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When Def Jam/Columbia released the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill in 1986, it became one of the fastest selling debuts to date. The Boys, however, did not receive a fair shake on the deal driving a wedge between them and Def Jam exec Russell Simmons. The Beaties eventually took their talents to Capital Records where the recieved a million dollar advance and flew to L.A. to squander it for the better part of a year - eventually releasing Paul's Boutique (which is celebrated in retrospect but at the time was a huge commercial flop). Meanwhile, Def Jam needed another white boy crew so they signed 3rd Bass. On their debut, The Cactus Album, they came out the gate swinging - taking shots at the Beasties. I gotta be honest, in 1989 most of this went right over my head. I was unaware of the shady dealings with Def Jam - I was even unaware that the Beasties had moved over to Capital. But later I discovered the beef between the two camps and took a listen to this track. Now, the Beasties obviously went on to create several great records and landed firmly in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - but this is one of greatest diss tracks ever recorded.