TT5B deserves more (positive) attention

[Michelle*s_Farm]

According to this article (http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/11/12-classic-hip-hop-albums-that-deserve-more-attention.html) TT5B deserves more credit as a classic.

I think the LP is still fresh with some fine tracks. I am glad the band spoke their mind about 9/11 and US foreign policy at the time. The US is still breaking necks and it is wrecking havoc on the world. At least the Beastie Boys were never afraid to speak up on how US foreign policy is radicalizing youth in the middle east and elsewhere. It is a troubling situation today as it was when Clinton was firing missiles in the 90's at innocent people.

Yauch's words from 1998 (http://youtu.be/yT1FT-zXtDw)

[pm0ney]

According to this article (http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/11/12-classic-hip-hop-albums-that-deserve-more-attention.html) TT5B deserves more credit as a classic.

I think the LP is still fresh with some fine tracks. I am glad the band spoke their mind about 9/11 and US foreign policy at the time. The US is still breaking necks and it is wrecking havoc on the world. At least the Beastie Boys were never afraid to speak up on how US foreign policy is radicalizing youth in the middle east and elsewhere. It is a troubling situation today as it was when Clinton was firing missiles in the 90's at innocent people.

Yauch's words from 1998 (http://youtu.be/yT1FT-zXtDw)


Eh. I like it but it's not great. It sounds like it was made on garageband. I'm disappointed that guy that posted on here hyping up his remix album for two years never followed through with it. Oh well.

[tt5brevisited]

Eh. I like it but it's not great. It sounds like it was made on garageband. I'm disappointed that guy that posted on here hyping up his remix album for two years never followed through with it. Oh well.

Hey pm0ney, Im sorry, the release date was dumb indeed.

I'm still working on it. The reason it takes MUCH longer is that I decided to use the same type of drum machines they were using on LTI. I went from all kinds of sample packs, to analogue clone(s), to the digital re-issue of the TR-808 but none of them satisfied me. I just recently got a real TR-808, and I'm looking to get the Oberheim DMX or DX. Sorry I don't have anything up yet. Started all over.

Studying TT5B for the remixes I learned to appreciate it more and more and more.

[Jiberish]

Where did you find an 808 for sale? Unless you got it from ebay or whatever. Still, pretty badass man.

[Micodin]

Where did you find an 808 for sale? Unless you got it from ebay or whatever. Still, pretty badass man.

You can find them on eBay and other vintage music sites. People having been selling them off to beef up their home studios with more computer/digital shit.

I have a Roland MC-505 and the 808 kit on there is pretty nice. I use it in a lot in my tunes.

[Brass Monk]

The album has some merits, but they can only be seen by hardcore beastie fans.
It stands as their only mediocre album, sticks out on their discography like a sore thumb.
A remix album sounds like a great idea if done right

[pm0ney]

Speaking of remixes, the Brooklyn Dust remix album by Jimmy Green is fucking incredible. Even better than the Green Lantern NY State of Mind mixtape.

[pshabi]

The album has some merits, but they can only be seen by hardcore beastie fans.
It stands as their only mediocre album, sticks out on their discography like a sore thumb.
A remix album sounds like a great idea if done right

Agree 100%

[Brother McDuff]

The album has some merits, but they can only be seen by hardcore beastie fans

nail on the head

[tt5brevisited]

Where did you find an 808 for sale? Unless you got it from ebay or whatever. Still, pretty badass man.

You can find them (pre owned) but a lot of them are in bad shape, missing parts, scuffed, modified, and even then... freaking expensive. They all sound different from each other as well so I waited till the right one came along. Took about six months.

[Jiberish]

You can find them (pre owned) but a lot of them are in bad shape, missing parts, scuffed, modified, and even then... freaking expensive. They all sound different from each other as well so I waited till the right one came along. Took about six months.

Cool. Yeah, I've seen them pop up on eBay a lot, but the prices... oy. Well good for you. Still looking forward to hearing this album one day.

[Micodin]

I've done a couple TT5B remixes if anyone wants to check them out...

