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I didn't pick up a basketball until 8th grade. I was terrible. No fundamentals. No common sense. After the season my folks thought I was through - considering that I spent most of my time on the bench - even during B Team games. That summer I sought out my future Freshman coach and asked him what I should work on. He said, "Free throws and layups". So everyday that summer (and I do mean every day) I would hit the courts armed with my boombox and License to Ill. I put together a shooting routine that would span the length of the album. So, during the summer of 1987, every workout started with "Rhymin and Stealin". I started that year as a Freshman.

This Saturday at our local independent record store, Exile on Main Street, myself and DJ Belly will be spinning all Beasties all day. Starting at the top.

When George Harrison died 11 years ago, I was very sad. I went home, put on All Things Must Pass and even played "My Sweet Lord" at a gig that night. Today, upon hearing the news that Beastie Boy Adam Yauch (MCA) had succumbed to cancer, I was broken. I immediately started playing their discography (chronologically) and sobbed for hours. I was 13 when License to Ill came out. Their impact on me as an artist (and as a music lover) was huge. Losing one of your heroes at age 47 to such an ugly thing like cancer is devastating. 

My son got out of school early today. He came home to find his old man crying in front of the stereo. I told him that we had lost Adam and he immediately went into his room and put on his Beastie Boys shirt. We sat there together - sobbing and listening to side two of Paul's Boutique. I told him, "What you have to take away from this is - Adam did what he loved all the way to the end. Look at this legacy he left us." Life is short, folks, whatever your passion - do it to death. 

R.I.P. Adam. We love you.

By the late 80's Def Jam had become the go-to label for all my hip-hop needs. Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, L.L. Cool J were all well established. Then came the political movement with acts like Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions. In 1989 BDP dropped Ghetto Music - fusing boom-bap and reggae with overtly political rhymes. This was my favorite cut on that album.

De La Soul came on the scene in 1987 and threw us all for a loop with their "daisy age" philosphy and their jazz-based samples. Most of us were accustom to the boom-bap flavors and rock-riff samples of Run DMC and the Beastie Boys. De La is still around today (and still relevant - scoring not one but two hits with Gorrilaz). This jam is from 1991 - I just bought it on vinyl this weekend. Dig.

Played another Hit It Run party this past weekend.  At one point we grabbed the mics and rhymed over the instrumentals.  Kosmo picked "Rappers Delight".  I picked "Paul Revere".  Here's a crafty lil animated vid to guide you along the way.

or watch the Boys live at the Greek....