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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.

I bought Licensed to Ill seven times.  Seven.  The follow up, Paul's Boutique, was only purchases three times.  I highly recommend reading Dan LeRoy's 33 1/3 series on that album.  It was a game changer.  The reason that you have to pay for samples now (Paul's Boutique contained "somewhere between 200-300 samples").  It's amazing to see how these cats have endured - without selling out (ever hear a Beasties song on a car commercial?) or relying on gimmicks (I'm looking at you, Matisyahu).  Their only angle was that they were brats.   And in fact, they were the brattiest brats that ever bratted.   Their new album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 is due out on May 3rd.  

But first.....it's Throwback Thursday.