That's It That's All (https://soundcloud.com/micodin/the-beastie-boys-thats-it)

Rhyme The Rhyme Well (https://soundcloud.com/micodin/beastie-boys-rhyme-the-rhyme)

Right Right Now Now (https://micodin.bandcamp.com/track/right-right-now-now-micodin-remix)

I went in a electro route towards these remixes. I too was thinking about remixing the entire record someday. I've just been wrapped up in too many projects so I just do one every couple 6 months or so...

[Bernard Goetz]

TT5B is good shit. You want sore thumbs check out half of Hello Nasty.

[tt5brevisited]

I've done a couple TT5B remixes if anyone wants to check them out....

nice stuff.

[Micodin]

nice stuff.

Thanks!

[Brass Monk]

TT5B is good shit. You want sore thumbs check out half of Hello Nasty.

So you'd choose TT5B over HN?
Wow, interesting .....

[Bernard Goetz]

So you'd choose TT5B over HN?
Wow, interesting .....

Hmm. Nah, I guess not. But to me there's 30 minutes of filler on HN. The rest of it is better than TT5B, generally.

[JoLovesMCA]

Was discussing this with some fans on facebook last week! I love this record but it is my least fave bb record. The rhymes are just as good as they are on any of their others, but I don't know something was missing. Or maybe it was just different. Still have mad love for it though.

[ericg]

tt5b seemed to be a record that they needed to do... not opposed to wanting to... i mean it was a reaction to all the bs in the world, and was more of a scaled back, thinkin record than a for your bumpin enjoyment record... but you know it does... bump for your enjoyment..!!!

anyway, like all of their albums, many needed and wanted to hear it... you know what i'm sayin?

[Micodin]

I think In A World Gone Mad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3szSKD3meg) was the sign that the Beasties were going with a different sound. I think that not incorporating their live instruments into the production made it sound thiner than their past LPs. I'm glad they returned with that sound in HSCP2.

Mario C's is missing in a big way as well.

[Sir SkratchaLot]

I think In A World Gone Mad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3szSKD3meg) was the sign that the Beasties were going with a different sound. I think that not incorporating their live instruments into the production made it sound thiner than their past LPs. I'm glad they returned with that sound in HSCP2.

Mario C's is missing in a big way as well.

For me it was the production that was the biggest shortfall. It's not that it's bad, it's that the other albums are so damn good. It just did not have the organic feel of the others. That, and I have to say the corniness really started to creep in their rhymes starting with HN and peaking with TT5B. Don't get me wrong, part of me loves it, but the other part of me thinks its just too corny.

[pm0ney]

For me it was the production that was the biggest shortfall. It's not that it's bad, it's that the other albums are so damn good. It just did not have the organic feel of the others. That, and I have to say the corniness really started to creep in their rhymes starting with HN and peaking with TT5B. Don't get me wrong, part of me loves it, but the other part of me thinks its just too corny.



Disagree about Hello Nasty being corny. I felt the fact that every other line was bounced off another one of the guys masked any flaws in the writing. TT5B however, there was some cringe worthy stuff in there. Adrock rapping about George Bush is about as low as it got for them, in my opinion.

[easy 3]

wtf?

[easy 3]

to me there's 30 minutes of filler on HN.

I'm feeling HN from beginning to end and don't feel like any of it's filler, to me.

I'd agree however that TT5B stands out from their catalogue as a bit of a low point. The run through LTI, PB, CYH, IC, HN was so consistently good that they'd set themselves a high standard, and short of reinventing the wheel or sticking firmly to their A-game, it was always going to be a challenge. I think they tried to embrace some of the new technology while speaking out about their position on some of the political changes that were directly effecting them, and also give people what they want and expect from the Beastie Boys - a record that you can party to. It somehow comes out a bit disjointed and distracted, and dare I say a little undercooked overall. After 6 years it was great to hear any new material, and Ch-ch-check It Out, Open Letter to NYC, and Hey, Fuck You are all great tracks, and tracks like Crawlspace and Oh Word showed some interesting exploration in new directions, but the production on too many other tracks sounded a bit too thin and software-instrument based, and some of the rhymes seemed a bit carefree and trite.

In terms of corny rhymes, I've got no problem with some of the more overtly political lyrics on TT5B (although the rhymes in Time To Build sound forced at times, and it's one of my least favourite BB tracks overall) and generally give them credit for speaking out, but I do agree that there was a shift towards a greater proportion of corny rhymes around the time of TT5B. I feel that over the years there was a greater embrace of the doo-doo, non-serious rhymes, which didn't really do their skills or legacy justice for new fans, and was sometimes somewhat disappointing for more seasoned listeners.

If you were to replace Time To Build with This Government Needs a Tune Up, and maybe either We Got The or Shazam with And Then I, I think it would help bring the standard closer to their previous material, but I feel that the computer-programmed beats and overall production values lack the weight of the rest of their albums.

[Sir SkratchaLot]

I like the political rhymes. I thought it was cool that they spoke up when they did. It took serious balls for Adam and Adam to do some of the stuff they did. I wouldn't call that "corny". I was talking more about the utter silliness, crazy vocal inflections from Mike, Adrock's English accent, etc. In a way it's funny as hell, and unique, but also, yeah, kind of corny. Mix Master Mike (jokingly) commented about it when he first heard Hello Nasty.

TT5B was a progression of the doo-doo rhymes. But it's also cool in a weird way. They could do that type of thing because they had it like that. Not trying to impress anybody, just doing their own thing. I might look back in a few years and that could be my favorite stuff.

The thing that I think is undisputed is that they were at the height of their powers as far as the live show during the TT5B tour. The show was amazingly refined by then. So cool that they got it on video with the Awesome I Fucking Shot that DVD.

[Phantom Menace]

Just a shout out about, An Open Letter to NYC.

The Dead Boys Sonic Reducer sample is genius, the concept is realized, then surpassed. Completely underrated.

Fine by me.

[Jay Stone]

The thing about the Boys and To The Five Boroughs is that they have the talent to come doper than that. Some of the beats were very tinny, with weak sounding drums. Imagine if the used beats like the ones Adrock made for Teriyaki Boyz.
Plus they didn't use the bullshit mics made out of plastic.

[abbott]

Stick a quarter in your ass... Is still an all time classic line around the office. I heard it at least once in office in the last month. Maybe the only Beastie themed quote I've heard at the office in awhile. We'll I did hear cheaper than a hotdog with no mustard this week.

Open letter is one of my favorites for sure

[Brass Monk]

In terms of corny rhymes, I've got no problem with some of the more overtly political lyrics on TT5B (although the rhymes in Time To Build sound forced at times, and it's one of my least favourite BB tracks overall) and generally give them credit for speaking out, but I do agree that there was a shift towards a greater proportion of corny rhymes around the time of TT5B. I feel that over the years there was a greater embrace of the doo-doo, non-serious rhymes, which didn't really do their skills or legacy justice for new fans, and was sometimes somewhat disappointing for more seasoned listeners.



Yeah, the embracing of the doo-doo rhymes seemed very deliberate and odd especially since lyrically they had more than proven themselves (particularly on LTI, PB and significant portions of CYH & IC). To this day I really don't understand why they chose that approach so much on much of their later material, but I feel certain it was a deliberate choice on their part.

[CatchaGroove]

Stick a quarter in your ass... Is still an all time classic line around the office. I heard it at least once in office in the last month. Maybe the only Beastie themed quote I've heard at the office in awhile. We'll I did hear cheaper than a hotdog with no mustard this week.

Open letter is one of my favorites for sure

That's a nod to Big Daddy Kane's verse from Marley Marl's classic "The Symphony" featuring Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, Kool G. Rap & Masta Ace

Definitely cool nonetheless

[Jay Stone]

That's a nod to Big Daddy Kane's verse from Marley Marl's classic "The Symphony" featuring Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, Kool G. Rap & Masta Ace

Definitely cool nonetheless

Less a "nod to" it and more of an actual sample of it.

Haha.