: Intergalactic (Colleone and Webb), Negotiation Limerick File (41 Small Star!!! and Handsome Boy Modeling School), Putting Shame in Your Game (The Prunes)

I never really cared for Fatboy Slim's remix of Body Movin' - is anyone else with me? They pushed it like nuts though, in the video, put it on the Anthology, Solid Gold Hits, etc. I much preferred Kut Masta Kurt's or Shawn J. Period's remixes. Even the Def Squad one was kind of cool.

In my mind, I usually lump Alive, Live Wire, Twenty Questions, etc. into this era as well. All good tracks.

[Brother McDuff]

i still believe this album best exemplifies the beastie "machine" firing on all cylinders; regarding not just their music, but their entire multimedia and public outreach bubble as well. the whole nine.

fully established, nothing to prove,
just stress-free, legacy solidifying,
creative outpour.

[JoLovesMCA]

I wonder if Hot Sauce Committe didn't end up going in the short track direction that we would have gotten another Hello Nasty. I think the other part to hot sauce is definitely going to be more Hello Nastyish. I hope it makes its way to us one day!

[IronMachine]

Hello Nasty is my favorite Beastie Boys album, though my favorite does alternate a lot of the time depending on my mood. I actually remember being excited to listen to this album, and being totally weirded out/disappointed with it. But after actually giving it some listens, it quickly became my favorite. I think I hated/disliked it at first because of the slightly long intros each and every song kinda had. (similar to HSCP2, every song has like a 10-30 second interlude or whatever. But with HN, the interludes were/are strange and didn't/don't even really fit the song, except maybe can't won't don't stop...A good example of what I'm talking about would be Just A Test. Now I'm okay with it, because back then I just quickly skipped tracks to hear the first 5 or so seconds to see if the track is hot...since then I've learned my ways.)


HN has my favorite beats of any B-boy album, no question.

Lyrically I think HN is the best one as well. It has everything the B-boys have been doing up to that point with the added weight of meaningful lyrics, not just dissing (which I love). I do wish there was a story song in there somewhere, though, like High Plains Drifter, Egg Man, Paul Revere etc.. Some hate the "we're all connected/Buddhist" lyrics, and I kinda understand that point of view who think that it's cheesy, but I think it's there best lyrics/rhymes on any album. To the 5 Boroughs is a close second in my book, but that's the only bit I think THAT album excels on.

I LOVE the jazzy songs on this album like "Song for Junior". It's so relaxing and reminds me of elevator music. I also love sneaking out the hospital. I wish there was more "elevator music" in the Beasties' catalog...Most of the Beasties' other instrumentals are more groovy, which I like, but I prefer the style they went for with this album.

Only a few complaints exist in my view of the album. One, I strongly dislike Dr.Lee phd....have mercy. I'm not a fan of Song for Man either...it's not that I particularly hate the song, it just, for whatever reason, gives me a headache. I think it's the combination of the vocal eq with the funky beat...don't know. It's not a skip, though...UNLIKE Dr. Lee phd....I skip that pretty much all the time. Finally, dedication. I don't hate, dislike, like, or love the song. It's just a dedication track, really. No biggie.

And finally, though I love most (about 94%) of the tracks, I do think the album is too long. Which my be a contradiction since I love almost all the songs (save for 1 or 2), I think they should have put the jazz songs on some kind of side project/bonus type of album. That way the album would make more sense (the whole things electronic, then there's some random jazz songs) I think some critiques slammed it due to the randomness of the genre as well. I also think that it'd be easier to digest.

I've spoke too much...sorry. I just love the album. Props to anyone who reads all that.

[beasties#1fan]

Song for the man is amazing and the message is beautiful. In my opinion:rolleyes:

[senbei]

The production of this album is just incredibly deep. 14 years in and I still hear new sounds every single time I listen to it.

[IronMachine]

Song for the man is amazing and the message is beautiful. In my opinion:rolleyes:

I agree...I love the lyrics on that song...just the beat gives me a headache :(

[Uru-Nitro]

hello nasty is my fav album too. the lyrics, the beats, the cover design, the package, the videoclips are just a whole piece of art.

and 13 years later Intergalactic still is imo the best song ever made.

[fonky pizza]

Song for the man is amazing and the message is beautiful. In my opinion:rolleyes:

Love this song!(y)

[DrunkenMantis]

I concur with all of these previous posts....Hello Nasty has been my favorite

album for a long time. love 'em all, but HN has that something special for

me.

[yolanda]

I'm 40. I was 26 in 1998 when HN came out. My (then bf, now husband) and I went on a trip to Bermuda that summer. When we came back we moved in together. I remember that time mostly because I listened to HN nonstop. For weeks. Months. Years. I still play all Beasties on the regular... but HN is always my best go to. I love to work out to it at the gym. SO...In answer to someone (sorry I don't remember who asked the question...) who wanted to know if older fans like HN best... I've been a BB fan since Licensed to Ill which came out when I was 13. The first show I ewver went to without a parent was Beastie Boys and Murphy's Law at Nassau Community College... i was 13. I love all BB's albums but I always feel HN is my fave. It's got great beats, great rhymes, it's just the best. It makes me so happy. SONG FOR THE MAN is one of my faves off HN, too. They played it at The Borgata in AC... and I think I was literally the only person at that show who even knew it, let alone cared!! Anyway,,, HN! My Fave!!!

With that, please let me add, I hope Mike and The Adams are well lately. Yauch, much love, our thoughts are with you daily! Eve and Vin Vergara

[Kid Presentable]

I'm 40. I was 26 in 1998 when HN came out. My (then bf, now husband) and I went on a trip to Bermuda that summer. When we came back we moved in together. I remember that time mostly because I listened to HN nonstop. For weeks. Months. Years. I still play all Beasties on the regular... but HN is always my best go to. I love to work out to it at the gym. SO...In answer to someone (sorry I don't remember who asked the question...) who wanted to know if older fans like HN best... I've been a BB fan since Licensed to Ill which came out when I was 13. The first show I ewver went to without a parent was Beastie Boys and Murphy's Law at Nassau Community College... i was 13. I love all BB's albums but I always feel HN is my fave. It's got great beats, great rhymes, it's just the best. It makes me so happy. SONG FOR THE MAN is one of my faves off HN, too. They played it at The Borgata in AC... and I think I was literally the only person at that show who even knew it, let alone cared!! Anyway,,, HN! My Fave!!!

With that, please let me add, I hope Mike and The Adams are well lately. Yauch, much love, our thoughts are with you daily! Eve and Vin Vergara

That was a rad post. (y)(y)(y)

[Extra Cheese]

my favorite album as well. I didn't stop listening to this for like 2 years.

If i remember correctly from interviews and articles from that time, it was their first album since pauls boutique where they wrote their lyrics together. and they scheduled their world tour while the album was still being made to force themselves to finish the album.

[nypb]

HN was released on July 14, 1998. Exactly one month later I fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved to Manhattan (LI native, moved from Ann Arbor, MI after school). HN will always hold a special place in my heart as it was my soundtrack for the first few months of living downtown in the Village.