Happy 30th Anniversary to Beastie Boys’ fourth studio album Ill Communication, originally released May 31, 1994.
The Beastie Boys have amassed one of the most amazing bodies of work—across all musical genres—over the past few decades. Their debut album Licensed to Ill (1986) is groundbreaking in nearly every aspect and marks time as one of the first major crossover albums for hip-hop. Although their sophomore LP Paul’s Boutique (1989) didn’t match the commercial success of its predecessor, it eventually gained critical acclaim for its innovative sampling.
Later in their career, the Beastie Boys would go on to redefine what the word “alternative” meant musically, with projects like Hello Nasty (1998) and To the 5 Boroughs (2004). Right in the middle of their robust catalog sits the unsung gem, Ill Communication (1994), which uniquely satisfied lifelong Beastie Boys fans, or those who prefer either side of their artistic spectrum.
The heart and soul of Ill Communication sees the Beastie Boys embrace a role of hip-hop elder statesmen, in technique, as well as direct messaging. Songs like “Root Down,” for instance, find the Beasties skillfully navigating the rugged terrain of extensive jazz sampling, in an effortless manner that could only be learned from being veterans of a progressive project like Paul’s Boutique.
Widely known and appreciated for fusing hip-hop with rock and punk elements, the Beastie Boys’ sound is far more diverse and expansive upon deeper listening. The legendary trio has always pulled from jazz, funk, and even some merengue influences as well, and you see them lean into the mastery of their craftsmanship with songs like “Root Down,” as well as some of the instrumentals placed within the LP like “Sabrosa,” “Shambala,” and “Transitions.”
Q-Tip, one of hip-hop’s most celebrated jazz-rap producers, makes a welcomed cameo on Ill Communication on the song “Get it Together,” another album highlight. Listening to the song now, it’s a refreshing reminder of everything we loved about the ‘90s. The Beasties lyrically spar with another all-time hip-hop great, also in his prime at the time, and appear to have a blast while doing so. It’s a song that leans into skillful sampling juxtaposed with live instruments, which the Beasties embraced in later projects.
Listen to the Album + Watch the Official Videos:
Ill Communication’s album opener “Sure Shot” is an extension of the best of its immediate predecessor Check Your Head (1992). Another unsung jewel of the Beasties’ esteemed catalog, Check Your Head is home to the fan favorite “So What’cha Want.” “Sure Shot” fits as what could have been a possible B-side companion or 1-2 punch on a live show.
Sonically, “Sure Shot” is vintage Beasties, giving us everything we had grown to love about the trio, but it also offers a testament to the group’s maturity. With thoughtful lyrics like “I want to say a little something that's long overdue / the disrespect to women has got to be through / to all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends / I want to offer my love and respect to the end,” the Beasties break from hip-hop’s frequent tones of overt misogyny or deafening silence on the subject. The Beasties would courageously broach this subject and challenge others to do the same in the years following Ill Communication. The Beasties’ welcomed voice of responsibility was surprising and effective in the late ‘90s, as the Beasties had credibility and influence as hip-hop and alt-rock pioneers.
The album’s lead single “Sabotage” is a direct bridge to the group’s later transition to more of an alt-rock sound. “Sabotage” is fun, first and foremost, in true Beastie Boys fashion, but it’s also a musical clinic on crafting a cohesive sound. The drums, guitar, bass, and vocalization are all superb and work together to ensure that the song endures as one of the all-time great songs to blast in a car or over great speakers.
Since 1986, the Beastie Boys have helped push the musical envelope and blend genres. Dating back to their landmark debut album, the trio offered a gateway for fans of punk and hardcore toward embracing hip-hop and arguably vice-versa. As fun as it is sonically innovative, with timeless treasures like “Sabotage” and “Sure Shot,” Ill Communication reinforced their commitment to bridging the gaps between musical styles.
Listen: